Latinos Seek Line B Alliance

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by Allan Appel | Jul 15, 2010 7:47 am

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

Posted to: Politics, Campaign 2010

Allan Appel Photo In their quest to get the first Latino elected to statewide office, Connecticut’s Latino movers-and-shakers are throwing their support behind Ned Lamont.

Two dozen members of the Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Caucus (CHDC) gathered Wednesday at City Hall to endorse Lamont, who’s vying with former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy for the Democratic nomination for governor in an Aug. 10 primary.

Their endorsement of Lamont took place as the race heats up in New Haven: Malloy on Tuesday opened his regional campaign headquarters in a converted garage in New Haven’s black community.

The Hispanic caucus endorsed Malloy in the last governor’s race, in 2006. This year, its members supported Juan Figueroa, who would have been the state’s first Latino governor, until he dropped out of the race in May.

Caucus members said their new endorsement is part of an overall strategy to address their top priority: getting the only remaining Latino statewide candidate, former New Haven Alderman Gerry Garcia, into office.

Garcia, who’s half-Puerto Rican, is running against Denise Merrill, the house majority leader, to replace Susan Bysiewicz as chief elections official, the secretary of the state. Though he lost the Democratic convention to Merrill, Garcia made history as the first Latino to land a spot on the primary ballot for constitutional office. If successful, Garcia would be the first Latino elected to statewide constitutional office.

Caucus members said now is their moment to get a Latino elected, and they think Lamont may lead the way.

Part of the reason lies on the ballot. Garcia and Lamont are both facing party-endorsed candidates in the Democratic primary. That leaves them as ballot bedfellows: Garcia appears on Line B alongside Lamont; Merrill and Malloy appear on Line A.

Lamont stopped short of endorsing Garcia, but his Latino supporters said they’re looking forward to a Line B alliance to boost their candidate on Primary Day.

“There will be a community-driven Row B strategy,” announced caucus chair and former president of the New Haven Board of Alderman Tomas Reyes (pictured above with Lamont).

Eugenio Caro, Sr., a former deputy mayor of Hartford and a member of the caucus (center, with Alderwoman Migdalio Castro, right, and Lamont campaign manager Joe Abbey), said while Lamont hasn’t endorsed Garcia, he has welcomed him.

“One of the greatest points [reason we went with Lamont] is his reception of Gerry Garcia,” Caro said. “That’s very sacred.”

In his remarks, Lamont made no specific reference to Garcia. He hit an education and jobs theme. “Connecticut will only be great again when the city’s are great again. That’s why the [state’s large city] mayors support me. Greatness starts with education.”

When asked by a reporter, Lamont declined to make any endorsements in the secretary of the state’s race.

Yet his supporters feel that Lamont is more in Garcia’s corner, .

“We felt he would be more available to talk to us and more participatory [with us] in his future government. Plus he’ll be useful to Gerry’s campaign” said Reyes.

Reyes said that 35 members of the caucus interviewed three Democratic candidates in April—Lamont, Malloy, and Figueroa.

Click here for a story on the Lamont/ Malloy interviews.

Reyes said there were clearly people leaning toward Malloy, too. There were two deliberative sessions in June. “They [the candidates on the issues] were not worlds apart,” but in the interest of consensus, the caucus voted unanimously to support Lamont.

Reyes said caucus members must be Hispanic and support its agenda, but they don’t have to be a current or former official to join. Only 35 dues-paying members were permitted to vote.

Of her support for Lamont, Manchester’s Yolanda Castillo, a founder and current vice president of the six-year-old caucus, said she was impressed that Lamont “talked about small business development and [he would] cut red tape. That will open more opportunities for us.”

Hill Alderman Jorge Perez (pictured with Castillo) said the candidates had different approaches to achieving the same goals. In job creation, for example, he said Malloy had created more in the public sector, and Lamont in the private.

Vice President of the New Haven Democratic Town Committee Norma Reyes-Rodriguez, captured the feeling behind the endorsement when she responded to reporters’ questions as to her main reason for choosing Lamont:

“We were disappointed at the outcome of the convention. We need new Democrats in there [on the slate] so the Democratic Party can reflect the make-up of the state.”

As she spoke, her voice cracked with emotion, and her words were followed by applause.

Others attending the event included Fair Haven Alderwoman Migdalia Castro, Spanish American Merchants Association chief Frank Alvarado, and area senior advocate Celestino Cordova.

