Thomas Breen photo
State Rep. Juan Candelaria introduces Justin Elicker.
• Candelaria, Furlow among speakers at BAR campaign kick-off.
• Walker, Winfield send notes of support.
• Urn Pendragon drops out.
• Harp still mum on third-party run.
Candelaria was among 100 Elicker supporters to fill the back room at BAR New Haven pizza restaurant on Crown Street Monday night to kick off the former East Rock/Cedar Hill alder and 2013 mayoral candidate’s general election campaign.
A full house in BAR’s back on Monday night.
He was also one of several former vocal Mayor Toni Harp supporters to turn out Monday and throw their political weight behind Elicker after the latter soundly defeated the three-term incumbent mayor 13 days ago in the city’s Democratic Party mayoral primary.
“It might be surprising to many of you to see me here today,” Candelaria said as he prepared to hand the mic over to Elicker. “As you all know, I’ve been a strong supporter of Mayor Harp, and I’m not ashamed about it. But at the end of the day, the people of this city have spoken. The Democrats have spoken.”
“Now it is time for our community to unite and come together,” he continued. “We’re coming together as one Democratic Party. It’s not easy being up here, being on one side and coming here today. But you know what: It’s about all of you. It’s about New Haven. We’re bigger than our political titles. We are about the people, and the Democratic Party.”
Nearly two weeks after Elicker won the party’s nomination by roughly 16 points, Harp still has not publicly announced whether she plans to continue her reelection campaign. As of now her name is set to appear on the general election ballot on the Working Families Party Line. Some supporters are urging her to continue the campaign.
State Reps. Juan Candelaria, Roland Lemar, Al Paolillo, Michael DiMassa, and Pat Dillon.
The turnout for Elicker on Monday night included former Harp campaign supporters like Candelaria and Board of Alders Majority Leader Richard Furlow, as well as high-profile local Democrats who had declined to take a side during the primary, such as State Sen. Martin Looney and State Reps. Roland Lemar, Pat Dillon, and Al Paolillo.
Two other New Haven state legislators, Sen. Gary Winfield and Rep. Toni Walker, did not attend, but did send messages of support for Elicker.
If Harp does choose to stay in the race, she and Elicker will be the only two mayoral candidates on the general election ballot: local philanthropist Wendy Hamilton formally withdrew her candidacy last week, and petitioning candidate Urn Pendragon announced Monday night she too plans to end her candidacy and throw her support behind Elicker.
Elicker.
“As Representative Candelaria said: Politics is not easy,” Elicker said as he addressed the crowd from atop one of BAR’s communal wooden tables. “It’s not easy. And at the end of the day, I believe the mature politicians are those that, at the end of the day, rise above whatever side you might have been on in an election to think about the issues in this city.”
Before the brief speaking portion of the night began, attendees lined up for complimentary pizza at one end of the room and filled every table with eager chatter. Candelaria stood with Grand Avenue Special Services District (GASSD) Chair Frank Alvarado at the bar and elaborated on why he had decided to come out and support Elicker on Monday.
“I’m a Democrat,” Candelaria said. The city’s Democratic voters have overwhelmingly chosen Elicker as their nominee, he added, and he feels it his obligation as a Democratic representative to honor that vote. Elicker crushed Harp by 58 to 42 percent. New Haven has close to 40,000 registered Democrats, compared to close to 2,500 Republicans and over 16,000 unaffiliated voters.
“New Haven is the heart of the Democratic Party in this state,” Candelaria said. “I think it’s important that we bring our party back together again.”
Frank Alvarado with former City Clerk Ron Smith.
Alvarado, who was also a vocal supporter of Harp during her primary campaign, similarly cited party loyalty and party unity as the main motivations for his turning out for Elicker.
“I’m a Democrat: 100 percent,” he said. “Always have been, always will be.” He proudly supported the mayor through the primary, he said, but Elicker is the Democratic nominee, and the party should rally around him. “I love this city, and I want to see unity.”
Board of Alders Majority Leader Richard Furlow.
Amity/Westville Alder Furlow joined a majority of his local legislative colleagues to endorse Harp during the primary. He was the sole representative from aldermanic leadership to show up Monday night. He said that the Democratic Party must stick together if it hopes to continue to realize its agenda around economic justice and affordable housing, among other issues.
“This is our Democratic Party,” he said. “And our agenda citywide is what’s going to keep this city strong and vibrant.”
When asked for his thoughts on Elicker as an individual and as a candidate, Furlow said, “This isn’t personality-based for me. It’s something based on our primary.” Democratic voters have chosen Elicker, he said, and he will respect the will of the voters. The other alders in attendance Monday included longtime Elicker supporters Darryl Brackeen, Jr., Abby Roth, and Anna Festa; and Alders Sal DeCola and Jody Ortiz, who had previously endorsed Harp.
State Sen. Martin Looney.
Looney, one of the highest ranking Democrats in the state as the president pro tempore of the state Senate, said that he came out to support Elicker on Monday night after remaining neutral during the mayoral primary because of the close link between party unity and legislative effectiveness.
“It’s important for us to hold together the strongest Democratic Party organization in the state of Connecticut,” he said. He argued that New Haven Democrats must work well together if the state delegation wants any chance at realizing its broad progressive agenda when the state legislative session resumes in February.
Lemar, who also remained neutral during the mayoral primary, said that legislative impact outweighed party solidarity in his decision to support Elicker in the general election.
The state delegation needs to know which policies City Hall wants to prioritize and collaborate on pushing up in Hartford by as soon as November, he said. His message to Elicker now, even before the general election? “Consistent communication starting immediately.”
State Sen. Gary Winfield, who didn’t endorse either candidate during the primary, was not at Monday night’s event, but did pass along a message of support through his campaign manager and treasurer Christine Bartlett-Josie. He apologized for not being able to make it, Bartlett-Josie told the Independent, and he “looked forward to working with Justin as we head into November and beyond.”
State Rep. Toni Walker, who was not present Monday and who had endorsed Harp during the primary, also indicated her support for Elicker through a comment passed along by Bartlett-Josie.
“I look forward to working with our Democratic nominee Justin Elicker,” she said in a written statement. “He presented a vision that Democratic voters in New Haven supported and a strong City needs its local and State elected officials working together.”
Click on the Facebook Live video below to watch part of Monday night’s event.
Wow. All these politicians, and not one positive policy or vision-based reason to vote for Elicker. All loyalty to the party. But where was their loyalty when Mayor Harp was the endorsed candidate in the primary?
As for me, I remain loyal to the person - not the party - and her place in History. I support Mayor Harp and urge her to continue running! #RunToniRun!