Markeshia Ricks Photo
Harp: Higher office in sights?
Mayor Toni Harp’s team has created a political action committee to elect alders who support her agenda — and possibly to lay the groundwork for a run for governor.
Both goals are encompassed by the name of the PAC, “See 2 2020.”
A top Harp adviser, city youth services chief and former campaign manager Jason Bartlett, organized the PAC over the summer and serves as its strategist. Bartlett’s City Hall administrative assistant, Rae Johnson-Boykin, is the PAC ‘s treasurer. A city firefighter and attorney, Amin Dawud, is listed as the chairperson.
The PAC held its first fundraiser in October at Fornarelli’s Restaurant on Orange Street. So far it has received over $2,000 from contributors. These include city officials like deputy economic development chief Stephen Fontana ($250) and Livable City Initiative Executive Director Serena Neal-Sanjurjo ($100), as well as former Harp mayoral opponent Kermit Carolina ($250) and his former campaign manager, attorney Michael Jefferson ($250), according to filings with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. (Ugly Radio and WNHH radio host Joe Ugly gave $250.)
Harp said in an interview Monday that she originally approved the PAC to raise money for independent polling to figure out where New Haveners in general stand on hot-button issues, like fights at the Board of Education. That poll hasn’t been done yet, she said.
She said the PAC will also support candidates for the Board of Alders who support her positions on issues of safety, education and enforcement — hence the acronym “SEE” in the PAC’s name.
“I think that it’s important for there to be more than one” organized political entity advancing an agenda in New Haven, Harp said. She said she wants to “help candidates who buy into my vision.”
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Bartlett: Governor’s mansion beckons.
Bartlett said that the “2020” stands for the fact that Harp plans to seek at least two more terms in office as mayor, through 2020.
He said it also stands for the fact that he and other organizers would like her to run for governor in two years.
“I personally have encouraged her to consider running for governor,” Bartlett said. “I will continue to do so, especially in light of what happened this year” in the federal elections. The new PAC could “morph” into a statewide campaign vehicle, Bartlett said.
Indeed, in the original filing, the organizers marked “yes” next to boxes asking if the PAC is “authorized to make contributions or expenditures for candidates for statewide office” or the General Assembly.
Asked if she envisions running for governor, Harp offered this response: “Many have urged me to consider running for governor, but my job is to run this city and continue to improve safety, education and employment for New Haven residents. Right now my focus is on the job I have and providing the best services to the people of New Haven,” Harp said.
Doing that job has at times involved running up against organized groups that oppose her specific policies. Harp won her first term as mayor with the support of the Yale UNITE HERE union locals that dominate both the Board of Alders and the Democratic Town Committee. The two sides have had a rockier relationship since then. The administration has also clashed with the politically savvy firefighters union and Yale, the most powerful corporate force in town. Until now, Harp, unlike some of her predecessors, has not actively sought to build an independent political base to advance her agenda.
Harp’s administration clashed with the Board of Alders over approval to build a new public school in conjunction with Southern Connecticut State University (that took two tries over two years); over appointments to the Board of Education; and the fate of economic development projects that were stalled by the board’s UNITE HERE majority in part over its differences with the university.
If the PAC had existed in 2015, Bartlett said, it might have supported alder candidates who had voted for approving that SCSU project that year.
He said other relevant issues might include support for the mayor’s 10-point plan for the public schools, including investing in expanded-day learning, technology, a Saturday reading academy and raises for paraprofessionals.
From a fire union campaign against the Harp administration’s firehouse plans.
Bartlett said he hopes the PAC will also help the public understand Harp’s positions better on controversial issues. He gave the example of the plan to remove Engine 9 from the Ellsworth Avenue firehouse, a subject that prompted vociferous protest from the firefighters union.
“I thought the narrative was very one-sided. It probably would have been helpful to get more information out that we weren’t trying to shut down a firehouse,” Bartlett said.
Mayor Harp addressed the status of her economic development agenda and other issues on her latest “Mayor Monday” appearance on WNHH radio. Click on or download the above audio file to listen to the episode. The episode was made possible with the support of Gateway Community College and Berchem, Moses & Devlin, P.C.
The thought of Harp making a run for governor is troubling.