New Haven Independent

posted by: Philip OConnor on March 2, 2010  11:51pm

To me its funny that 4 candidates for co chair of the democratic ward 8 spent a lot of money and time for those respective positions. Because for the republican side if I were to go for the same position they would ask me when can I start. Republicans don’t exist to much in New Haven and the one’s that do don’t speak up.

posted by: Could on March 3, 2010  7:32am

Good job Chris and Carmen! I’m really happy about Greg and Frank too!  I can’t see how Ward 8 impacts Roland’s race for State Rep ( i know how some people are trying to say that it does so that they can jump in.  I and my neighbors each voted for Chris Randall today, but we would vote for Roland over Smart in a heartbeat)

posted by: East Rock on March 3, 2010  8:09am

What a great day for Ward 8!  Congratulations Carmen, Chris and Mike.  I live in East Rock but have had some issues with the City that Mike Smart helped resolve, so I was familiar with him and his team.  Through this election, a lot more of us on this side of State St learned our ward was more than just East Rock.  If Kerry and Lisa hadn’t run, we probably still wouldn’t know.  Let’s stay involved.

posted by: what on March 3, 2010  8:21am

Could:

Roland, is that you? LOL. So the Lemar people are already trying to spin the results. Of course this race impacts Rep race. These folks will be voting to nominate a candidate.

posted by: ever heard of a primary? on March 3, 2010  9:33am

what:

I’m not sure most voters understand the role that ward co-chairs play in party endorsements.  I’m not sure most ward co-chairs understand the role ward co-chairs play in party endorsements.  And, at the end of the day, regardless of who the party endorses there will be a primary in the 96th and that vote will be all that matters in that race.  It’ll be interesting and I don’t think anyone is going to run away with it but I’m not sure how much yesterday’s vote actually mattered.

posted by: Disappointed East Rock ward 8'er on March 3, 2010  9:40am

A disappointing outcome for those supporting the scrappy, hardworking underdogs in Ward 8….who have done a much better job of representing and serving the “East Rock sliver” of the ward than we’ve ever gotten from the incumbents.  Here’s hoping this will prevent Randall, Rodriguez, Smart, etc from taking our portion of the ward for granted again.  (Though it may have the opposite effect, as they won not by courting our neighborhoods, but by building up their traditional base instead—they were absolutely invisible here during the campaign, except for hastily left flyers (no doorbell rings) 2 days before the election.  I continue to see Roland as “my” alderman (as do most residents here) when I actually need something done, or need news from the City.

And I look forward to the results of the investigation of SignatureGate….which if true is a sign of contempt for the voters and the system.

posted by: streever on March 3, 2010  9:41am

What:
Actually, no. A delegation will vote on the endorsement, and because the district crosses town lines, it’s a town wide pool of voters the delegates are drawn from.

Really folks, try to educate yourselves before you bash people who aren’t even part of the debate! (Sorry if I’m being too tough on you, but Roland rocks, and would never stoop to anonymous comments to “spin” anything—he’s too busy going door to door and talking to voters)

Congratulations to Chris & Carmen! I know & respect Chris an inordinate amount, but was really hoping either Lisa or Karri could get on the Ward Committee. I think they’ve done more to point out that Mike Smart is simply not there for his neighborhood. I think that Mike Smart is not responsible to his own constitutes—both in Wooster Square and in East Rock—and even in Farnham Court, where he is very popular.

Have conditions gotten better in his Ward during his tenure as Alderman? That’s the real question. Not who is he friends with, or what does he support, but has he obtained results for his neighbors.

I know too many people who live in his ward (on both sides of State Street) who report that he hasn’t returned 8 or more phone calls.

My friend Tom Harned lived in his ward—if you know Tom, you know he’s an active and credible individual who does a lot. The fact that Mike Smart couldn’t return 8 of his calls over a period of a year speaks volumes to me about Smart’s character & his priorities.

I hope he’s finally realized that a lot of people want more out of their alderman, and if he’s not really willing to serve his neighborhood, he should stop running.

Will this affect Roland’s race? Hell no….  Could Smart “spoil” the race by dividing the vote? Maybe. I’m unconvinced that he can get enough votes in his own neighborhood to do that when it comes to state rep, and I’ll be heavily pounding pavement in his territory for Roland, who will do more & improve our entire district if elected.

Even if you love Mike Smart, I don’t think you can find a single person who was ignored by Roland for a period of a year while he was their Alder. Dollars to doughnuts says I can find you several who have been ignored by Mike Smart.

posted by: What on March 3, 2010  10:24am

Streever:

You can put your pom poms down now. Smart and his team SLAUGHTERED Lemar and his team. We all know the way the system works, and now Lemar has two less votes for the nomination (conversaly, Smart has two more). It’s you that needs the education.

