Paul Bass Photo
New Haven’s new mayor said she’s filling a deputy’s job — which opens three other political positions in the process.
Mayor Toni Harp said after her inauguration Wednesday that she has chosen Jackie James for the slot, deputy community services administrator.
“I’m honored that [Harp] asked me to take this position. This is my life’s work,” James, a state social worker for 15 years, said at the post-inauguration celebration in the Career High cafeteria Wednesday. “I’m ready to work with the public” on issues affecting young people, the homeless, and health care.
“I’ve been a supervisor” and, in addition to her state job, has worked closely with constituents as a city alderwoman, James said.
The current deputy community services administrator, Ron Manning, is to step into the role of acting community services administrator. The administrator is one of the top “coordinator” appointments in City Hall, now requiring approval by the Board of Alders under a change in the charter.
(Update: Harp said Friday James hasn’t yet assumed the post officially because some “administrative hurdles” remain to be cleared. She would not elaborate. Cherlyn Poindexter of the city administrators’ union, AFSCME Local 3144, said she had no comment on whether she had personally signed off on James taking the position, which the union said needs to happen under its contract because the position falls under civil service.)
As a result of the Harp appointment, James (pictured) has submitted her resignation as alderwoman from Ward 3 in the Hill. She sat in the audience rather than on stage with other members of the Board of Alders as they took the oath at Career High School Wednesday for their new terms in office. A special election is to be held within 45 days to fill the Ward 3 seat, which James has held since 2001.
James’ new job also means she is no longer seeking the 10th State Senate District seat, which Harp is vacating as she takes over the mayor’s job. A special election for that seat will take place in late February or in March. James’ departure from the race leaves only one known candidate, current state Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield.
Finally, James’ new position means she will not run for reelection as chair of the Democratic Town Committee. The election for that position takes place in March. Vincent Mauro Jr. is considered a frontrunner for the job. “It would be honor” to become town chair, Mauro, whose late father once held the post, said Wednesday.
Jackie James said her resignation as alderwoman took effect Dec. 30. “I still have a political future,” she added.
Mayor Harp is hoping to lure an early-childhood-learning expert with whom worked with at the state level, and who has since moved to Georgia, to return to Connecticut to serve as her permanent community services administrator; read more about that in this story by the New Haven Register’s Mary O’Leary.
What ever happened with the various community benefit agreements (CBA) that James helped negotiate with the Hospital? Didn't James get a fund to help neighbors in her Ward fix up their homes? An investigation into where those went would be useful, as there are clearly opportunities for conflicts of interest or ethics issues here. People within the Unions are always complaining that the agreement, initially cited as a national model by some, wasn't enforced. Other than helping to delay construction and thousands of jobs in order to win the CBA, what role did she play?