New Haven Independent

The aldermen vote for president in January. If DeStefano becomes governor, the board president would succeed him as mayor in 2007.

DeStefano supports Alderman Carl Goldfield, who seeks to unseat incumbent board prez Jorge Perez.

Latino politicians hope to pressure DeStefano by withholding statewide support for his 2006 campaign for governor. Friday’s huddle comes in advance of a Nov. 15 rally planned in support of Perez, New Haven’s highest-ranking Latino public officeholder. According to a flyer for the event, ralliers will include Latino pols from Hartford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury; plus former Mayor John Daniels and local activists affiliated with Yale’s unions.

Behind this controversy are two debates. One is over identity politics, whether or not important political positions should be reserved for members of different ethnic groups. The other debate is over the independence, or lack thereof, of the Board of Aldermen. Perez has become a DeStefano critic; his supporters say he can better keep watch over the administration. Goldfield’s supporters say he (and they) can make the board more of a policy-oriented, activist entity.