New Haven Independent

Dyson Ends An Era

by Melissa Bailey | May 22, 2008 7:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)

Before a crowd of his political mentees, State Rep. Bill Dyson bowed out of a 32-year career to devote his time to his passion — criminal justice. Meanwhile, a personality-driven tiff sparked a surprise challenge to State Rep. Toni Walker’s seat.

Both announcements came at a Democratic Party municipal convention held Wednesday night at the Celentano School to endorse candidates for the positions of state representative, state senator and registrar of voters.

Dyson is the longest-serving legislator in the State House of Representatives; he was first elected in 1976. His announcement Wednesday night that he’s retiring leaves three competitors vying for his 94th District seat. The party Wednesday night endorsed one of them, Newhallville Alderman Charles Blango, who presumably will now face a primary assuming his opponents collect signatures to make the ballot.

The party endorsed all other incumbent candidates: State Reps. Pat Dillon (92nd District), Toni Walker (93), Juan Candelaria (95), Bob Megna (97); and State Sens. Toni Harp (10) and Martin Looney (11). Rep. Cameron Staples (96) was endorsed without contest in a separate Hamden-New Haven convention Tuesday.

Sharon Ferrucci, who has been the Democratic registrar of voters since 1988, was also re-endorsed.

Dyson’s departing speech was the main event of the night. While he had hinted at his retirement before, he saved the official announcement for Wednesday, when his supporters sat gathered before him.

Dyson announced that instead of seeking reelection, he would turn to working on the issue closest to his heart. He introduced the crowd to his son Erick, who spent nine years in federal prison on narcotics conspiracy charges.

“He spent time in prison, nine years, and there came my devotion to doing something for those people coming in and coming out,” said Dyson, taking the mic on the stage of the cafeteria.

“[As] I move from this page of things, I intend to devote my energies to working on these issues. As long as I am able to do so, I shall not forget.”

To the New Haven delegation and his supporters, Dyson said, “I can’t say enough about how pleased I am with the support that you’ve given me over the years. For many in the room, the news came as a surprise this week.

“I’m not going away,” Dyson assured his devotees. “I’m going to be around, as I said, working on those issues.”

Dyson later elaborated that he wants to start an advocacy organization devoted to criminal justice. He said he got a commitment Tuesday from a local entity interested in the project, as well as a warm reception from the governor.

As he left the stage, the room broke up into mini-conventions around cafeteria tables. Each table represented a state legislator’s district. The most activity buzzed around Dyson’s district, number 94.

Ladies Go For Blango

Nine women huddled around a circular table with eight seats. Their task: Decide which candidate would enter the primary battle with the advantage of a party endorsement.

Cathy Weber of Newhallville nominated her alderman, Charles Blango. To back up her choice, she read from a printed white paper with green highlights detailing his work as an alderman.

Cordelia Thorpe (pictured), a fearless critic of mayoral allies, nominated Willie Greene. Distinctively dressed as always, she stood out in a bright green dress. She read a letter of support scrawled on yellow lined paper. She waited for a second.

Greene, the 20th Ward Democratic co-chair and a former three-term Newhallville alderman, could have seconded his own nomination. But he wasn’t at the table for the vote. He was outside the cafeteria talking to a couple old-time friends.

If no one’s there to second the nomination, the nomination fails, reported a party organizer.

“Take My Fight To The Streets”

So Greene’s name didn’t make it to the vote. The women voted 7 in favor of Blango, with 1 abstention from Kimberly Edwards and 1 nay from Thorpe. Two male delegates in that district, Greene and Matthew Nemerson, were absent from the vote.

Why didn’t Greene (pictured) sit down and second his own nomination?

“It’s all sewn up, so why go through the process?” Greene said. “It’s controlled by the mayor, so why waste your time?” He plans to take out papers to gain signatures to force a primary.

Greene spent most of the evening on the outskirts of the room, or out on a back patio talking with supporters.

“I’m prepared to take my fight to the street,” he said, “which is what I’m good at.”

In a brief acceptance speech, Blango (pictured) tipped his hat to his long-time friend.

“Thanks to an icon,” Blango said. Echoing comments made throughout the night, he called Dyson “a trailblazer” and “one of the greatest legislators that I have known.”

A third contender for Dyson’s seat, Gary Holder-Winfield, stood by and listened to his mentor, the man he once interned for, ring the final note of his career.

Holder-Winfield (pictured) said he was both sad to see Dyson go, and ready for the chance to fill his shoes.

He said he planned to get straight to work on his campaign, taking out petitions for candidacy on Thursday.

