New Haven Independent

Jim Newton, who seeks to unseat Mayor John DeStefano, made the vow at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. He was referring to a lack of influence of the Board of Aldermen in major decisions affecting the city.

Click on the play arrow, listen to Newton, and see if you agree. Then interpret and rate his statement by posting a comment below. (Feel free to use the Independent “rate the candidate”scale: 1= Say what? 2= Adequate performance 3= So-so 4= Keep talking 5= Right on!)

At the press conference, Newton, speaking in his anchorman baritone as people strolled by on Church Street, also said he’d keep taxes down by limiting police and Board of Education overtime and by discontinuing the practice of rehiring retired education officials as consultants.

Newton’s press conference was a rerun. He called it because the New Haven Register and Channel 8 failed to show up at his first official campaign announcement last Saturday. Wednesday he re-read the statement he made at that announcement, describing a “city in crisis.” Click here to read Melissa Bailey’s coverage of that first official campaign kick-off.

Nine supporters (including, from left in photo, former Mayor John Daniels, Bishop Kenny Peeples, and Sengbe Pieh’s statue) stood by Newton as he re-read his kickoff speech Wednesday. Channel 8 did send a photographer to record it.

When Newton finished, supporter Daniels seethed at the failure of the Register to show up for a second time. He noted that the paper has covered longshot candidates without visible signs of support. Newton’s supporters include former Mayor Daniels himself and former Board of Aldermen President Tomas Reyes. Newton pulled 38 percent of the vote when he ran against DeStefano in a 1999 Democratic primary.

“Anybody who has support, the New Haven Register will not cover, because they’re protecting the mayor!” Daniels charged as Newton’s supporters began leaving and Channel 8’s photographer packed up his gear.

Just then, as if in response, Register reporter Angela Carter showed up. Newton got his story after all.