Clockwise from top left: Tomato pie at Ernies; West River in Edgewood Park; Strange Ways merch; Manjares’ Ana De Los Angeles whips up fresh guacamole.
The most revealing answers at the first debate of the mayoral campaign season — at least about the nature of the candidates and their candidacies — may have had to do with old-school versus new-school tastes in downtime pleasures.
The question, posed at Wednesday night’s candidate face-off at Mauro-Sheridan School: Where is your favorite place to hang out in Westville?
Incumbent Mayor Toni Harp, who’s running on experience, didn’t hesitate with her answer: Ernie’s Pizzeria. The “classic pizza parlor” has steadily cultivated generational loyalties since 1971; Harp’s family has considered it a spot for special occasions since her (now grown) children were young.
Justin Elicker, who’s running on a change message, cited Manjares, the hip West Rock Avenue bistro that opened in 2009 as a new generation of young families began moving to the neighborhood.
Wendy Hamilton, who is forging an outsider campaign that channels Lenny Bruce, Mother Jones, and Wavy Gravy, cited the Strange Ways “retro oddities” boutique. Naturally.
While Urn Pendragon, who has highlighted her experience being homeless and emphasized the creation of “green jobs,” went with Edgewood Park.
The debate was sponsored by the four Westville/ West Hills Democratic ward committees, and featured the candidates for the Democratic mayoral nomination. It did not include Seth Poole, who has filed papers to run as an unaffiliated candidate in the general election.
Candidates Harp, Hamilton, Elicker, Pendragon at Wednesday night’s debate.
Ernie's is in Amity, not Westville.