Democracy Lives
In Newhallville

Just when you thought candidates had put this year’s elections behind us, a contested election for leadership of the Newhallville Community Management Team brought a mostly new slate of candidates to power.

Just how much power they have is debatable. (Management teams meet monthly at neighborhood substations to discuss local issues with each other, with district cops, and sometimes with other officials.) But when the slots for officers of the management team came open, a crowded field showed that people do care, and want to run for them. Elections for those positions took place Tuesday night at the Winchester Avenue substation.

“Usually we have one candidate per slot, if that,” outgoing chair Harold Ellis said. He was not running for reelection in that position. The current secretary, Lamont Moye, was. Another announced candidate was Rick Jennings. Frank Jackson was nominated from the floor.

Each man gave a brief speech. Moye, a grad student studying criminal justice at the University of New Haven, said, ​“The chair doesn’t have that much power,” said Moye, a grad student studying criminal justice at the University of New Haven. He said the chair sets the agenda (which is open to amendments from the floor) and runs the meeting. ​“I would like to show you what your power is,” to come together and improve the community.

Rick Jennings, earning his master’s in urban studies at Southern, said the job needs someone who can devote a lot of time to it, ​“to bring us into the 21st century.”

Frank Jackson (pictured above) said he’d lived in Newhallville for 20 years — far longer than the other two men. ​“I helped destroy this community,” he said, referring to an earlier period in his life, ​“but I came back to help my community.” He’s currently working to bring jobs to Newhallville.

After the roll call of about a dozen eligible voters (who must attend three out of four meetings and then not miss three consecutive meetings), Ellis announced that Jackson won.

Lateefah Williams, running for vice chair, said she wanted to be the voice of youth in the neighborhood. After Rick Jennings removed his name from consideration, Williams won by acclamation. Since she was now vice chair, she could no longer run for secretary, a position for which she had also been a candidate. Another candidate was disqualified because she wasn’t a voting member, leaving the voters to elect Ellis secretary by acclamation. Delphine Clyburn ran unopposed for treasurer.

“I’m just really happy we had the election,” said long-serving local Alderwoman Alfreda Edwards (pictured). ​“I know we have differences of opinion but we all live in this community and we want to see change.”