Harp Urged To Keep Running

Scuttlebutt says that she is!

I was there, and I encouraged the mayor to keep running.

This city deserves a real choice. The full electorate should decide.

Run Toni run!!

"Other priorities" then supporting the candidate on your own ballot line?

The Working Families Party confuses me. What's the point of maintaining a separate ballot line if you're always going to be supporting a Democrat or getting yourself into weird quandaries like this when your endorsement doesn't work in the primary? If you're not willing to back up your organization's endorsements, why go through the trouble of getting separate ballot access at all (as opposed to putting resources into your grassroots organizing)?

This isn't the first time this has happened, either. At some point the WFP is going to have to think about why it exists and at what point its current strategy is getting in the way of its goals.

(And, of course, it's weird that we have this setup to begin with when one party dominates New Haven. The city would be served better if we found some way to separate the local party system from the state and national party system).

I like what Brother MALCOLM X Said when he spoke to Black People.

Our people have to become registered voters, but we first have to get a better understand of politics. We go into politics in a gullible way, an emotional way. When politics is cold blooded and heartless, we must first learn the science of politics.And right Now the science of politics is not with the Mayor Harp.You see the Machine AKA the Unions that help Mayor Harp.Now have to shift to the democratic primary winner which is Justin Elicker. who is now the democratic candidate for the democratic party.I remember the night of the debate before primary day.People was saying how Mayor Harp whip that A.But on primary day. Who's A got whip? In fact it look like a pimp slap.Just look at the primary numbers.He beat her by over 2,000 votes.Come Nov.Now all of the independent and unaffiliated voters can now vote.Check Mate. .

Now what is going to happen is Black and latino Judas Goats and Prechers will have to take a refresher course to do this

Thomas Maupin - Buck Dance Champion

https://youtu.be/bX5sz1P73DE

In fact I bet some of those Black and latino Judas Goats and Prechers have already been trying to cut there deals.

Politicians and preachers seduced by power and drawn like moths to a flame. Maybe the Connecticut for Lieberman Party has an open slot.

I hope that TOni Harp is thinking about what would be best for the city. More mudslinging and race baiting or letting someone new take the helm and try to fix this mess.

I'm sure all the hangers-on who have public jobs and favors are pushing her to run so their gravy train can continue.

I respected Toni Harp when I worked with her at the Capitol; I respect her today. She has done many good things for the city as mayor. But notwithstanding her competence and conscientiousness, the mayor can only be at one place at one time. The time she would spend campaigning cannot be spent addressing the school transportation fiasco, the incredibly complicated problem of lead paint, etc.

Elmurbanist, all parties have finite resources that they spend where they think they will have the greatest impact. In the words of the noted political scientist Damon Runyon, "the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that is the best way to bet."

She has 0 chance of winning especially now with no support from her own party I can't believe she's even considering it. The primary was an insult- 16% is a huge margin and and the general will only compound that. It will be a walk away landslide for Elicker. I hope she doesn't embarrass herself anymore. Does she think she will pick up even one Republican vote?
There are more of them than the workers party, and Elicker will get the lion's share of non-affiliated too. Please Mrs Harp, read the writing on the wall, have some class and step away.

I keep complaining that there is hardly ever any competition in New Haven elections. I want competition in New Haven elections. I wanted Justin Elicker to run in the general election six years ago, and he did. So I hope Toni Harp will keep running this time, too. It would be good for New Haven.

From her point of view, I can't see what possible sense it would make. She has no path to victory -- she had miserable turnout during the primary "in the neighborhoods I represent;" it is likely delusional to think she can improve much there in six weeks; she can't possibly make up the 18% deficit that represented her loss, especially with Independents voting, who are likely to break for Elicker, only adding to her defeat margin; and her out-of-money campaign is unlikely to attract $1,000 donors anymore, willing to give to a losing proposition. (While Justin still has something like $100,000 on hand, and should Toni continue, will attract more.)

She would be setting herself up for yet more embarrassment.

Run, Toni, Run?

Toni Harp should continue her campaign. She has nothing to lose! This woman has a lifetime of collateral. What does JE have...nothing but empty promises and the lies he tried to spread about Mayor Harp. Disgusting literature only sent to certain homes.
See the thing about black people is that we fight and we fight everyday, so to battle someone who's only claim to fame is that he caved to the temptation to malign a good woman, BUSY WORK.
If and I say If, she decides to run; win or lose she and her people will come out victorious because they fought the powers that be until the very end! The time is now for POC to see the writing on the wall.
So I say, Run Toni Run......

What a disappointment. Think of all the time and effort that could be used to help the city fix urgent problems and promote an orderly transition. I hope such an honorable public servant as Mayor Harp will know to ignore this circle of 'advisors' who have led her astray for so many many months and do what's best for the city.

The voters have spoken, please retire Mayor Harp and take Birks with you.

