As accusations against her family’s real-estate business gained traction, mayoral candidate Toni Harp’s campaign called an opponent “reprehensible” for dragging her deceased husband into the race. And a state legislator decried “offensive” “badgering” and “bullying” of the race’s only female candidate.
The campaign issued a statement responding to allegations by rival Kermit Carolina in a debate Tuesday night featuring the five Democratic candidates for mayor. Meanwhile, state Rep. Toni Walker, who co-chairs the state legislature’s Appropriations Committee along with Harp (a state senator), signed a group letter from women who support Harp suggesting the attacks constituted a sexist and harsh double standard.
In the debate, Carolina called Harp’s family one of the worst “slumlords” in New Haven. He cited an elderly-housing complex on Rosette Street as evidence.
A subsequent visit to the building found security problems and other unsafe conditions there. (Read about that here.)
Two other candidates, Justin Elicker and Henry Fernandez, have also criticized Harp for the tax debt and record of her family’s business.
Harp during the debate repeated her contention that she has never had anything to do with the real-estate business that her family owns. Her husband, Wendell Harp, owned the building on Rosette Street until he died in 2011. Her son, Matthew, now runs it. Matthew attributed problems with a tenant he’s trying to evict as a major cause of trouble at the Rosette Street property, and presented inspection data to support his contention that he is not a slumlord.
The Harp campaign’s latest release quotes campaign manager Jason Bartlett saying the following: “It’s reprehensible that any candidate in this race would use Toni’s deceased husband’s business to score cheap political points. It is well documented that Toni has never been involved in her late husband’s businesses, and as Mayor, she will apply the law equally to everyone, including her family. Toni believes that every person in New Haven deserves a decent home and, unlike her opponents, has a real record as a lawmaker of standing up for safe, affordable housing and fair treatment of tenants.”
The group letter signed by Toni Walker accused participants in Tuesday night’s debate of an “offensive” double standard: “badgering” and “bullying” Harp about her family, but not doing the same about the other candidates.
The debate included no questions from moderators about Harp’s family. The accusations arose when candidates were answering other questions. (The Independent co-sponsored the debate.)
Walker’s letter was cosigned by a group of female Harp campaign supporters from around the city including Alicia Caraballo, Sheila Carmon, Rose DeMatteo, Veronica Douglas-Givan, Gwenadine Felder, Jacqueline Harris, Kia Levey, Ginger Nash, Wendy Samberg, and Barbara Walker.
Following is the text of Walker’s letter:
“After watching and reading comments about the ‘Safe Streets’ debate on July 16, 2013, I was deeply disturbed. The questions posed to Toni Harp about her husband were particularly offensive. I hope as a community we can agree that judging people by who they are associated with is unacceptable. While Toni was badgered and bullied about things not related to running the city, her colleagues were not. Were questions about Justin Elicker’s wife, family or friends raised? No. Were questions about Kermit Carolina’s wife, family or friends raised? No. Were questions about Henry Fernandez’s wife, family or friends raised? No. Were questions about Sundiata Keitazulu’s wife, family or friends raised? No. Is there a double standard? Why was Toni’s deceased husband discussed in a debate about ‘Safe Streets’?
“The tabloid magazine-style accusations regarding spouses’ businesses make for racy fodder in an election. However, if that’s the only way to solicit voter support, we’re in big trouble. The issues New Haven taxpayers want to know are: how do you propose reducing the current mill rate? How are you going to give small business owners more support to make their businesses thrive and grow? What strategies do you have to grow our grand list? What are your thoughts on education reform and what are the ways you can help our schools and students be successful? How do you propose making our streets safer for our kids? The list goes on and on and on.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to keep these debates focused on issues. That’s what elections are for. That’s what citizens want to hear. There is no place for personal attacks on people’s character; that is nothing but a distraction that divides our community. Please, can we agree to focus on the future? Let the debates uncover how we can create a brighter and better New Haven.”
"Please, can we agree to focus on the future?" because the Now is really awkward for us.