Incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker and Board of Education challenger Andrea Downer emerged victorious in the last round of ward-level endorsement votes, this time by Beaver Hills Democrats.
The straw polls took place Wednesday evening at a meeting of the Ward 28 Democratic committee.
Over 40 neighbors cast votes that would determine which Democratic candidates will have Ward 28’s support at next Tuesday’s Democratic Town Committee convention at the Betsy Ross School Parish House at 150 Kimberly Ave.
Ward 28 Alder Tom Ficklin and Beaver Hills Democratic Committee Co-Chair Jess Corbett opened the event at 5:30 on Wednesday, allowing 15 minutes for the candidates to make their rounds and greet attendees before delivering five-minute pitches.
In the straw poll over the race for the Democratic mayoral nomination, incumbent Elicker prevailed with 24 votes, retired police Sgt. Shafiq Abdussabur had 16, and Brennan and Goldenberg received zero votes.
In the race for a Board of Education seat, challenger Andrea Downer emerged with 22 votes against two-term incumbent Darnell Goldson, who received 8.
Elicker has been consistently racking up ward committee endorsements; challenger Downer has received several ward endorsements as well. Both also won the support of Dixwell’s Ward 22.
The two ward committees also voted to endorse incumbent City/Town Clerk Michael Smart.
“I think this event was successful and all of the candidates have strong ideas,” said Beaver Hills resident Mary Brown. “I just hope that whoever is elected stays true to what they claim they’re going to do.”
Interesting that Abdussabur lost in his own neighborhood and Ward where he formerly held office. In the Westville votes comments, folks saw it as a positive that Brennan came in 2nd to Ellicker. Here, I wonder if this can be seen as a positive for Abdussabur, should he lose the primary but run as an Independent in the election...