So how does Smart now become the spoiler, as you state? I think it is the other way around, Lemar should drop out so as to not spoil Smart’s chances for a victory in the 96th. And by the way, the voters made it crystal clear who they support (SMART). This idea that his team can capture 59% of the vote, and somehow you can state that “Mike Smart is not responsible to his own constitutes—both in Wooster Square and in East Rock—and even in Farnham Court” is preposterous and simple on its face.

posted by: Bruce on March 3, 2010  10:26am

People in the 8th ward East Rock sliver should work hard to get the boundaries properly drawn when redistricting comes up in the next year or so.  As I have said before, the redistricting process is so egregiously self-serving to the Dem power brokers that it is actually humorous to watch. That sliver was actually cut out of the 8th in the first draft of the last revision process, but then added back in at the request of one well-connected resident.

posted by: Michaelangelo on March 3, 2010  10:34am

Great job by both teams, but I was definitely pulling for Lisa and Karri. The overall turn out for this type of race was pretty amazing.

I’m an active member of various activities in this community and chair of my blockwatch. I was born and raised on Bishop St, so I have a great appreciation for the transformation on State St and the efforts by many of our community leaders.

I have to say…Mr. Smart and his team need to make more of an effort in the entire Ward if you are truly representing all of us. It’s one thing to “appreciate diversity in this city”, but it’s another to truly represent the diversity of the people in it.

To this point…the elected team has a lot to prove in that regard and hopefully this election was an eye opener for them. All it takes is showing up to couple of meetings or returning a few phone calls for people to feel that there voices are being heard.

posted by: Outside Ward 8 Perspective on March 3, 2010  10:37am

While a lot has been said about the incumbents in Ward 8 neglecting SOHU, there wasn’t any mention of the challengers ability to successfully reach out to the rest of the ward during the campaign. That is to say, were the challengers able to build support in more diverse areas of the ward (e.g. Farnham Courts)? It doesn’t seem like they were and that probably cost them. Their campaign manager admitted this fact,

“We’re political neophytes,” he said. Smith was running his first-ever campaign. Brady just moved to New Haven two years ago to take a job at Yale. Siedlarz is a life-long New Havener, but her support didn’t appear to extend far beyond the East Rock sliver of the ward. Alderman Smart had a stronger network of supporters across his ward, Smith said.”

The challengers did a great job of bringing attention to the neglected part of the ward, and we may never know how successful they may have been in bringing improvements to the rest of Ward 8 as they had done in SOHU (i.e. block watches, etc.). However, I would recommend attempting to heal these wounds in Ward 8, if possible. Keep after your Alderman. If Smart is really that neglectful of his consitutents keep bringing attention to it. The NHI has already proven they will cover this. Good work to all! This was the most exciting co-chair race I’ve ever witnessed.

posted by: fairhaven on March 3, 2010  10:41am

Well it is about time that Mr. Torres is in our ward we need someone who is going to work for us and walking with his dog at night shows me that he cares and that is why I voted for Mr. Ramos and Mr. Torres it was a long time coming to get new blood in our ward my hat off to the two of you.

posted by: anonymous william str resident on March 3, 2010  10:48am

Good job Carmen and Chris. youve done a great job over the laste few years and i know william street thanks you. It seems like the opposition did a lot of work and spent a lot of money for this race. Mike Smart is a good man with a good team. Ive seen him cleaning other peoples sidewalks !!!

posted by: Greg Smith on March 3, 2010  11:06am

I would like to Congradulate Ward 8 as well as all of the winners in Last night elections. I would also like to Thank Gwen Mills and her team for the successful outcome for both Frank Douglass and I. Thank you Debbie Davis and Mark Griffin for the respectful race ran in Ward 2, and no mud slinging. We look forward to working with everyone in Ward 2 and throughout the City of New Haven. Again Congradulations to all.

posted by: David on March 3, 2010  11:08am

To What,

I will respond more with a detailed explanation but I have to say I am surprised at your analysis.  You say that Smart has two more votes and Lemar has two less.  However, Smart’s votes were incumbent votes.  That they successfully defended their seats does not help Smart in his potential bid. 

Smart was playing defense.  Lemar was playing offense.  Smart “won” in that he didn’t lose and spoil any chance of the nomination.  Had Lemar won, it would have been a significant boost to him.  Smart winning is just the status quo.

Also, I will get more into this soon but you should look at a map of the 96th district before thinking that Smart is going to walk to the nomination.  If he were going to, he would announce already.  If Ward 8 was the only ward in the district, you would be right.  But you are just dead, dead wrong.

