Alder Drops In — & Out — At Presser

Incumbent Fair Haven Alder Jose Crespo showed up as a guest Friday at his challenger’s press conference — and joined a who’s who of politicos supporting her.

That was the surprise twist at a press conference held by Ward 16 alder candidate Magda Natal.

Crespo won the Democratic Party’s endorsement to run for a sixth term for the seat. Natal petitioned her way onto the ballot to challenge Crespo in a primary — then began racking up endorsements.

State Rep. Juan Candelaria emceed her press conference Friday outside the elderly housing at complex 25 Saltonstall Ave. He was joined by State Sen. President Pro Tempore Martin Looney; State Rep. Al Paolillo; a slate of former, current, and aspiring alders in the Hill and Fair Haven; Democratic Party Town Chair Vin Mauro; and labor advocates with the New Haven Federation of Teachers and New Haven Rising.

“I know that what I am stepping into is not something to be taken lightly,” said Natal. ​“I’m here to learn as I am in service. There are a lot of things that many of you can mentor and guide me on.”

The event had originally been planned around Candelaria’s endorsement before Crespo announced his resignation from the race. Crespo, an incumbent Democrat who has represented Ward 16 on the Board of Alders for five consecutive two-year terms, had received the formal endorsement of the Democratic Party on July 21; Friday’s press conference marked a shift in establishment support toward Natal in the weeks since.

Candelaria and other speakers pointed to Natal’s track record of working with young people, not only as an English language teacher at Wilbur Cross High School but as a co-organizer of the annual Big Turtle Village summer camping trip for Fair Haven children.

Natal ​“has been a strong advocate for our children as a teacher of English as a second language,” said Candelaria. 

“She’s somebody every day that leads with that love and compassion for students,” said Paolillo.

Crespo said in a speech that ​“it’s been such an honor and a pleasure” to serve as alder for the last ten years. ​“Fair Haven united is better than a Fair Haven divided.”

While Crespo clarified after the press conference that he is ending his run for reelection, his name will still technically be on the ballot for the Sept. 9 primary election. 

Meanwhile, in the Nov. 4 general election, Natal will face Independent Party candidate Rafael Fuentes. 

Crespo elaborated after the event that he decided to drop out because ​“I understand that victory is not as sweet if there’s division in the community. There’s too much division going on.”

He said he plans to focus on pursuing his MBA at Albertus Magnus College this fall. Asked what he’s most proud of achieving over the last ten years, he pointed to his advocacy for a Latino-focused charter school through his employer, CT LEAD. 

Natal’s campaign comes two years after Frank Redente unseated another longtime Fair Haven Alder, Ernie Santiago, in Ward 15. Two other alders with slivers of their ward in Fair Haven, Ward 8 Alder Ellen Cupo and Ward 13 Alder Rosa Ferraro-Santana, are not running again for reelection — meaning that a tide of new leadership is coming to Fair Haven.

Redente said the group forming ​“Team Fair Haven” on the Board of Alders — which he hopes will soon include Natal — is working to change neighborhood politics to prioritize cooperation and collaboration. ​“Fair Haven alders have never worked together,” said Redente. 

Alder Sarah Miller, who represents Fair Haven’s Ward 14, said that the Fair Haven alders are also looking to collaborate with their colleagues in the Hill on advocating for state-level reforms affecting their communities. She noted that the Hill and Fair Haven face similar challenges, such as public substance use and crime-attracting businesses.

Natal said that her campaign chose to announce the endorsements outside the elderly housing complex at 25 Saltonstall in part because she had spent many evenings knocking on doors in that building. She said that residents had conveyed concerns about wheelchair accessibility, healthcare costs, and repairs needed in their apartments. 

And she recalled a pervasive skepticism toward politicians from the building’s residents. ​“There’s this sense that we come, we show up for their vote, and we leave,” she said. She sought to hold the press conference there because ​“I want to come back.”

“They’ve gotten ignored for a long time,” Natal added.