New Haven Independent

Two of the four Republican aldermanic candidates who were fielded at a July GOP convention have decided not to run for office this year.

That leaves only two Republicans actively seeking office in a Nov. 3 municipal election for 30 aldermanic seats, and none running for mayor or city clerk. The two GOP candidates are Ward 18 Alderwoman Arlene DePino, the board’s only Republican; and James O’Connell in Westville’s Ward 26.

The three other contested aldermanic races in town don’t involve the GOP: Democrat Justin Elicker is challenging Ward 10 Green Alderman Allan Brison; independent candidate Maureen O’Sullivan-Best is up against Ward 11 Alderman Robert Lee; and Democrat Cordelia Thorpe faces Ward 22 Alderman Greg Morehead, who’s also a Democrat.

Wooster Square

In Wooster Square, Alan Dalaku (in photo above) said he has abandoned his plans to unseat Ward 8 Alderman Mike Smart, a Democrat. He said he does not plan to do any campaigning, because he’s unemployed and is still seeking a full-time job.

“I can’t go out and say I can take care of the city when I’m still trying to take care of myself and my wife,” he said.

He said he’s leaving his name on the ballot just to see if anyone votes for him.

Alderman Smart said he understands his opponent’s move given “these economic times.” He hadn’t heard a peep from Dalaku.

“People should have a choice” in elections, Smart said. “But I also think that candidates that run should really be serious about running, and challenge folks that are not doing their jobs.” To run a campaign “just to run,” without a strong platform, “I don’t think that that makes a whole lot of sense.”

East Rock

In East Rock, Republican Grant Kreizenbeck has withdrawn his bid to challenge Ward 9 Alderman Roland Lemar, a Democrat.

“It was kind of a shotgun thing,” said Kreizenbeck of his candidacy.

Kreizenbeck (pictured), who works in finance in Westport, said he decided he would not have time to be a good alderman and keep up his commitment to his job. He made his decision known in a formal letter to the city clerk last week.

The news came as a disappointment to Alderman Lemar.

“I was looking forward to generating ideas and discussions,” Lemar said Wednesday upon hearing the news. ‘There’s nothing like” a political contest to “bring new ideas to the table.”

“It’s a good thing when candidates are challenged,” he said. Lemar said he reached out to Kreizenbeck three or four times to talk about holding neighborhood forums together, but never heard back.

The East Rock Management Team invited Kreizenbeck to join Lemar and Ward 10 candidates in a debate at East Rock Magnet School on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m., but Kreizenbeck never responded.

“I’m pretty sure his name is going to be on the ballot, and I’ll continue my campaign,” Lemar said.

Sally Brown, deputy city clerk, said she got Kreizenbeck’s letter of withdrawal on Tuesday. On Wednesday, she had her staff go through absentee ballots with a black marker and cross out Kreizenbeck’s name.

Democratic Registrar of Voters Sharon Ferrucci said when she found out Tuesday that Kreizenbeck is dropping out, she ordered 1,600 new ballots for the polling station at East Rock Magnet School.

Secretary of State spokesman Av Harris said the state does not pay for cities to reprint ballots for municipal elections. Candidates can withdraw from the race up to 24 hours before Election Day, according to Ferrucci.

Lemar said he’s raised $575 for his campaign. (That total isn’t noted on campaign finance forms because he’s part of a slate, the East Side Democrats.) Lemar lawn signs are already prominently planted along the East Rock streets. He said he’ll continue with a few literature drops as well as making calls to bring people to the polls on Election Day.

Two Races Still On

Meanwhile, in Morris Cove, Alderwoman Arlene DePino is seeking a fifth two-year term in office. Besides lone Republican DePino, the Board of Aldermen has one Green and 28 Democrats.

DePino (pictured) faces a challenge from neighborhood activist Susan Campion, who’s best known for her work on zoning battles against the city.

Campion, the Democratic-endorsed candidate, is gearing up for another rematch. The two have faced off twice before: In 2001, DePino beat Campion 864 to 477. In 2003, DePino beat her 691 to 473.

In Westville, Republican James O’Connell, a 56-year-old high school teacher and paramedic, is challenging Ward 26 Alderman Sergio Rodriguez. Reached Tuesday evening, he had just stepped inside the house from a round of door-knocking. He has run “two or three times” for alderman before without snagging a seat on the board.

“This year, my biggest thing is that there’s very few remnants of a two-party system left in New Haven,” he said.

The ward has about 2,400 voters, with just shy of 1,600 Democrats and fewer than 100 Republicans.

“I know I face some humongous odds here,” he said. But “I believe it’s important to leave the options for our voters.”