Meanwhile, another match was brewing.

Jackie James Runs … Against DeStefano

The surprise of the evening came from Hill Alderwoman Jackie James. As others were concentrating on Blango’s future, she was trying to overthrow her long-time friend and ally, State Rep. Toni Walker. Walker sealed up the party’s endorsement.

Outside the cafeteria, James started drumming up support — “Are you going to campaign with me?”

James said she made the decision that same day to run for office. Walker irepresenting an oddly constructed district that spans from Dixwell and Beaver Hills to the Hill.

Asked what prompted the last-minute decision, James cited disagreements with the mayor of New Haven, John DeStefano Jr.

“This isn’t about Toni. This is about the administration,” James said. “He wants to control everything in the city.”

“We need some checks and balances,” she said. She said the mayor has too much power in deciding who gets laid off, who gets hired, whether taxes are raised, and who makes appointments of party co-chairs.

The latter issue was apparently a sensitive one — one that prompted a tiff on the patio between James and Susie Voigt, who chairs the Democratic Town Committee. The tiff was over who got to be ward co-chairs — the smallest seat in the party, responsible mainly for endorsing candidates — in James’s ward. James’s picks, CORD activists Lena Largie and Maurice “Blest” Peters, didn’t get their petitions in in time to snag the seats. So their seats remained vacant, along with six others across the city.

When there’s a vacancy, it’s up to Voigt to make new appointments. Voigt didn’t pick James’s people. She picked two others, Hipolito Cuevas and Tany Marie Salters. The two co-chairs, who got appointed Wednesday night, chose Walker over James. Voigt said she picked them in part because the ward needs a Spanish-speaker.

“I guess she’s not happy with them,” Voigt said, “but those are the appointments I had to make.”

Outside (pictured), James told her to “watch out” for the consequences of her actions.

In a more expansive interview, James said “state reps need to play a bigger role” in negotiating with DeStefano on how the city’s run.

How would she be in better position to balance the budget as a state rep, as opposed to an alderwoman, which is the office designed to “check” the mayor’s power on such matters?

“I wouldn’t have more power,” James replied. “I would be more connected.”

James, an outspoken mayoral opponent, is a social worker for the Department of Children and Family services in New Haven. She has been alderwoman since 2002. She spread the word Wednesday night that she plans to file as a petitioning candidate. News of her run got a sour reception from mayoral allies.

“What issues have you championed?” taunted mayoral aide Paul Nuñez as James conducted an interview with two reporters.

“What issues have you championed?” James snapped back. “Excuse me!”

Walker (pictured) called James’ challenge “unfortunate.” The two have worked together for years on issues in the Hill, she said. “It’s a surprise to me.”

The “unfortunate” part of James’ candidacy, Walker explained, “is that instead of addressing City Hall,” her challenge “is addressing me.”

Walker said in her seven years in office, she’s been a solid legislator on issues of criminal justice, children and education. “It takes a long time to become a seasoned legislator,” she said.

The state rep warned against the dangers of having a contested election. With veteran Dyson on his way out the door, Walker said, the delegation needs to keep its seniority.

If James were to be elected, “that would weaken [New Haven’s] power” at the Capitol, she said. “To try to weaken the power would be a disaster for New Haven.”

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Comments

Posted by: What | May 22, 2008 8:11 AM

Hey,

Does anyone wonder why mayoral aide Paul Nunez so rudely interrupted Jackie James during her interview? Well, I have the answer. He is Toni Walker's son-in-law, married to Ms. Walker's daughter.

Wow, strange bed fellows.

Posted by: eastshoreguy | May 22, 2008 8:19 AM

She is mad at the mayor so she runs against her state rep? Yeah, that makes sense . . . .

With this kind of common sense thinking can somebody tell me how this woman got elected as an alderperson in the first place?

We have got to have better, more thoughtful, articulate and issue based alderpeople here in our city. Alderpeople like Arlene DePino, Mordechai Sandman, Andrea Jackson-Brooks are far and few between in this city.

This just crazy she should just drop out and run for mayor if she wants to change city hall.

Posted by: Gary Doyens | May 22, 2008 9:44 AM

I'm curious as to what Cathy Weber detailed as Charles Blango's specific accomplishments as an alderman.

If he wins, will Blango give up his gig over at the Board of Ed?

Posted by: visitor | May 22, 2008 11:49 AM

in response to "what"...that may be true, but he also works for the Mayor, whom Jackie James claims to have the problem with. I hardly think that asking a pointed question is rude. If she has championed issues, it would have given her the perfect opportunity to say so.

