New Haven Independent

Now look for an emboldened pro-City Hall majority on the board to push forward with an activist agenda next year. And look for opponents upset about the direction of the city, including many Latino politicians and union organizers, to seek to provide a more unified and effective check on power.

The challenge now facing both sides is to craft a response to the number-one issue heard citywide in Tuesday’s elections: the need for a new youth policy. (See “Primary Message: The City’s Failing Kids.”)

In the closest races of the day, independent-minded Dwight neighborhood Alderwoman Joyce Chen beat back a party challenge in Ward 2 by a little more than 20 votes; her campaign consisted almost exclusively of neighborhood people, while her spirited challenger’s campaign consisted largely of Yale students and pro-City Hall political activists from outside the ward. In Ward 12, by the North Haven border, incumbent Shirley Ellis-West lost by under ten votes to retired cop Gerald Antunes. Ellis-West won more votes on the machines, but lost the election by just seven votes (according to unofficial returns) after absentee ballots were figured in.

And Hill Alderwoman Jackie James won reelection handily, by about 100 votes. James was the target of the nastiest smear campaign in years, not by her amiable opponent, but by an unknown producer of a widely distributed CD attacking her for, among other things, her sex life.

Two Parties for Two Parties

Two post-election parties took place after the 13 primaries for alderman. (In one-party New Haven, Democratic primaries are usually tantamount to general election.)

The two parties reflected two very different views of New Haven political reality. One sees an ascendant wing of the party bringing new energy, ideas and focus to the city’s traditionally weak Board of Aldermen. The other side sees a bitterly divided party in which dissent is squelched and the problems of the poor and working class get buried under efforts to gentrify the city.

Supporters of Goldfield and Mayor John DeStefano gathered amid the neon, dark club lighting, deafening karaoke machine and wall-sized video screen at the upscale Caffe Bottega across from the Green. They celebrated the victories of pro-administration candidates like Alex Rhodeen, who handily defeated incumbent Rose Santana in Ward 13. They also celebrated the apparent majority now behind Goldfield’s bid to unseat Jorge Perez as board president, which would signal firm control of the city’s legislative body by supporters of City Hall. (See “Showdown at the Polls.”) Two key aldermen, Drew King and Rebecca Livengood, announced at Caffe Bottega that they’re backing Goldfield. By both sides’ math, that would give Goldfield a majority.

“This is about the future,” Goldfield proclaimed from the Caffe Bottega stage. He praised Jorge Perez’s “tremendous knowledge and experience” and predicted an era in which the board’s factions would work together.

Informed afterwards about the new math in the board presidency race, Jorge Perez conceded Goldfield appears ahead. But he vowed to press on. “A lot of things can happen between now and Jan. 1” when the new board takes office, Perez noted. “Several of us have to go through [general] elections in November.”

Perez held court at the opposition’s party in the decidedly mid-scale environs of the Greek Olive restaurant on Long Wharf. Hundreds showed up. In a bright, spare banquet room, over trays of chicken, the crowd composed partly of veteran Latino politicians mixed with union activists wearing “Democracy in Action” T-shirts. They celebrated Chen’s and James’s victories, as well as a tough reelection victory by East Shore Alderman Alphonse Paolillo Jr.

Two years ago, union activists worked alongside the City Hall team. This time they supported City Hall critics, some of whom have been the strong supporters of labor-backed attempts to negotiate community concessions in Yale-New Haven Hospital’s plans to build a new cancer center.

“We have a Democratic Party in New Haven that’s not working,” Perez declared. “We have a leadership that doesn’t tolerate, not just dissent, but different opinions.” He invited supporters to join him and some prominent supporters in the room—including powerbroker Wendell Harp and State Rep. Bill Dyson—at a press conference Thursday in support of his reelection as board president.

“No matter who wins” that race, Perez predicted, “we’re going to have a core of people who are going to hold government accountable” on “good government” and “social justice issues.”

He and many in the crowd faulted party leadership for seeking to unseat critics like James, Chen and Paolillo.

Back at Bottega, party Chairwoman Susan Voigt cast the day’s events in a different light. She argued that having so many hard-fought primaries, with candidates holding competing ideas and turning out far more voters than usual, signals a healthy democracy, a strong, not a broken, party.

Full disclosure: In his capacity as a private attorney, Alderman Goldfield did the legal work to incorporate The Online Journalism Project, which funds this web site.