nothin Elicker Opens HQ At Neighborhood Crossroads | New Haven Independent

Elicker Opens HQ At Neighborhood Crossroads

Beaver Hills and Edgewood meet at the corner Whalley Avenue and Norton Street, with Dwight and Dixwell and Westville mere blocks away.

Supporters of one of the candidates for mayor this year met at that corner, too, on Saturday, and will continue meeting there.

Thirty people attended a two-hour mid-day event to help the candidate, Justin Elicker, open the headquarters on the second floor at Wells Fargo Bank building.

Elicker — a Democratic East Rock alderman seeking to replace retiring New Haven Mayor John DeStefano — said he picked the location because it sets the tone, an inclusive campaign that takes in all neighborhoods.”

Campaign manager Kyle Buda said the organization rented the office through September with an option to extend to November. Elicker, Newhallville state Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, and former city economic development chief Henry Fernandez have all launched campaigns for the Democratic mayoral nomination, to be decided in a Sept. 10 primary. Elicker said this past week that if he loses the primary, he plans to run in the general election. At least one other candidate with broad name recognition and a potential base of support is expected to announce his candidacy soon. A Newhallville plumber named Sundiata Keitazulu has also filed papers to run.

We invited you here in large part to show you we need furniture,” Elicker joked to the crowd Saturday. The offices were at that point being fitted out with folding chairs and card tables.

The crowd included Downtown Alderman Doug Hausladen, who is backing Elicker; former East Rock Democratic ward committee co-chair Ray Sarraco, and city pension board member John Varrone. Buda said other endorsees will emerge at future events. Hausladen said he thinks Elicker will set himself apart from the field on issues like participatory budgeting, transparent governance, and support of child care.

Others present included constituents from Elicker’s ward, which covers East Rock, Cedar Hill, and a part of Fair Haven. Sarraco (pictured with Cedar Hill activist Rebecca Turcio, aka Cedar Hill Resident” in the Independent comments section) has just moved to North Haven, so he can’t vote for Elicker. But I have a lot of family [still in town] I can influence,” he said.

Christine Ucich brought the candidate some java with a message he may have already absorbed: You’ll really need coffee.”

Elicker later turned to campaign treasurer Melanie Quigley and asked, If someone gave us coffee, do we list it as a contribution?” She told him the contribution is considered in kind. She promised to assess the fair market value and so note it.

Keturah Martin presented Elicker with another in-kind contribution, a kangaroo bobblehead. He thanked her and said she can vote in future elections. Keturah and her mom Kenya Adams-Martin live in Cedar Hill. Of Elicker, Adams-Martin said, We planted trees, we painted the park benches, and he advocated for our children.”

It was all hands on deck, or under table, as Natalie Elicker took wrench to bolt. The campaign put out a call for loans of furniture along with clipboards, pens, pencils, and Kennedy and Obama memorabilia.

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