Sharing thoughts with a handful of supporters at an East Rock happy hour, mayoral hopeful Republican H. Richter Elser detailed his latest uphill battle to unseat a popular Democrat. This time around, he said, at least nobody spat at him.
Four days before Tuesday’s municipal election, when the Mayor John DeStefano Jr. is expected to sail to victory for an eighth term, Elser met supporters at the Archie Moore’s bar for an informal sit-down over hot wings. An hour into the gathering, a sole supporter (Frank Iezzi, pictured above at right with Elser) remained to hear the candidate’s thoughts.
Elser, who’s 48, has lived in New Haven since coming to Yale in 1977. He used to run Richter’s and Tibwin Grill as well as the New Haven Brewing Co. He’s now the controller for a human resources company in Seymour and consults with several New Haven private clubs.
Between sips of Guinness, Elser spoke of the need to end the town’s single-party domination, crack down on budget inflation, spur economic growth and stop providing government services to illegal immigrants. The candidate has been taking that message door to door for the past three months, after reluctantly agreeing to accept the Republican nomination for mayor.
The Republican has been concentrating his efforts in wards where Democrats swung for Republican Jodi Rell instead of supporting DeStefano for governor in 2006. He said he likes the mayor, but not the way he’s been running the city for the past 14 years. Elser’s seeking the dissent vote, people who are angry about rising taxes (up 3.8 percent this year) and a police department plagued by a corruption scandal and a worrisome spike in shootings.
“It’s much more fun running against an incumbent that people don’t like, rather than an incumbent that they do,” said Elser, conjuring up a couple unpleasant memories from his unsuccessful attempt to unseat Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in 2002.
Elser said when he faced DeLauro, “kindly grandmother types” spat at him. “No one has spat at me this time.”
No Dough From Pals
Elser has launched his campaign on a minimal budget, without a large network of party support, often driving to neighborhoods alone to knock on doors.
At the outset of his unforeseen candidacy, Elser had hopes that the Democracy Fund publicly financed campaign system would help level the playing field in a one-party town. To qualify for public matching funds, he needed to get 200 registered New Haven voters to donate between $25 and $300.
The candidate fell short of that mark, raising only $4,300 by Friday, he said.
“Just a surprising number of my friends didn’t want to be on a fundraising list against the mayor,” explained Elser. When pitching his candidacy to voters, he said, he also made the mistake of not explaining that qualifying for public funds depended on their support.
Supporters like the Iezzis, angered by taxes and mayoral initiatives such as the immigrant-friendly municipal ID card, were willing to proudly sport Elser signs in their yards. Frank Iezzi heard his ideas on economic growth — don’t waste downtown land on tax-exempt uses — and how he’d slim the budget by “zero-based” budgeting and measuring departmental efficiency.
He has creative policy ideas: To deter absentee landlords, he would grant a tax exemption for homeowners who choose to live in their multi-family homes.
Elser keeps an open mind and was not afraid to commend the mayor where the two agree, such as on the gun buyback program and allowing felons to explain their offenses at the interview stage, instead of being automatically knocked out of candidacy through the “are you a felon” box.
But Elser said he thinks DeStefano “sees a government of ever-expanding resources.” Elser said he believes many programs could be provided by non-profit or private sector groups. For example, Elser said he doesn’t believe immigrants who came here illegally — or their legal citizen children – ‑should get access to state-subsidized home heating oil programs distributed through the Community Action Agency. Those services should be provided by private institutions, he said.
Elser said even some who agree with him have been hesitant to show support. Some declined to show lawn signs — a public signal of a candidate’s popularity — for a long period of time, but agreed to put them up for a few days as Elser makes a final push before Tuesday’s vote.
Until then, Elser will speak to as many supporters as he can, and make sure he has a little help on Election Day distributing lawn signs so he doesn’t have to do it himself. He isn’t kidding himself about his chances.
People know they have an alternative to DeStefano, he said. But “have I run a high-enough profile campaign to convince enough people to go to the polls? No.”
What happens after Tuesday? Iezzi asked. “I don’t want to be a perennial candidate,” said Elser. “But if I hit 40 percent, I would do it again.”
Strangely enough, I am voting for Rick. And I know a number of people that are. But not one of us will dear to say it out loud. First off we are very liberal people, and to vote Republican is a major no no. And then there is the big question, is Rick qualified? Are we willing to take a leap of faith. Allot of people see this city going in the wrong direction and are willing to make that vote. I have done the research and personally have found Rick to be a borderline Republican. He has ideas that may help us in the long run.
My guess is there are allot of us closet voters out there that dear not say they are voting this way. And that alone says something about town hall. Are the people so afraid of the wrath??? Wow and the calls some people are getting around the city. Wow again. Now I know it is not him but his people are a bit out of control! And that only adds to the fear of this administration, it sure as hell does not help it!