David

posted by: Aaron on March 3, 2010  11:11am

I’m not sure why everyone is focusing on the 96th race.  These races don’t matter much at all, and I think, from talking to folks on both sides, that no one really viewed this as Mike vs. Roland.  I like both of them, which I know is a bit of a misnomer considering it appears that they don’t care for each other all that much, which I wasn’t aware of.  Two years ago, Charlie Blango beat Gary Holder-Winfield in Charlie’s ward.  By a lot.  Gary overwhelmingly won the rest of the district.  I would have expected Mike to win this race, in his own ward, just like I would have expected Roland to win a co-chair race in Ward 9.  If Mike and Roland both run, they will each have to demonstrate an ability to do more than just win their own wards.  They each have their strengths and weaknesses and are very different types of alders and would be different types of State Reps. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.  This what democracy is about.

posted by: What on March 3, 2010  12:17pm

Oh, just one correction, with the ABs counted, Smart and his team actually pulled 75%+ of the vote. My badd.

posted by: Allan Brison on March 3, 2010  12:27pm

Talk about spins!!!

The victory in Ward 8 can only be seen as an incredible grass roots victory by Chris and Carmen and their team, and a resounding endorsement of Alderman Michael Smart.

I’m sure that the two ladies had noble intentions but I find the claim of political neophytism to be a little disingenuous given the big-time involvement of neighboring Alderman Lemar, as well as the support of City Hall. This support is evidenced by the involvement of the Mayor’s Chief Administrative Officer, Rob Smuts who, as reported, took the day off to help (is this ethical?), and that of City Hall veteran vote puller, Brian McGrath (not reported in the story but very present.)

How many other City Hall folks “took the day off”?

To say that this race will have no effect on the 96th State Rep race is silly. Whether at the party endorsement level or the primary voting level, Lemar would have greatly benefitted from having his co-chairs in place in this chunk of the 96th. Even if Michael decides not to run, Lemar has his work cut out for him with announced opposition for Hamden School Board President Mike D’Agostino, possible opposition from Debbie Hauser, and one or two other New Haven folks who are seriously considering.

Allan Brison

posted by: streever on March 3, 2010  1:39pm

What:

You really don’t understand how it works. You must be outside of the 96th district, because the 96th district does not work as the other districts in New Haven do, because it crosses town lines. The system for determining delegates and the nomination is very different.

posted by: streever on March 3, 2010  1:44pm

What:

Just to refute individual points—

1. Where did Smart get these votes? you diminish Chris Randall’s work. Chris is an incredibly capable and hard-working individual who really campaigned hard & has done a lot for his neighbors. That’s why they captured the votes.

2. Pom poms? I congratulated Chris & Carmen. I should stop?

3. Smart hasn’t gained 2 votes. You seriously misunderstand the way that the nomination is given. Call Chris or Mike Smart & ask them if you don’t believe me. The 96th district crosses town lines and so the delegates may come from the entire pool of the Democratic Town Committee. I’m sorry, but this is how it was explained to me by the candidates and the Democratic Town Committee. As they are in charge of the nomination process, I don’t think they would be incorrect about this.

posted by: angelo on March 3, 2010  1:57pm

as someone with no horse in this race, as an objective look at any election where the incumbents are challenged, there is little to see here.  The chalengers got a reasonable protest vote, but nothing showing dramatic dissatisfaction, turnout was larger than usual, showing a good organizational effort by the incumbents, and there is little to divine about how this will affect the Representative race.  Brison, with his typical brand of wisdom, seems to assume that a vote for the Samrt team is a vote for anyone who runs against Lemar.  That kind of reasoning sums up why Brison is a one-term, ex-alderman, who, unlike ths race, lost 2-1 to an insurgent.

posted by: Everyone's spin should stop on March 3, 2010  3:12pm

I agree that I don’t see much relevance between this race and the 96th race, but let’s be honest on both sides.  Lemar is clearly “in the lead” right now, which is worth something but not much. He is trying to position himself as the candidate to beat, which pisses off a lot of other potential candidates, so they are all trying anything they can to undercut his advantages, spin meaningless victories, like this, into something bigger.  Lemar should be a big boy and take it…and his folks shouldn’t protest too much, or else it looks a little desperate and makes it seem bigger than it is. Getting hit by folks now is the price to be paid for being ahead at this point, and Roland shouldn’t let his “likeability” factor delude him into thinking that he can mend all fences.  Roland is very vulnerable, and his potential opponents are right to jump on whatever they can to make him looker weaker than he is. He locked up a lot of key support early, has been a fantastic Alder and has great support throughout the district. On the issues, he should see great support from the unions and the political establishment alike.  The base of the 96th is in Roland’s wheelhouse, he will work harder than any other candidate, and while insanely liberal, he should realisticly be the candidate to be beat. but, if he continues to piss people off and gives someone the opportunity to unify an opposition, he will be very vulnerable. these races are toss-ups as they are, any candidate can win and Lemar has a habit of picking fights that he should stay out of.  He did it here because one of the candidates was a friend, and most folks in the political arena appreciated the tough spot Roland was in, but he still lost and there will be a cost, likely small, but there will be a cost just the same. He should pay it. He is the best candidate, but Hauser, Smart and their allies should be in a position to get something from Lemar now in order to pull the New Haven team back together to take on the Hamden candidate, who is likely licking his lips at this.