Lamont campaign manager Joe Abbey said the next step was a meeting with caucus chair Reyes’ to integrate his grassroots resources with the campaign.

“We have 27 days left. We will take this endorsement and run with it,” he said.

Comments

posted by: jon on July 15, 2010 9:11am

Someone should tell them that with the new ballots there is no more row b. You see all the candidates in the box and fill in the circle.

posted by: City Hall II on July 15, 2010 9:31am

Latino - Perzez - Tommy and all of you are throwing minorities under the bus in New Haven for John’s calling. This all calls for the next Mayor of New Haven to be African American see you later Hispanics, you’ll all regret this and you’re voting for the losing row . Row B = DeStefano machine mean politics, division and hate and will FAIL.

posted by: Tomas on July 15, 2010 2:04pm

To City Hall II,
It is a sad day for the entire community when
a response such as yours is even offered. You
should know that Gerry Garcia enjoys ample
support from the African- American community
state-wide as evidenced at the Democratic con-
vention.These crass divisive statements will be
seen by all people og good will for what they
are; completely unnecssary and unwelcome. I stand behind our decision and will work hard
to make Gerry Garcia our next SOTS and Ned Lamont our next Governor!

posted by: Joe on July 15, 2010 2:45pm

Ballot position is a fine reason to endorse a candidate. Sheesh. Just like the candidate, there is NO substance. And, again, Lamont shows his sleazy political stripes by being noncommittal of his NON-SUPPORT of Garcia. Lamont is one of the most cowardly pols around, not to mention a completely empty suit. Too bad the Hispanic caucus decided to go with him. Wish it at least had a couple of substantive reasons.

posted by: CTBullMoose on July 15, 2010 8:41pm

Joe: Isn’t winning the primary objective of a campaign? The CHDC is being lucid and thoughtful in their endorsement. Moreover, it’s clear you didn’t actually attend the press conference (video is on Ned’s site if you care to educate yourself).

Ned’s going to win, he hasn’t allowed this campaign to devolve into a mud-slinging competition (for which he deserves credit) and actually has a down-to-earth personality. Dan’s robotic, stiff and has a bit of a temper. He’s also known to be a bit vindictive. I’m not sure that’s the type of person I want running state government.

posted by: Joe on July 15, 2010 10:07pm

BullMoose: Interesting you call Malloy robotic. Did you watch the Lamont/Lieberman debates? In each one, Lamont regurgitated the same anti-Iraq War mantra that he was drummed into his head, in, to use your word, a robotic manner. He didn’t seem to be able to think for himself or articulate on any other issue. It was painful to watch.

While I much prefer Lamont over Foley, I don’t think the silver-spoon-fed Lamont has a prayer against war-boy Foley. Malloy I think does have more of what it takes to overcome Foley and the national Republican machine. I also have a huge problem with Lamont’s “health care plan.” Don’t we pass something like that last year? What’s the word I’m looking for? Oh, yeah, SustiNet.

posted by: CTBullMoose on July 16, 2010 7:05am

Joe, as I mentioned to CT Bill in another post, SustiNet is a tool, it’s an implementation vehicle (mostly for the Obama reforms). Ned’s plan, if you read it, is a set of principles and cost-saving reforms. It focuses on delivery AND health IT, pay-for-performance and home health care. Moreover, if you condemn Ned’s proposal, then you must do so for Dan’s. Consistency is critical, I think.

On you first point, 2006 was a long time ago—let it be and pay a little more attention to what’s going on now.

“National Republican machine”? With a huge focus on taking back Congress, you think the national Republicans are really going to worry about this one particular Governor’s race? If you’re implying that they will pour in millions, remember that Dan will have $3 million—AT MOST—to combat same. With Malloy, this will just be a newer version of the ‘02 Rowland-Curry race. To be pragmatic, if the Dems want to win, they’ll vote for Lamont in August.

posted by: Threefifths on July 16, 2010 8:53am

CTBullMoose on July 16, 2010 8:05am

Why not push to have a BullMoose party or Better Proportional Representation.Remeber both Democratic and Republican Party are the same.

posted by: digusted latino on July 16, 2010 11:09am

Is it me or do I remember all these Latinos supporting Malloy 4 years ago, What happened? ... As a proud Latino I can tell you this group does not represent me and I for one support Malloy and hope he is our next Governor.

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