New Haven Independent: End Of An Era

End Of An Era

by Melissa Bailey | March 4, 2008 8:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

After 28 years holding a local seat in the Democratic party, Rose Sorrentino (pictured) lost a hard battle Tuesday to Alderman Robert Lee.

“It’s over,” declared Lee at 5 o’clock, standing outside in the rain outside the Bella Vista housing complex. With over 230 votes clocked in, the Ward 11 alderman was sure he had overthrown the queen of Bella Vista politics in the race for the Ward 11 co-chair seat. Lee was running with Patty DePalma against two party-endorsed incumbents.

The final results bore out Lee’s confidence:

Patty DePalma 152
Robert Lee 134
Rose Sorrentino 127
Adelaide DelFranco 115

Sorrentino wasn’t out in the rain Tuesday afternoon. The Democratic diehard, who’ll be 87 in March, had caught a cold running around delivering absentee ballot applications. She sat inside, out of the reach of the chilling wind, but still poised at a key gateway to her stronghold of support.

She sat at an indoor walkway where Buildings A and B — where she and her running-mate, Adelaide DelFranco live — pour out into the polling place. She woke up at four, got freshened up, and sat on her walker at the doorway at six, meeting voters as they rolled up to the door.

As she awaited a snack of peanut butter crackers, Sorrentino said she felt good about the race. She had help from Emily Byrne, a young staffer in the mayor’s office who’s been active in local campaigns since she worked for the mayor’s gubernatorial bid. Byrne helped set up a pre-election party Monday night, complete with hot dogs and three types of cookies. Mayor John DeStefano showed up and put in a good word for the two co-chairs. And everyone got done in time to go play bingo.

Standing opposite Sorrentino at the tunnel’s opening was Jack Brennan (pictured), handing out cards for Lee and his cohort, Patty DePalma. Brennan chatted with Sorrentino as the hours passed by. She gave him advice on his mom. By four o’clock, he had only passed out a dozen cards - “people hand them back,” he said. “They know these two ladies,” not Lee.

Away from that warm nook, however, Sorrentino’s stronghold was slipping. In Buildings C, D and E, Lee had a strong presence. Voters who came in from outside the complex leaned towards Lee, too: Sorrentino didn’t campaign outside Bella Vista, she said, because most of her friends out there have died.

And Lee was outdoors almost all day, passing out flyers and giving out doughnuts and coffee. Hill Alderman Jorge Perez dropped by to show support, he said. Lee’s trusty cohort, Ed Douglas, camped out below a green tent in the chilly afternoon drizzle. “This is my second change of clothes,” said the man, hoping not to get doused by rain again.

As wind rattled the tent, Lee (pictured, with DePalma) was all confidence. He said the mayor’s brief appearance at the hot dog party Monday night just wouldn’t be enough to beat his team of allies at the housing complex.

“He better get some Georgia hots next time,” Lee suggested.

Lee trumpeted his victory as a sign that the mayor doesn’t have support in that part of town. Lee had handily fended off a challenge from the Democratic “machine” in a hot aldermanic race in November. Ward co-chairs are key in picking who gets to be chair of the local Democratic party, and who gets nominated to be alderman or mayor.

“Bella Vista is looking for a change—not only in the alderman race, not only in the co-chair race, but in the mayor’s race,” Lee charged. “He [DeStefano] better look out for a change.”

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Comments

Posted by: bugupit | March 5, 2008 6:54 AM

ALDERS! You should not hold office both as Alderman and Ward Co-Chair simultaneously. It surpresses competitive democracy, something we have to little of in this town. If the Democratic Town Chair will not work for this rule through her DTC, can the Board of Alderman impose such a rule on its members?

Posted by: donna | March 5, 2008 8:00 AM

Robert Lee and all the other alderpeople that have to be alderman and a co-chair is not right..
it's just like Suzie Voight putting in who she wants and says the party supports that person..but she is the Democratic Committee all by her self..she has done that for years....Robert Lee and all the others to hold 2 seats is no better..shame shame...

Posted by: PowertothePeople | March 5, 2008 9:54 AM

Bugpit, Donna - I've been posting this since the first article. I think it is ludicrous and should be unlawful!!! And it isn't just the anti-DeStefano folks that are pulling this double-dipping/democracy-blocking stunt. Several of them are "in his pocket."

I'm also disturbed that it appears to be only happening in black neighborhoods with alders who have never presented an original idea. Robert Lee's platform is get rid of the mayor. I'm not a fan of Johnny D either but at least he does something.

Democracy watchers of New Haven, here is a place you can do some work.

Posted by: eli | March 5, 2008 12:35 PM

One of the last vestiges of the Ben Delito powertrain gets moved aside. Bye bye.

Posted by: sandra eligio | March 5, 2008 4:44 PM

It is a shame that Robert Lee used his vengeance against the mayor to desracate the people of Bella Vista. He made it clear election night after he won that he would use this positions to get floor votes for alderman to fight against the mayor. This was the biggest mistake he ever made in taking on two positions. He rants and raves how he hates the mayor. We don!t care what his personnal opinions are, we care and I speak for myself and many concerned people here at Bella Vista. I would rather have a man who had control of himself and tried to negotiate than use his position to slander the mayor. He did not come out top vote getter and I am shure he should enjoy his tenure, this may have been the biggest mistake of his ego. Learn to be humble Robert people are not afraid of you.

Posted by: Gary Doyens | March 5, 2008 6:47 PM

I don't think alders should be ward chairs. However, if they're not ward chairs or co-chairs and they stand against what DeStefano wants - they become one of the "bastards" whose life he's going to make hell. Unfortunately, the public is asleep at the wheel and a pitiful few people vote DeStefano and his machine in time and again with little more thought than that of sheep because the rest of the people have been lulled to sleep, told to sleep or just don't care.

So, pick your medicine. Those of you who now criticize Robert Lee for doing what he needs to do to provide an independent and opposition voice - don't be so quick to condemn. There is precious little to celebrate in the DeStefano Administration whose best talent is putting lipstick on a pig as it collectively pretends to care about regular folk.

One word of caution for Robert: Humility is in short supply in politics today and needed more today than ever. If you practice it, you'll never be out of step with those you govern. Good luck to you.

New Haven Independent

End Of An Era

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