I'm not surprised she's refusing to move on and listen to the people of New Haven. That's always been her way of operating. Harp got thrashed in the primary and would take an even greater beating in the general. I really hope she doesn't do any further damage to her legacy and the city. The time is way overdue for her to step aside and let Elicker begin the difficult job of fixing this mess.

She's wasting precious transition time. Do not run.

Mayor Harp should call it a career and not run in the general election, where she has no hope of winning. Even the most novice of political junkies can see that her margin of defeat will only grow in the general election, where non-Democrats can vote and will vote against her. The only people urging her to run are those in fear for their jobs. They're not doing her any favors with their false statements of support and commitment. They'll abandon her as soon as the hopelessness of the situation becomes clear to even them! Harp should not humiliate herself by pursuing an unrealistic goal. Let it go.º

"Harp, a three-term incumbent, told them she has not yet made up her mind. She said she needs to see a strategic path to victory."

Harp made a promise to the New Have Pride Center to make an appearance at the PRIDE New Haven flag raising Sunday but dropped out after she lost the primary. That told me that the LGBT community were only votes to her. Meanwhile, Justin, Urn, and Wendy all made an appearance. Even the Themis Klarides made an appearance! Harp lost a lot of good faith from an entire community that day, votes she could have secured for the general election should she decide to run.

I make no comments as to who I am supporting as yet. But, I want everyone to know that I will continue to work on social justice issues past the elections. As a heads up, see who is on the municipal ballot in November.

I'm not sure how Mayor Harp can still see a path to victory, given what we know about independent support for Elicker both now and in 2013. If I were a supporter of the mayor (which I am not), I would encourage her to spend the rest of her term serving the city she has represented for many decades. But she has every right to waste her energy, money, and time on a pointless campaign, just to end her political career on a two-election losing streak.

What is the Working Families Party even doing here? Why would they endorse a candidate only to publicly come out and say they can't be bothered to invest time and energy in her campaign? A cynic might think they were only in it to pick a winner, and they lost.

I used to vote along the WFP line but I am less likely to do so now.

The key comment in this article is: Mayor Harp "said she needed to see a strategic path to victory" before she would decide to run in the general election.
Whether or not Mayor Harp decides to run is entirely her decision to make. She definitely has the right to run. Her supporters have the right to encourage her to do so.
However, the political reality is there is no pathway of victory for her to win.
After losing the Democratic primary by more than 2,000 votes to Justin Elicker, Elicker now is the official Democratic party candidate for mayor. Running under the banner of a party most people have never heard of , the Working Families Party, is of no benefit to Harp who would be challenging her own party.
The Democratic party will use its influence to promote Elicker. Most Democratic party leaders will unite behind Elicker. The Working Families Party has essentially reported that they are not enthusiastic about Harp's race, and will focus their resources on those races in other towns that they think they have a chance to win.
The general election, unlike the primary, will be open to all New Haven voters, independents, unaffiliated and Republicans, most of whom will be inclined to support Elicker. Can the Harp campaign depend on more New Haven Democrats turning out to vote for Harp than in the primary, especially more from communities of color? The odds are against that happening, especially after such a huge defeat in the primary.
Harp's 50 "core supporters" who want her to run for re-election promised to back Harp, but they backed her in the primary. Unless each of those supporters can guarantee 100 or more new votes or changed votes for Harp, their advocacy for Harp's re-election will be in vain.

Continued...
So, Harp can run, but Harp will suffer a far greater loss than she did in the primary.
No one should be subjected to such embarrassment and humiliation. No one who genuinely cares for Toni Harp as a person, not just as a politician, should want her to suffer another humiliating defeat at the polls
Toni Harp served three terms as mayor. She made her mark in the history and progress of this city. The people will thank her for her service.
But the people have spoken and they are ready to move on to new leadership and a new vision and direction for New Haven.
The stark political reality is Harp Era will come to a close on January 1, 2020. That handwriting is already on the wall of City Hall.

Perhaps a picture or two are worth a thousand words.

The pensive photo of Mayor Harp at the swearing in of Chief Reyes, before the primary:

https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/reyes_swearing_in/

suggests she may have sensed what was coming. "This may be my last such event."

The photo of her last night at the beginning of this story suggests a brave face for the benefit of core supporters, even though she knows the situation is hopeless.

My guess now: she will thank them gratefully, and gracefully retire.

So Mayor Harp couldn't win a Democrats-only contest, with the organized support of 34 & 35. Yet now she dreams of a comeback victory in a general, without the Unions behind her? Who is she kidding?

It's really sad. But it meshes with the ineptitude of this year's campaigning.

The Mayor should skip putting the City through another ugly round of divisive campaigning. Instead she should fake the congratulatory lap that she deserves.

Lots of interesting comments;

Alex: <This city deserves a real choice> Yes, it does. But once again, there will be only far left candidates on the ballot. Feels like a Soviet election

CityYankee: <I hope that TOni Harp is thinking about what would be best for the city>. I would hope for that but not count on it considering her record.

