nothin Garrett’s Announcement Theme: No More… | New Haven Independent

Garrett’s Announcement Theme: No More Business As Usual”

Sam Gurwitt Photo

Standing in front of her kids, their friends, and Hamden Memorial Town Hall’s thick Ionic columns, Hamden Councilwoman Lauren Garrett announced Wednesday afternoon that she hopes to chart a new course” as the town’s next mayor.

Garrett formally announced her campaign for the Democratic mayoral nomination against incumbent Mayor Curt Leng with visible support from fellow members of the town’s growing ranks of progressive activists. (Click here for a story about Garrett’s, Leng’s, and Republican Jay Kaye’s candidacies.)

Garrett told the three dozen assembled supporters that she wants to shut the door on business as usual’ and open the door to innovations. Business as usual has brought us a sea of debt, serious social issues, and too many Hamdenites feeling left out of decisions, improvements, and information.”

Garrett, 37, joined the Hamden Legislative Council in 2017, and since then, she has been a vocal critic of Mayor Leng’s management of town finances.

My term on the Legislative Council has been an eye-opening experience,” she told the crowd. I saw that our town was in deep financial trouble.”

As a progressive Democrat, a council member, and a problem solver, what else could I do?” she continued. I could lead, follow, or get out of the way. I am choosing to lead by becoming your next mayor so I can right our economic ship and lead our beloved town to a successful, inclusive future.”

Garrett grew up in Michigan, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2003 with a degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. She came to Connecticut during the summer before her senior year for an internship at a shipyard in Bridgeport, and met her soon-to-be husband, Dan. She moved to Hamden in 2003 and has lived here ever since.

She got involved in politics in 2006 when she volunteered for Ned Lamont in his bid to unseat Joe Lieberman in the U.S. Senate. Since then, she has volunteered for numerous campaigns all over the state.

Garrett’s is a relatively new voice in Hamden politics, but one that has not shied away from criticizing the conventions of decades of councils and administrations. She is a leader in the growing progressive wing of the town’s Democrats, and is running on a platform of change. Specifically, she has framed her campaign as a challenge to accepted fiscal practices in favor of what she calls financial responsibility.”

She argued that financial responsibility means fully funding the town’s pension plan, not continuing to borrow money for town expenses, and cutting spending. She said that for her, financial responsibility does not mean cutting important programming, as it sometimes does among conservatives.

Lauren Garrett.

When we’re talking about financial responsibility, I think that for me, I want to do what’s right. I want to make sure that we’re funding our budget responsibly. I want to make sure that we’re not taking away from programs that help people,” she said.

(Read more about her platform here.)

Among the crowd at Town Hall on Wednesday were friends, political allies, and campaign staff.

Sean Grace, who ran for Connecticut’s 17th Senate District this fall and is a leader of the Hamden Progressive Action Network (Ham PAN), is acting as Garrett’s campaign manager.

Lauren and I met working on campaigns, and we have knocked on thousands of doors together,” he told the Independent. He said when she asked him to manage her campaign, he didn’t hesitate to agree.

Campaign Manager Sean Grace.

He said that a major question of Garrett’s campaign is: How does a progressive manage a town in a such a difficult financial situation? The answer is you do it honestly and you do it responsibly.”

Alexa Panayotakis, another active Ham PAN member, is deputy campaign manager. Hamden High School senior Abdul Osmanu is youth outreach coordinator. Patrick Johnson, who served as Josh Elliott’s treasurer when he successfully ran for a State House seat as a Bernie Sanders-style progressive, is Garrett’s treasurer.

Council Rep. Harry Gagliardi was one of Garrett’s colleagues who showed up. He did not hesitate to answer when asked whether he would endorse her. Oh absolutely,” he replied. No doubt in my mind.”

Councilman Harry Gagliardi.

The crowd was composed mostly, but not entirely, of humans. A dog named Walker also showed up to watch the announcement. On the other end of his leash was Leornard Young, president of Gimme Shelter, a group that advocates for an animal shelter in Hamden, which the town does not currently have.

The current administration hasn’t moved on one. so we’re looking for change,” he said.

On Wednesday, Hamden had to stop using the North Haven animal shelter. At a budget deliberation Tuesday evening, Acting Police Chief John Cappiello told the council that the administration has secured short-term housing for the town’s animals and is working on a long-term solution.

At almost the exact moment that Garrett stood on the steps of Town Hall announcing that she wanted to bring change, Leng posted a response on his Facebook page, which was an updated version of one he sent to the Independent on Tuesday.

Gimme Shelter President Leonard Young and Walker.

Right now, we have very serious work to do that demands immediate attention and actions,” he wrote. For me, it is not the appropriate time to focus on politics or campaigns.

Some critics have tried to paint the picture that I don’t care about the importance of our Town’s pension fund. This couldn’t be further from the truth.”

He said he has negotiated pension reforms that will save tens of millions of dollars.

Our residents don’t deserve the constant negativity, half-truths and scare tactics being put forward,” his statement continued.

Leng has already filed paperwork to seek reelection.

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