Posted by: Skip | May 22, 2008 1:03 PM

Jackie James didn't get the partie's nomination before, and she won all on her own. She has a proven track record of advocacy for the community, and all residents of the city as an alderwoman, and as a social worker. She can go toe to toe with anyone, and people absolutely love her. She gets involved with all issues in her community, she addresses the issues with city departments, she involves herself with union issues and supports the underserved, and most importantly, she gets results. Jackie is definitely not part of any machine. She's not afraid of a machine, or for that matter, of anyone else. She holds the administration accontable for everything, just like it should be. She asks where the money is, to whom it's going, what deals are being cut, etc. She'll speak for taxpayers and hold the administration accountable, when lots of current elected officials have only cut deals with the city for their own gain. Toni Walker has actually been downright useless and a disgrace. Just watch the General Assembly hearings on TV sometime. If she's not yawning, she's eating or on her cell. She's a follower not a leader. She pays absolutely no attention at all to what is going on in her own community, or what's not going on there when it should be. She doesn't advocate for her constituents. Jackie would be a really, really needed change from what we have now. If you are stuck on an isand with no possible means of survival, believe me, if you are stuck there with Jackie, you'll survive. You can count on Jackie to do what is right. She was born with the advocacy gene. How many other elected officials can you say the same for? They should all take a lesson from her. If they have any self-respect, they should support her in this.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 22, 2008 2:30 PM

wow skip

I have watched Jackie and I do admire her. I was wow-ed when I read she was running. I never really followed Walker but at times I was kind amazed at things she has done...I remember thinking is she in Hartford for herself and her own issues or for the people of this city. I would love to have the NHI do an interview with Jackie to get a better understanding of who she is and what she is about. I think this is can be a good thing so BRAVO jackie

Posted by: Nan | May 22, 2008 3:05 PM

Toni pays attention to her constituents and is an informed articulate advocate for our community. We can always count on Toni Walker to represent us well.

Posted by: Nan | May 22, 2008 3:06 PM

Toni pays attention to her constituents and is an informed articulate advocate for our community. We can always count on Toni Walker to represent us well.

Posted by: Fairhavengal | May 22, 2008 3:07 PM

Clearly Skip and Cedarhillresident have not watched the correct State Representative. Representative Walker has been a champion for Juvinille Justice Reform ("Raise the Age" movement), prison reform, health care (see the recent article on the NHI), raising the minimum wage, expanding hospice coverage...and the list goes on. I WISH I was in her district so I could vote for her. Skip you really should check your sources or do some research on your own instead of just watching tv.

I think Alderwomen James is a good alderwoman but Representative Walker has been an excellent representative who can (and has) deliver on issues important to New Haven (like the ones I just mentioned).

Posted by: HappyC | May 22, 2008 3:25 PM

Wow Skip!!! I don't know if I agree with you on that one. I have watched her on the Judicial Committee and watched her fight for criminal justice reform. As a resident of the 29th ward, I am quite preased with her as my State Representative.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 22, 2008 3:58 PM

Fairhavengal
No I stated I knew little about her. and the few things I did where her own personal pet projects. Not to say that the things she works on are not good things. But I wonder if there are other things that she can work on in hartford beside the corrections system. Like you I am not in her area so it is not a vote for me to make. It is a vote for the people in her area to decide.

I also stated that I do like Jackie but I would want to know a little more about her.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | May 22, 2008 4:33 PM

Can someone please tell me why was Juan Candelaria
endorsed by the party when this judas vote for
the other judas Joe Sell Out the Democratic party
lieberman.Candelaria should be kick out of the democratic party since he did not back the voice of the people Ned Lamont. As for Walker who said that it takes a long time to become a seasoned legislator not true because if that was true than
Obama should not run.People we must wake up and get rid of these crooked democratic town committees that are nothing more than brothel houses That turn out nothing more than political
prostitutes who sell us out!!! We must go to Term
limits and Proportional Representation that would
give the people a true voice not the ventriloquist
dummies that we have now!!!

Posted by: MissD | May 22, 2008 4:35 PM

Cedarhillresident:
How can you say children and criminal justice is her pet project? I think those issues are very important to New Haven. I have watched her on that public station and have been very impressed at her questions. She doesn't let people get away with just any old thing. Her focus always seems to be on what is right for our city. Day after day we read in the paper about our kids and how our state dumps criminals here. I want some solutions and Rep. Walker is working on them with Rep. Dillon.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 22, 2008 4:55 PM

MissD
Yes I do agree these are good things and are important things. And know matter how I feel it will be wrong to her supporters, no win situation. I to watch channel 74 and the live stream at work. And yes she is really is good and sets the record straight for the city. But again I felt this year their where budget issues that needed to be at the top of the latter (in my eyes) that she should of been pressing for all along not just at the end. Again I am not downing her so don't read into it. And to reiderate for a 3rd time I stated "I never really followed Walker".

But hey that is what the polls are for right. I am sure she will cruse right through election day.

Posted by: What | May 22, 2008 4:59 PM

Visitor:

Didn't your mama teach you that interrupting someone in a conversation is RUDE. If that is the way that Rep. Walker or the Mayor have taught him to operate, then I am definitely going to vote for Jackie.

Skip: Rep. Walker works for the Board of Ed, which means that she works for John DeStefano. As long as there is that relationship, she will never be independent.

Missd: Rep. Walker does not work with Rep. Dillon, John Destefano has effectively destroyed that relationship.

Posted by: Exiled Italian Shill | May 22, 2008 5:45 PM

I hate to burst anyone's bubble but I will.

Jackie James is going to drop out of the race in the next few days. Why? Because she has 0% chance of winning. Her own team could not muster enough signatures to get on the ballot in an uncontested DTC race and know Jackie believes that she is entitled to picking her own chairs to fill vacancies.

Back in the Stalinist, heady days of Julio Gonzalez running city hall and Jorge Perez/Phil Voigt as the Presidents the Alders were NEVER allowed to pick their own chairs, Voigt or Belletto told them who they got and that was it. The town committee operated much more smoothly and was much more of a unified team.

Posted by: shriner | May 22, 2008 10:24 PM

Toni is a leader for juvenile justice, in not only connecticut, but up and down the eastern seaboard. She is very well known for her legislation proposals that are already producing positive outcomes. I wish Jackie lived on my side of town- or any other side of town for that matter. New Haven could definitely use both of these women in hartford- their conviction and follow-through is unparalleled.

Posted by: outcast | May 22, 2008 10:59 PM

Toni Must remember when she was elected into office or should I say, when the position was given to her after John Cox won the seat, she was a newly elected official and New Haven wasn't weaken.

Now for the comment that was made when she said "If James were to be elected, "that would weaken [New Haven's] power" at the Capitol. Toni Walker also she said "To try to weaken the power would be a disaster for New Haven." That's why the 93 district need this chane because of sell out and brought people just like her. It time for this district get a leader that owes no ties to this local goverment.

Remember she owes the Mayor for giving her daughter a job after running his campaign and now her son in law for a do nothing position he's getting paid to do.

We need a leader that is not going to mine telling the Mayor to first get rid of his appointed staff that worked on his campaign that is duplicating city services and lay them off first before you ask for the unions to give back anything.

Back to Toni Walker, she doesn't fight for the rights of her district and the 93rd district must get rid of all of the house servants.

Now is the time to make a change!

Jackie James I watched you at work and I will support you from ward 29 and I will walk every block for you and some to get rid of Toni Walker.

Posted by: MissD | May 23, 2008 6:42 AM

What:
Last time I looked they all work for someone cause state reps are part-time. In fact Rep. Dyson worked for the Board of Ed, remeber.

Posted by: True New Havener | May 23, 2008 8:20 AM

Cedar Hill:

I usually love your comments but boy are you off on this one. Toni fights for the city like almost no one else. And stands up for kids at the margin as well.

She also has worked like heck to get more state money for New Haven this cycle and every cycle.

Jackie is "nice enough" (as Barack says) and a lot of fun in terms of creating a ruckus. But I think it would be fair to say that she has not accomplished a lot. She would probably not even disagree with this but would blame it on DeStefano -- that because they don't get along her ideas don't move forward.

Fair enough but one could argue that there are aldermen that don't get along with the Mayor who still accomplish things (Jackson-Brooks, Perez) and aldermen who get along fine with the Mayor and accomplish very little (no names :).

Wasn't Walker a strong supporter of James when DeStefano tried to knock James out? If so, it seems like Jackie really has chosen an odd person to go after. I wonder if Toni regrets her earlier support or just attributes it to trying to do the right thing at the time.

But I agree with an early poster. If James does run, it will be a wipe out, even if Yale's unions either put her up to it or support her in the election. Toni will probably beat Jackie by something like 80-20, leaving James very vulnerable in her aldermanic race a year later.

