Thomas MacMillan Photo
With the endorsement of the incumbent and 10 years on his Democratic ward committee, Ronald Rainey pitched himself as the experienced candidate as he launched his quest to be the next upper Westville alderman.
Rainey, who’s 47, announced his candidacy Tuesday evening at Spooner’s restaurant on Whalley Avenue. Two dozen supporters braved a deluge of rain to help Rainey launch his Ward 26 aldermanic campaign.
Rainey is running to replace Alderman Sergio Rodriguez, who’s running for city clerk after 10 years as upper Westville’s representative in City Hall.
The Ward 26 race is one of only two aldermanic races that are officially contested so far this election year. Middle-school science teacher Darryl Brackeen, 24, is also running in Ward 26. He and Rainey are both Democrats. )In Dixwell’s Ward 22, Cordelia Thorpe is challenging incumbent Alderwoman Jeanette Morrison.) The Democratic primary is Sept. 10.
Rainey and Brackeen will take part in an “informal” debate on June 27 at 6 p.m. at Davis Street school.
Rainey chats with Rev. Jerome Murray.
On Tuesday evening, Rainey, wearing a dark suit and a golden tie, sipped a Schweppes ginger ale as he waited for people to show up at Spooner’s. He offered a biographical sketch, packaged as a list of numbers: 47 years in New Haven (all his life); 16 years in Ward 26; 25 years as a member of Beulah Heights Church; 24 years as an AT&T linesman; 23 years married to his wife, with whom he has two daughters; 10 years as a member of the ward committee, where he is now a first-term co-chair.
“I feel the current alderman has done a great job,” said Rainey. He said the ward needs “someone in there who knows the ropes.”
Upper Westville neighbors are looking to keep crime down and keep the neighborhood clean, Rainey said. He pledged to help create more block watches.
Rainey said neighbors also “want the alderman to be more communicative.” He pledged to keep people informed about every vote he makes as an alderman.
At 7 p.m., Alderman Rodriguez (at left in photo) introduced Rainey as man with a “strong sense of family” who will “keep the neighborhood safe and beautiful.” He said he’s backing Rainey 150 percent.
Rainey laid out his biography and promised to work hard on public safety, education, taxes, and keeping people informed. “I have a strong foundation,” he declared.
The Match-up
Rainey and Brackeen weighed in on a number of recent City Hall issues:
Streets Sale: Rainey said he would not have voted to sell portions of Wall and High streets to Yale for $3 million. “We shouldn’t be selling our streets. It’s OK to lease them,” he said. “We can never get that back now.”
Brackeen declined to comment on the deal, saying he doesn’t know all the information that aldermen received on the sale.
Tax Hike: Rainey said he would not have voted to approve the budget for the coming fiscal year, because it includes a tax hike. “There should have been other ways to go an get the money,” he said. The budget shouldn’t be balanced “on the backs of the middle class.”
Asked what specifically he would have cut to keep the mill rate down, Rainey said, “that’s something I’d have to look into.”
Brackeen (pictured) said he would have voted to approve the budget. He noted that aldermen did trim it down from the mayor’s initial proposal, decreasing the mayor’s initial proposed tax hike: “I think they did the best that they could do.”
9th Square Bailout: Rainey said he wasn’t familiar with the Ninth Square developer’s request for the forgiveness of $10 million in loans, but said he probably would oppose it. “They should have to pay that.”
“I personally would like more information concerning that,” Brackeen said.
Community Policing: Rainey said he’s a fan of community policing and thinks the police department is headed in the right direction. He said he’d like to see more cops in neighborhoods beyond just the high-crime areas. He said he hasn’t seen foot-patrol cops in his neighborhood.
“I believe the chief is doing a great job,” Brackeen said. He said he is excited to have Sgt. Renee Forte as the area’s new top cop, replacing Lt. Marty Tchakirides. Brackeen said he’s happy also to see cops walking the beat in upper Westville. He said he has met the neighborhood’s two foot-patrol cops.
Schools: Rainey said he’d like to see more “programs for youth,” including tutoring. “The youth is the future,” he said. “Not everyone’s going to be an athlete.”
Brackeen said that although schools could be improved, “all things considered, [Superintendent Reggie] Dr. Mayo has placed things in the right direction.” He said he didn’t have specific suggestions for improvement.
The Other Guy: “He’s young. He lacks experience in a lot of things,” Rainey said of Brackeen.
“It’s a democracy. Everybody has a fair shot,” Brackeen said of Rainey.
Rainey sounds pretty plugged-in. Brackeen sounds more like he's uninformed.