Citoyen: Your comments about campaign dollars are spot on. If Toni carries on money will have to be spent on both sides....none of which will be used to help the city.

06511 <What is the Working Families Party even doing here?&gt; can anyone answer this?

Thomas Alfred Paine - Many of those 50 who are pleading for Toni to run have realized that their access to power and money in New Haven is in great jeopardy. Of course they want her to run.

I thought that the Democratic primary would be a close contest and the loser would challenge in the general election. The fact that Mayor Harp garnered 2,000+ fewer votes in the primary than she did in her previous run against Mr Elicker was a shock to most. Why did these 2,000 voters stay home? Why were they alienated by the Mayor's campaign? Were they alienated by the BOE debacle? Unless the Mayor's campaign can motivated these 2,000 former supporters plus match or surpass nonDemocratic support that Mr Elicker may pick up in the general election, the mayor cannot win.

Mayor Harp has had a good run as a representative and administrator for New Haven. Time for a change of the leadership and governance in New Haven.

John Champion

It is quite interesting that those who believe Elicker would win, hands down, are so concerned about Toni Harp running against him in the general election.

If you are so confident that JE will win, and that Toni has "no path to victory," why are you concerned with whether she runs or not.

By the way, few expressed concern over Justin's run in the general election six years ago after he'd lost the Democratic primary, or whether his run would "further divide the city."

Much of the handwringing here sound hypocritical.

Rev. Ross-Lee

Kevin McCarthy: Definitely, but if a group like the WFP has finite resources, why spend energy on maintaining a ballot line at all? They only endorse Democrats, and their ballot line often causes them to either make calculations that are against their principles (e.g. Cuomo in New York) or get into awkward situations (e.g. listing Harp on their ballot line without being willing to put resources into supporting her during the actual election when their ballot line appears). Seems like they would serve their own mission better by not worrying about a ballot line and focusing on their endorsements and grassroots organizing work.

I guess I echo 06511's question: "What is the Working Families Party even doing here?"

Rev Ross-Lee: Six years ago, Elicker had a plausible path to victory. Harp had won a plurality, not a majority of the primary votes, meaning Harp was not the first choice of a majority of Democrats. Moreover, Elicker had greater appeal amongst unaffiliated voters. As it was, Elicker vastly increased his percentage of the vote, picking up former Fernandez and Carolina supporters, as while as most of the unaffiliated. He was, of course, still short as Harp increased her share of the vote to a comfortable majority. An Elicker victory in 2013 was always unlikely, but it was at least plausible. If Harp had run as well against Elicker as Moore did against Ganim, a Harp victory would be plausible. Yet, she didn't. The unions have deserted her, and she has kept little money in reserve for the general. On the big issues, Elicker's positions are largely the same. It's hard to see what purpose a continued run would have.

@Living in New Haven

Please stop speaking for the black community. Some of us blacks have chosen Justin Elicker to be our next Mayor.Lets face it...TH didn't filed the paperwork to run as an independent in the general election in November. We thought she said if she did not win the primary she would not seek reelection. It didnt take long for the real Toni to show up...


New Haven Register also reported this story...

With Honda as the prospectively new campaign manager, whom posts on her Facebook page statements of political prostitution, Real Democrats stay a Democrat, articles on white men in politics, Black lives, dreams, hope's, future, thoughts and votes matter. One thing Honda may not realize, she represents TH and this type of far-left black radical belief should be denounced at all levels. IMO, anyone who uses facebook to promote extremists propaganda is promoting hate. TH needs to examine her company before her reputation is totally destroyed. Birds of a feather will flock together.

The New Haven Register also named a few attendees, it should be a conflict of interest to see a city "paid" employee campaigning with any mayor. I wonder if there is a provision in the code of ethics prohibiting such campaigning activites. The mayor is not allowed to use city funds for campaigning and it does not look good for a city paid employee to help campaign..hmmm

There are also Alders who choose to support TH when the DTC has switched to supporting Justin because he won the primary election. These alders should be ashame of themselves and identified immediately because TH is not the endorsed DTC candidate and they have an obligation to democratic voters.

Rev Cousin, spoke about " the chance to really process what had occurred " failing to mention the thousands his church received for an ESCAPE program that never materialized..


So my advice will be....


Quit Toni Quit!

Toni Harp has every right to run in the General Election.

But I don't see any compelling reason that the General Election is more favorable to Harp than the Primary was. Is an electorate with more (mostly white) Republicans more likely to go Harp?

It just seems like for all the time and money and effort and canvassing and all that, that effort could go into something more productive. Like helping the transition or even putting all that effort into solving a few more of New Haven's problems before leaving.

The choice ultimately is hers. But I just don't see the payoff as worth the enormous cost and effort.

@ElmUrbanist: The Working Families Party is funded by the unions and just provides an extra line and endorsement when it suits their purposes.

Rev. