Thomas Breen photo
The fractious mayoral election is over. Now is the time to start healing — and working together.
Newly minted Mayor-Elect Justin Elicker offered that call for unity Tuesday night, along with local politicians and politically engaged residents who fought on either side of the at times heated and divisive electoral contest.
At a general election victory party at the Next Door restaurant in Jocelyn Square, Elicker spent the last half of his 10-minute speech reassuring his supporters and, more directly, supporters of Mayor Toni Harp, that he plans to represent all ends of the political spectrum equally upon taking office in January.
He started that intra-party healing by recognizing that, in the past few weeks, “there’s been some pretty divisive things that have been said.”
From there, he didn’t mention any of the Harp campaign’s attack ads or conspiracy theories or direct appeals to one specific demographic and increasing rejection of all others.
Instead, he praised her for her 32-year career of public service — as an alder, state senator, and mayor.
The crowd inside Elicker’s victory party at Next Door.
“Mayor Harp is going to be remembered for finally taking down the fence that divided two communities that was unethical,” he said.
“Mayor Harp is going to be remembered because she created YouthStat and made sure that the New Haven children that were at the most risk were protected by this city.
“Mayor Harp will be remembered for ensuring that the Q House will be constructed.
“Mayor Harp will be remembered because of the incredible work that she has done for this city, and I’m grateful to have her as a partner as we move forward into the next steps.”
He closed his speech by recalling a conversation he had with an African American woman he met while making the rounds of the city’s various polling places earlier Tuesday. She said to him, “Don’t forget about our community.”
Elicker with labor organizer Scott Marks (right) and his wife and parents (left).
“There are some people on the other side of this campaign that think that it’s possible I might forget about their community.” That’s particularly true for the African American community, he said.
Elicker said the core of his campaign was transparency and inclusivity.
“It was about including everyone every step of the way,” he said.
“I gave out my cellphone number because I care that every single person has access to New Haven government,” he continued. “I pledge to you tonight that I’m not going to be mayor just for the people in this room. I’m going to be mayor for every single person in this city.”
Now, he said, everyone in this city must be prepared to grab hands and work together “so that we can improve New Haven and make sure that New Haven is a place where every single person has an opportunity to thrive.”
“We Have To Start Talking”
Newhallville Ward Co-Chair Barbara Vereen and Westville Alder Darryl Brackeen, Jr.
After Elicker finished his speech and the joyous and hungry crowd made its way to free pizza in the restaurant’s dining room, Newhallville’s Ward 20 Democratic Co-Chair Barbara Vereen and Westville Alder Darryl Brackeen presented a roadmap for how Elicker might best achieve that political healing. Vereen supported Harp during the primary, while Brackeen was one of the few alders to come out in support of Elicker.
“I think we have to start talking,” Vereen said. Elicker needs to come to neighborhood management teams and ward committee meetings to engage skeptical residents and win them over face to face.
“We have come a long way and I don’t want to see that stop,” she said about Newhallville. “There’s a fear in our community that we’re not going to get those services that we’ve been getting.”
Brackeen agreed. “You have to meet with our city’s leaders,” he said. “Justin needs to assure the community that he’s not here to divide us, that he’s here to unite us.”
How will that happen? “It’s about Justin going to meet people where they are. Period. I believe he’s about servant leadership. He’s humble enough to approach anyone wherever they are to hear what their concerns are to ensure that their community gets their needs met.”
“There Needs To Be Some Mending”
That call for unity going forward was also made in Newhallville Tuesday morning outside Ward 20’s Lincoln-Bassett School polling place.
“At the end of the day, we’re fighting for the same thing,” said Ward 20 Democratic Committee Co-Chair Oskar Havyarinama (pictured).
He supported Harp during the September primary — and then supported Elicker, along with the rest of the Democratic ticket, on Tuesday.
That “same thing” is representation in and attention from City Hall, said Harp supporter Jeannette Sykes (pictured, with Elicker supporter Ray Jackson) and Newhallville Community Management Team Chair Kim Harris.
“Whoever is in, we’re gonna put pressure on them” to pay heed to Newhallville residents’ needs and concerns, Sykes said.
“It was a nasty race,” she added. “There needs to be some mending. It’s not over after today.”
But will the called for unity actually result in better representation, fiscal soundness, reduced spending and balanced budgets? Will the BOA/Elicker set priorities that accurately not politically meet our needs as a city - and not simply herky, jerky just add to the list and expect the tax base to pay for it? Now that divisiveness and darkness are slated to leave - will we actually see it? Can Elicker get the BOA members to act responsibly and in a way they haven't? I hope so.