Thomas Breen Photo
Elicker cooling off with pineapple juice on the campaign trail outside Fair Haven’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
In radio interview, primary victor speaks of need to give Harp “space” to decide on general-election run.
Elicker further promised to be a UNITEr — as in a partner with Yale’s politically influential UNITE HERE union locals.
Elicker made those remarks, discussed what the primary revealed about New Haven, and answered listener questions, during an appearance Thursday on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. (Click on the play arrow to watch it.)
The appearance came two days after he defeated three-term incumbent Toni Harp by a surprising 58 – 42 percent final tally to capture the Democratic nomination. Now the city is waiting for Harp to decide whether to proceed with a third-party campaign for the Nov. 5 general election, in which over 16,000 unaffiliated and over 2,400 Republican voters are eligible to cast ballots. The Working Families Party, which has a ballot line, endorsed her, guaranteeing her the option of appearing on the ballot even after losing the primary.
In the interview, Elicker said he is taking care not to answer questions as though he has won the election to become the next mayor. He said he won’t discuss possible appointments, for instance.
“I think it’s important to give Mayor Harp space to make a decision. Mayor Harp has been in a position of public service for 30-plus years. And I think it’s important to not be presumptuous,” he said.
Some eyebrows were raised when Gov. Ned Lamont and other top Democrats planned to attend a Thursday afternoon “unity” event with Elicker on Orange Street. Mayor Harp had given Lamont an influential endorsement in his gubernatorial primary campaign last year; Lamont did not endorse her primary campaign in turn this year, but then he agreed quickly to endorse Elicker’s general election campaign before Harp had announced a decision on the future of her own quest. The “unity” event was subsequently postponed until next week; “scheduling conflicts” were officially cited.
If Harp decides to continue campaigning, or even if she suspends the campaign but keeps her name on the ballot, Elicker said, “we’re in full campaign mode. I don’t like to leave things to chance. We need to take it seriously if someone’s name is on the ballot.”
“I do think if Mayor Harp decides to drop out, it gives a lot more time for me and my team to focus on a transition. I think there’s a real benefit to the city to not having a month and a half to get things together, but having three and a half months to get things together,” Elicker said.
Activists Urn Pendragon and Wendy Hamilton successfully petitioned to have their names appear as well on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Elicker said he will make a point of reaching out to Harp supporters if he becomes the next mayor. He promised to be a uniter rather than a divider. He spoke of the need for politicians to avoid acting vindictively in victory: “That’s not the type of person I am. It is also not the recipe for success.”
Labor Outreach
Labor canvassers Jess Corbett and Scotticesa Marks (center and right) pitch voter Wendy Clayton on primary day.
He began that outreach after Tuesday’s primary election. He called leaders and alders associated with UNITE HERE, which supports a majority of Board of Alders members and is considered to field the most influential vote-pulling operation in town. UNITE HERE endorsed Harp in the primary campaign. It canvassed voters for her.
In the interview, Elicker praised UNITE HERE’s role in local politics.
“The vision of UNITE HERE and my vision for New Haven align. Over time we will build that trust. If I do become New Haven’s next mayor, I think that my actions will prove that,” he said.
Reached for comment, UNITE HERE Local 35 President Bob Proto expressed a desire to work with Elicker. He praised Elicker for how hard he worked in the primary campaign and for highlighting the needs of “overlooked neighborhoods.”
“I’m looking forward to and hopeful that there’s going to be some positive change Justin can make,” said Proto (pictured), who also heads the Central Labor Council (another Harp primary endorser).
Elicker was asked about pressure placed on developers to recognize unions if they want to build hotels in New Haven. UNITE HERE-backed alders came under criticism for attempting to apply that pressure by holding up zoning approvals. Mayor Harp said publicly that she expects developers who want to build here to have unionized workforces.
Elicker said as mayor he too would express that expectation. He said he would not pursue that expectation through individual zoning approvals.
“You can’t hold up a variance or a special exemption because you want them to do something that has nothing to do with that application,” Elicker noted. “It’s important that we abide by the law, both because that’s the right thing we do, and also because we can get sued. …
“There’s a difference between saying, ‘We have an expectation’ and ‘We have a requirement.’ Yes, I will say we have that expectation. We can’t require that legally. There are many ways to nudge people and create a landscape where they have to do things.”
For instance, he said, he would negotiate project labor agreements and percentages of affordable housing when the city sells land to developers (a tack Harp has taken as well). He said he would pursue changes to the zoning code to require affordable-housing minimums in larger residential projects.
During the campaign, construction union leaders told him they want New Haven’s mayor to urge potential developers to meet with them to hear their pitch for local hiring. Elicker promised to do that.
“Two to three part-time jobs are not going to make ends meet and not create a career,” Elicker said. “Unions create a career that allow for a middle-class lifestyle.”
In the interview, Elicker also said that unlike when he last ran for mayor six years ago, he heard often on the trail this time about affordable housing — pretty much at every other door he knocked on. He also heard a lot more complaints this time about the school system.
New Haven Has Not Spoken, Only The Democratic Machine Has Spoke. The People of New Haven will Now Start to pay attention to the Truth. The truth is the Democratic Machine has distorted lies about Mayor Harp, and blamed her for sins of past administrators. Actually sins of the Past Machine policies.
All we know about Elicker is that he was backed by the town committee that did not want to see its power go away from them so they distorted the mayor's records
Elicker stands for nothing, he is on record for nothing, all he did was attack a decent woman's integrity and accomplishments.
So therefore the Committee at, The Cause , Officially encourage Mayor Harp to RUN!!!
Mayor Harp, You did not leave the Democratic Party, The Machine Took it from you. So Now please run for all the people of New Haven. Not just the 7000 party machinist. Elicker is a marionette, a puppet on a string that who's handles are held in a back office in Hartford. NEW HAVEN Unite behind our Mayor....Run Toni Run...Fight for The Cause!!!!