Be more careful Roland.

posted by: Clean Up on March 3, 2010  4:23pm

Will Karri and Lisa please take a spin through the ward and pick up all of the yard signs their supporters planted on public land? I saw them at the highway entrance on Franklin and in the park this morning. I’m sure there are more. There’s nothing more annoying than people who put those signs up everywhere on election day, and then don’t bother to remove them (our mayor being the biggest offender). Thanks.

posted by: I don't care about the politics on March 3, 2010  4:54pm

Best “insider” news in this story?  Roland and Rob actually working together again. They’ll never be the same, and Rob is likely soon on his way out, but a whole bunch of people were happy to read that one small sentence above.  For those not “in the know”, the Smuts/Lemar freeze was one of the worst examples of how politics ruins everything, including strong friendships.  Good job Melissa on picking this little story up, and knowing that it was relevant to state ;)

posted by: Just sayin' on March 3, 2010  5:24pm

Main Entry: grass·roots
Pronunciation: \ˈgras-ˌrüts, -ˌru̇ts\
Variant(s): also grass·root \-ˌrüt, -ˌru̇t\
Function: adjective
Date: 1907

1 : basic, fundamental <the grassroots factor in deciding to buy a house>
2 : being, originating, or operating in or at the grass roots <a > <grassroots political support>
3 : not adapted from or added to an existing facility or operation : totally new <a >
http://www.merriam-webster.com

Mr. Brison,
I fail to understand how this was an “incredible grass roots victory.”  The above is the Merriam-Webster definition of the term “grass roots.”  Clearly, when referring to political activity, this term has taken on a fairly flexible meaning, but it is generally understood to represent a movement that originates from activity by people within a political subdivision who are not normally involved in political process, or in the existing political power structure.
That said, this race was won by a pair incumbents, both of whom have served on the Democratic Town Committee for multiple terms, who were supported by the current alderman as well as “a team of vote pullers” from a Yale union, the president of the fire union, and three aldermen from non-adjacent neighborhoods.  Additionally, according to Gwen Mills, the union political operative running the vote-pulling operation, their collective support “stems from a years-long relationship with all three parts of the incumbent Ward 8 team.”  Finally, the team is currently suspected of having forged signatures on the petition they used to get their names on the ballot.  This does not sound anything like even the most liberal definition of a “grass roots” movement, but of the success of a well-operated political machine in defending two seats it has held for years.
The people they won this race against were, in fact, political neophytes, owing to the fact that they have neither held nor run for elected office before.  The help of a few volunteers who have been involved in the political process before is a smart way to help win a race, especially if the candidates and other team members have no previous experience in politics.  It also does not make them part of any political machine, nor does it mean that they were trying to impose themselves upon the community.  There is nothing wrong with experienced political activists helping out a campaign they support.
The fact that this was not a “grassroots victory” does not implicate the victors as malicious, nor does it mean that they used illegal or unethical tactics in securing their victory, although the issue pertaining to the signatures does seem to indicate that some degree of illegal activity was used.  The claim that their victory was due to grassroots organizing is, as you can see, demonstrably false.

Just sayin’

posted by: Resident on March 3, 2010  5:41pm

I have to say that I am sick to death of hearing about diversity.  We want results.  The people of Farnham Court deserve decent living conditions.  Can someone tell me exactly what Alder Smart has done for them besides a “community room”?  We want safe, clean neighborhoods.  Oh, and it is not just Chris Randall out cleaning.  Many in our neighborhood take a hand in cleaning up trash, planting flowers, and being good neighbors but we also want elected officials to be responsive to usl.  Just being a diverse ticket in no way cuts it for me.  Personally, I think a person should be ‘judged by their character’ and also their actions ‘and not by the color of their skin!’

posted by: Punditto on March 3, 2010  11:50pm

The most interesting sound bite here is Smuts taking a day off to help Lemar. Smuts has been a good foot soldier and followed Johnny’s commands to the letter. Looks like he now realizes his career is better served by following a potential rising star and not a failed gubernatorial candidate.

posted by: Bob on March 4, 2010  6:09am

Machine politics is a dangerous process here in our city leading to financial disaster and ruin. Congratulations to the community victors. Let the communities represent themselves.

posted by: ANON on March 4, 2010  9:14am

Bob - the only machine here was the machine working for Rodriguez and Randall. Lets see they had the firefighters union, the yale unions, alders perez, james, castro, smart, and paolillo, civil rights attorney michael Jefferson and thousands and thousands of dollars of street money.

So who was the machine candidate(s)?