So that might be a democratic fight worth having. Though again like the earlier poster, I doubt this will go forward. Instead, some of James' supporters will not want to make enemies with a powerful and popular legislator while facing an obvious loss and will talk her off the ledge.

One last thing -- how odd is it that we have two women state legislators whose first name is Toni.

Probably as likely as any of us 4 years ago would have thought that the name of our next president would be Barack. But it will be -- oh yeah that was another time I disagreed with you Cedar Hill -- and boy were you wrong on that one. Yes we can!!

Posted by: What? | May 23, 2008 8:31 AM

Missd:

Part time at over $30 per year for 3 or 4 months work. Of course they work somewhere else, but as a city hack, it is obvious they are bought and paid for. Bill Dyson was a school teacher, with tenure (before he was elected), so they couldn't mess with him. Toni Walker is a appointed administrator (after being elected) and could be removed from her position at any time. BIG difference.

Posted by: Actually | May 23, 2008 11:00 AM

What?:

You are incorrect about that! She was made an administrator (which also has a union like teachers) BEFORE being elected. Check your facts before you post!

Posted by: Luis in Hartford | May 23, 2008 12:11 PM

As a newbie to the statewide political arena, I've heard nothing but praise re: the "two toni's" ranging from issues of public safety and everything regarding youth development. Rep. Walker is highly regarded by non-politicians at DCF as an informed advocate and has some serious pull. It would seem to be a shame for such a voice to be removed over simple politics. Unfortunately that is the way of the big cities where us people of color are always fighting for the small pieces of pie we allowed to partake of.

Hartford is in the midst of a similar controversy where the Democratic Town Committee has nominated old gaurd Abe Giles (of Hartford parking lot infamy) in a race against Deputy House Speaker Marie Kirkley Bey...that's right, we got ourselves someone in leadership and because she backed teh wrong guy in the last mayoral elections...she gotta pay.

long live 3rd parties

Posted by: Cpt. Moonlight | May 23, 2008 1:46 PM

Brilliant move by either the Malloy or Amann camp to stir the pot in New Haven. Just follow the money in the race.

Posted by: True New Havener | May 24, 2008 7:53 AM

Luis is absolutely right. Toni Walker and Marie Kirkley Bey are two of the biggest advocates for the poor and particularly poor children in Hartford.

To replace them with Giles or James would be ridiculous. And awful for our state.

But I would not worry too much in either case.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 25, 2008 3:53 PM

True New Havener I have come to respect your opinion. And I will continue to. But I have to ask one thing....is it such a bad thing that their are people out there wanting to run against people. Do you not think that will keep them on their game? I wish more people would run for these positions. Isn't that what makes the US a great and wonderful place? To discourage people from running is not what we need in this country right now! Especially in this city.

Posted by: outcast | May 25, 2008 11:52 PM

One question for Toni Walker, will you stand up for the people in this city and tell the Mayor to lay off his apponitee's first ( the one's that worked on his campaign during Mayor election and Governor Election which includes your son in law Paul the lobbies) and keep the poor people that you fight for on their job?

How can you all forget, Toni Walker said that she wanted to run against Toni Harp for her possition as State Senator, now she was cutting Harp in the back when she was supporting Walker.

I encourage the challenge with Walker and James, let have a great debate against them both and let the people decide who the want in office.

Jackie jame go for it and make all the people know that this is about fair democracy.

Posted by: Fairhavengal | May 26, 2008 8:40 PM

Outcast:
Just to correct you, but Toni Walker never wanted to run against Toni Harp. That, I believe, was a rumor started to create chaos.

I am all for debate but let's try to keep it honest.

Posted by: eastshoreguy | May 27, 2008 8:17 AM

now that the Sandman has come out in support of Walker and in opposition of his colleague I wonder who off of the board will take sides next? I wonder how many are going to not be public but work behind the scenes? Such political drama!

This is where an alternate news outlet like the independent will have the chance to cover the weekly grind of the local campaign trail. So much more refreshing than national politics playing out going into november. please mr. independent editor keep covering all this intrigue. readers want to know what the council members in walkers district are going to do and who they are going to support? who will toni harp support? what about george perez?

so many questions makes this race more interesting than the dyson seat.

Posted by: IRA JOHNSON | June 21, 2008 12:44 AM

Ha,Ha this is a joke to me and Senator Walker Edmonds has my 100 percent support, ya see how quickly people forget their friends. By no means at all am I upset but I ran against Jackie in September and I fought her alone, to my amazement Senator Walker Edmonds was out with her and supporting her.

Jackie James has the community interest in mind as long as she is getting something out of it.

Dyson Ends An Era

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