Elicker Petition Squad Hits Pavement In 100-Degree Heat

After the Democratic Town Committee voted to endorse Toni Harp for mayor, Justin Elicker and his team of volunteers set to work in the hundred-degree heat to get his name on the ballot for the Democratic primary election, one signature at a time.

Elicker needs to collect nearly 2,000 signatures from registered Democrats in New Haven in order to run against Harp in a Sept. 10 primary, as he explained to volunteers who gathered in his campaign office at 161 Whalley Ave. Saturday morning

The volunteers collected petitions, flyers, stickers, and other materials before fanning out to knock on doors and canvass at busy spots across the city, including the Wooster Square Farmer’s Market and the Green.

Elicker spoke optimistically about the signature-gathering.

“I think it’s actually an advantage for us. It’s like an excuse to talk about politics in New Haven,” Elicker told the canvassers, estimating that volunteers have already knocked on 12,000 doors this campaign season.

Campaign Manager Gage Frank explained the drill to new volunteers: Everyone who signs the petition must be a New Haven voter registered in the Democratic Party. Their printed names must be legible, or else their signatures will be disqualified. The campaign is required to collect 1,946 signatures, but will aim to collect more, anticipating that many of the signatures will be challenged.

A signature isn’t an endorsement for Elicker. The petition is just to allow Elicker to put his name on the ballot.

“It’s about giving voters a choice,” said Field Director Kevin Alvarez.

“It’s democracy! Everyone should sign,” Elicker said. ​“In 2013, I signed Mayor Harp’s petition and she signed mine.”

Volunteer Nick Gauthier helped collect signatures for Elicker’s mayoral campaign in 2013. This time around, ​“more people in more neighborhoods know who [Elicker] is — know him not just as a person running for office but as a person,” he said.

Around 20 people gathered in the campaign’s office; others were already out canvassing.

“To have this groundswell of people wanting to come out on a 100-degree day is really remarkable,” Elicker said.

Elicker and Frank initially set out at noon to canvass at Goffe Street Park, where they expected to find a concert. But when they arrived at the park, the concert appeared to have been canceled, and hardly anyone was outside in the boiling heat. Instead, Frank and Elicker parked on Orange Street beside Pitkin Plaza.

The pair split up, walking into stores, where they spoke with both customers and employees, and stopping everyone they encountered on the street.

“So I’m running for mayor and I need 2,000 signatures to run in the primary,” Elicker told the people he encountered. ​“Are you a registered Democrat in New Haven?”

“1 divided by 2,000: that’s the difference you’re making,” Elicker said as he spoke to a Devil’s Gear employee who agreed to sign.

A majority of the people Elicker encountered on Chapel Street said they were registered to vote in another state. Three had signed the petition the day before.

An employee of Duc’s Place said he was unaffiliated with a political party, but offered to change his registration to the Democratic Party. One man sitting outside Claire’s Corner Copia said he was a Republican. (“I’m not talking to you anymore,” joked the man he was sitting with, who hadn’t known about his friend’s party affiliation.)

“Our luck was a lot better yesterday,” Elicker said.

Still, after four blocks, Elicker wound up with over a page of signatures.

“I don’t have time — I’m on a date,” said one man. His date smiled as he bent down to sign the petition anyway.

“He’s a good man,” Elicker told the man’s date.