Three alder-hopefuls apiece are now running to represent Downtown/Yale’s Ward 1 and Morris Cove’s Ward 18, as more candidates have signed up to participate in this year’s municipal elections.
That’s the latest update on soon-to-unfold alder elections, based on paperwork filed with the City Clerk’s office.
The new entrants to the Ward 18 race are Zelema Harris, a Democrat, and Anthony Acri, a Republican. They now join fellow Democratic challenger Leland Moore in pursuit of a seat currently represented by incumbent Democrat Sal DeCola, who has not yet publicly announced if he will be seeking reelection.
The new candidate in the Ward 1 race, meanwhile, is Elias Theodore, a Democrat. He joins fellow Democrats Rhea McTiernan Huge and Jake Siesel in a bid to replace incumbent Alder Kiana Flores, who is not seeking a second two-year term and who has endorsed McTiernan Huge.
In most cases, the candidates for aldermanic office (listed in full below) have not yet automatically qualified for a spot on voters’ ballots.
First, the local Democratic and Republican parties are required to hold conventions this summer at which party officials will formally endorse one candidate for each position. The endorsed candidates will automatically make it to the primary election ballot, while non-endorsed candidates can petition for a spot on that ballot by garnering signatures of a percentage of registered party members in their respective wards. Similarly, winners of the September primaries are guaranteed a spot on the November general election ballot, while other candidates must petition their way onto the ballot.
One exception is Paul Garlinghouse, who is seeking a seat representing Ward 13 — and has already been selected by the Green Party for a place on the November ballot.
Democratic and Republican primary elections are slated for Sept. 9, with early voting available from Sept. 2 through Sept. 7.
Meanwhile, the general election is scheduled for Nov. 4, with early voting available from Oct. 20 through Nov. 2.
Here’s a full list of the candidates who have filed so far. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name, and incumbents are marked with asterisks.)
• Ward 1 (Yale & Downtown): Rhea McTiernen Huge (D), Jake Siesel (D), Elias Theodore (D)
• Ward 9 (East Rock & Fair Haven): Caroline Tanbee Smith* (D)
• Ward 13 (Fair Haven Heights): Paul Garlinghouse (Green)
• Ward 15 (Fair Haven): Frank Redente* (D)
• Ward 16 (Fair Haven): Jose Crespo* (D), Magda Natal (D) || (Nelys Calcano (D) has stated an intention to withdraw her candidacy, but she is still officially a candidate.)
• Ward 18 (Morris Cove): Anthony Acri (R), Zelema Harris (D), Leland Moore (D)
• Ward 20 (Newhallville): Brittiany Mabery-Niblack* (D)
• Ward 21 (Dixwell, Newhallville, & Prospect Hill): Maceo Troy Streater* (D)
• Ward 26 (Upper Westville): Amy Marx* (D)
• Ward 28 (Beaver Hills): Gary Hogan* (D)
Additionally, on the Board of Education, incumbent Democrat Ed Joyner has filed to run for re-election. And in the mayor’s race, incumbent Democrat Justin Elicker faces a challenge from Republican hopeful Steve Orosco.