Kimber Backs Malloy

Sections

Neighborhoods

Features

NHI Newsletter

Legal Notices

Some Favorite Sites

Government/ Community Links

by Melinda Tuhus | Jan 10, 2010 12:05 pm

(15) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Politics, State

Melinda Tuhus Photos Dannel Malloy got the first major endorsement of his nascent gubernatorial campaign in New Haven Saturday – and he wasn’t even seeking it.

The endorsement came from the Rev. Boise Kimber (in right photo), a powerbroker in the black community known for controversies and shifting political alliances.

Malloy (in left photo) was the only one of 10 gubernatorial candidates who appeared alongside Kimber and the Rev. Jesse Jackson at Kimber’s First Calvary Baptist Church on Dixwell Avenue for a rally Saturday promoting Jackson’s campaign against foreclosures and Wall Street greed.

Malloy, the former Stamford mayor, has formed an exploratory committee to seek the Democratic nomination for governor. As such, he can’t solicit endorsements yet, he said Saturday. He spoke at the rally at Kimber’s church about how the current foreclosure crisis has disproportionately hurt black and Latino families.

“They [foreclosures] rob the next generation of wealth,” Malloy said. “Most wealth in this country is generated by home ownership. Every time a family loses its house to foreclosure, put in the back of your mind that the next generation … will not be able to afford college, will not be able to take care of a family in need, will not have the resources to draw upon, and we simply have got to do more to make sure that fewer and fewer, rather than greater and greater numbers, fall into foreclosure.”

As he headed out the door at the close of the 90-minute rally, Malloy said he is not looking for endorsements at this point.

Kimber later gave him one anyway.

“I have told Dan Malloy that I would support him as he seeks the governorship,” Kimber said in an interview after the event. He said he considers it a formal endorsement. He said he has been appearing with Malloy at events around the state and invited him to the Saturday event at First Cavalry. He said he supports Malloy because “I think he garners the experience of running a city – he ran the city of Stamford. He ran for governor last time, won the nomination but lost in the primary. I think he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.”

Malloy ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2006. Kimber opposed him in that race – he backed hometown candidate New Haven Mayor John DeStefano. DeStefano’s not running this year. And Kimber and DeStefano, longtime allies, are now on the outs following a string of embarrassing legal and ethical scandals going back decades. (Read about that here.)

In endorsing Malloy, Kimber also passed over a candidate he supported in 2006. That candidate is Ned Lamont. Kimber, with the Rev. Al Sharpton alongside him, was the most visible black leader in Connecticut supporting Lamont’s 2006 Senate run against U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman. This year Lamont is running for governor, in the field that includes Malloy.

Asked if he’s been in touch with Lamont, Kimber replied Saturday, “I’ve seen Ned on several occasions. Ned has not asked me to support him.”

For his part, the Rev. Jackson did not make an endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate Saturday.

Asked if he supports or endorses Malloy for governor, Jackson said no. “Our thrust is that we must focus on economic reconstruction, bottom up,” he said. “We must stop the home and church foreclosures and student defaults. We must begin to focus on reconstructing banks and candidates running for office who represent that agenda. So whoever they are and whatever party they’re from, we want to see who makes the most sense for the most people.”

Jackson, too, visited New Haven in 2006 to support Ned Lamont’s Senate bid. Asked if he’s been in touch with Ned Lamont in this campaign, Jackson said he’d seen him in Stamford the week before. “We’re open to talk to all the political leaders, but whoever has the best plan to help the people, they should be the winner.”

Related Entries

Lucky Sevens »

Comments

posted by: Walt on January 10, 2010 12:53pm

If Kimber’s support for Malloy is not enough to win your support for whomever opposes Malloy in the Gubernatorial election, you are not familiar with Kimber and his ridiculous biased actions re Firefighters and on other important area topics..

What honest person would want Kimber’s backing?

posted by: what bout the 20 on January 10, 2010 2:37pm

Kimer ... is largely responsible for discrimination the plaintiffs in the new haven 20 case. Hey malloy, you lay down with dogs, you are bound to get fleas. Says a lot about your character!

posted by: THREEFIFTHS on January 10, 2010 4:52pm

This is noting new. This is happning across the country by black minster.Most Of these minster are noting more than Judas ... who lead the people to slaughter. Take a look at there track record when it comes to this type of selling the people out.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/130/130_fr_uncle_toms_and_turncoats.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/nyregion/29ministers.html?pagewanted=all

For those who don;t know what a judas goat is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_goat

posted by: nancydrew33 on January 10, 2010 5:13pm

If Malloy accepts this endorsement, he is guilty of prostituting his integrity. No vote from me.

posted by: AndersonScooper on January 10, 2010 9:25pm

Perfect together?

posted by: What Gives! on January 11, 2010 3:21am

PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN….MALLOY DIDN’T ASK FOR KIMBERS ENDORSEMENT NOR DID HE ACCEPT IT…

posted by: angelo on January 11, 2010 9:07am

Is it just me, or is there something odd about NHI reporters supporting particular candidates, like Melissa Baily and Richard Blumenthal?

posted by: ANON on January 11, 2010 9:46am

... Wonder why malloy wants to mess around in new haven politics?

posted by: Hah Hah on January 11, 2010 2:04pm

This is hilarious.

To “What Gives!”—good to know Malloy campaign staff read the NHI. Malloy went to Kimber’s church to speak—are you serious in saying that Malloy did not want Kimber’s support?

The only question is how much “support” will Malloy be giving back to Kimber.

The only lesson that I can take from this is that Malloy appears to be a sucker.

posted by: Ms.K on January 11, 2010 2:38pm

Why do Boise Kimber and Jesse Jackson think that they are relevant? If I were Malloy, I’d break from that circle quickly.

posted by: fairhavengal on January 11, 2010 2:45pm

And yet another reason why I will NOT be voting for Dan Malloy!!!

posted by: Lynda Faye Wilson on January 11, 2010 4:22pm

The event was well covered by Melinda Tuhus and
is certainly a mind stimulator. However, and I maybe totally alone in my thought, I really wish
there had been an explanation why Dr. Rev. Kimber was insistent, endorsing Mr. Malloy when
Mr. Malloy was insisting on his not engaging in
soliciting for endorsements as future Ct. State
Governors’ position.

Again, it was a well covered/written article.

Thanks.

posted by: The Count on January 11, 2010 5:16pm

Well, it could be worse: April Capone Almon could get the backing of Bill Ayers…

posted by: CHEF PORTOFINO on January 11, 2010 11:45pm

DAN MALLOY SHOULD THROW IN THE TOWEL. I HAD SOME RESPECT FOR MALLOY UNTIL HE STOOD WITH THE REV KIMBER. ...

posted by: Marilissy on January 15, 2010 12:06am

Mr. Mallloy:

Kimber endorsing you? This is not a good omen for you.

I’d make Kimber take it back.

New Haven Independent

New Haven Independent Login Form