New Haven Independent: It's A 3-For All!

It’s A 3-For All!

by Paul Bass | May 21, 2008 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

And counting, in the race to replace State Rep. Bill Dyson.

Willie Greene Wednesday became the third candidate to say he’s running for New Haven’s 94th State Rep. seat.

Bill Dyson, who holds that seat, is widely expected to announce at a party convention at Celentano School Wednesday night that he won’t run again. Dyson first won the seat in 1976; he has served longer than any other current state representative. He’s also among the most outspoken and independent politicians in town.

Dyson (pictured) hasn’t publicly stated that he’s retiring. In remarks to the Independent Tuesday and to the Register he said he’ll declare his decision at the convention but signalled that he’s leaning that way. In the political community, his retirement is considered a given.

So, in a city in which state legislative seats can remain in an incumbent’s unchallenged hands for decades, would-be successors are lining up.

It became clear Wednesday that even without Dyson, political independence will remain a central issue in the district.

The presumptive front-runner is Newhallville Alderman Charles Blango, who’s backed by City Hall and the Democratic machine.

Activist Gary Holder-Winfield (pictured), a former intern of Bill Dyson, also has been putting together a Democratic campaign. Click here for an earlier article about the two.

Willie Greene, the 21th Ward Democratic co-chair and a former three-term Newhallville alderman, said Wednesday he decided to run, too, after speaking with Dyson. He said Dyson “made it clear” he’s retiring.

“I’m not going for the nomination. Charles Blango has its sewn up,” Greene said. Rather, he said, he plans to take out papers Thursday to run in a Democratic primary.

Greene praised Blango as a “very nice guy.” But he called Blango too tied to the Democratic machine, especially since he works for the Board of Education, one of five aldermen on mayorally-controlled payrolls.

“People need to take a look and see what has he really done now on the Board of Aldermen. He hasn’t stood and championed any causes other than what the mayor wanted,” said Greene, who’s 59 and said he works as a financial advisor and an out-of-town teacher. Greene mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic mayoral nomination last year.

“It’s difficult to be a real challenger in the city of New Haven when your primary source of income comes from the city, the Board of Education,” Greene said of Blango. “In his heart of hearts he wanted to do the right thing. But he’s never been able to stand up and say, ‘This is wrong.’ I don’t believe you can be effective when you’re working for the city of New Haven.”

“I beg to differ,” Blango (pictured) responded Wednesday. “Sometimes the mayor does have great ideas. If you have a great idea, I’m not going to not go with your idea. If you look at my record, when you look at for the last three years, as far as trying to get a 1 percent sales tax, a commuter tax, even raising the meters a quarter, I have stood for that. When you look at the senior freeze, I went across party lines with a Republican.”

Blango named several times he has broken with City Hall: on whether to cut funding for Tweed-New Haven Airport, whom to back for the board presidency in 2005 (he chose Jorge Perez over City Hall-backed Carl Goldfield), and the terms of an administration plan to spin off the solid waste authority as an independent entity in order to plug a budget hold with one-time revenues.

Blango, like the other candidates, had nothing but praise for Bill Dyson.

“It was never about Mr. Dyson,” Blango said of his candidacy. “I respect him. He’s an icon. He’s a great legislator. He’s one of the greatest legislators I ever knew. This was about democracy. I have dreams and visions too.”

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Posted by: facChek | May 21, 2008 1:19 PM

Blango:

"If you look at my record, when you look at for the last three years, as far as trying to get a 1 percent sales tax, a commuter tax, even raising the meters a quarter, I have stood for that. When you look at the senior freeze, I went across party lines with a Republican."

Alright Blango lets take a look a your entire short record.

Just last year you voted to increase taxes and spending representing the largest one year increase in history of New Haven. In addition to increasing the 25 cent parking meters as you said, you also introduced the ordinance to increase all fines fees and permits including resident fees to enter the lighthouse, to an all time high. You also voted to sell the WPCA which along with that came a 63M debt.

Blango voted against the final attempt to cut the budget last year, voting with the majority of alders 20 to 10 to accept the total budget which included 30M in new spending and increasing the debt by 100M.By the way the lone republican, Depino, voted against the capital debt ordinance.

Blango you voted increase salaries for city hall senior staff, and voted to increase assistant police chief from 2 to 4 and to raise the New police chief from 108K to 160K.
You voted to accept the Shartenberg deal which gave away city land for $1.

You headed the Human services committee for the last year two years, yet you have not made one proposal which benefits your ward constituents.

That's a short look at your record.

...to be continued..!

Willie Green... forget it...

Gary Holder.... Know nothing about him.. that could be good or bad..

Biil Dyson... Please run. spare us the misery of this decision.

Posted by: Rob | May 21, 2008 1:22 PM

Greene is co-chair in Ward 21, not 20.

An interesting side-note - Bill Dyson works for the Board of Ed too. In fact, it was his challenge back in the 70s that changed the rule that used to ban employees of the Board of Ed from serving on the Board of Aldermen. He's been a state rep holding that BoE job under four different mayors - sometimes alligned with them, sometimes very much opposed but always very, very independent. It doesn't necessarily follow that someone else will act the same way, but let's not gloss over these things.

Posted by: king james v | May 21, 2008 3:32 PM

The three stooges reencarnated. Good luck 94th. You will quickly miss Mr. Dyson's honesty and integrity, and your standing in Hartford will be just a memory. ...
Mr. Dyson, thank you for what you've done for me in your tenure, i hope for your sake you move out of the 94th district, and take up fishing and enjoy your well deserved peace.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | May 21, 2008 6:07 PM

How about a debate between the three candidates, with a focus on the largest problem we face - the quality of New Haven's public education?

How would these freshmen reps. use their position to help influence the quality of education for the children living in the 94th and elsewhere?

Many people feel that what happens in our public schools is to the credit or fault of the city, and to some extent this is true. But since the state is largely responsible for upholding federal education laws and constitutional rights with respect to equal education, and it has the authority to write policy into state law which the city must then follow, it may turn out that these frosh could have some real influence on the issue.

Short of a debate, would any of you like to provide a written opinion to the NHI about what you would do to fix the schools?

Posted by: sandstorm | May 22, 2008 9:21 AM

Bill Dyson is a man of, for and about "the people".
While representing his own district and collaborating with the rest of our delegation on behalf of New Haven, he went well beyond city limits in his hard work on behalf of entire classes and
constituencies within the state.

He is an eloquent spokesman and I would welcome
his representation for any cause or organization!
His moral compass is always properly positioned.
He will be missed at the legislature, but welcomed wherever he chooses to go! He has our gratitude for what he has done and best wishes for whatever is next.

Posted by: Charlie | May 22, 2008 10:07 AM

Bill,

have always admired your work as a legislator and the fact you could be an independent, and credible voice for New Haven residents. I wish you would change your mind. As for the potential candidates, my vote is for the young guy (with a prayer that he shows half your wisdom and independence). Willie Greene: you have got to be kidding. This is a sick joke. As for Blango: this guy is so far in the Mayor's pocket I don;t think he can see daylight.

Bill, please save us!

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | May 22, 2008 1:03 PM

I would be willing to debate. I am also willing to write about what my positions are. I will do that. When I finish getting my petitions signed which is step one I will do that. Before that I will see what free time I have and try to do this but I will definitely do it when I am secure in the race by completing the petitions. Until then you can find out more about me by reading through some of my blogs at Myleftnutmeg

New Haven Independent

It’s A 3-For All!

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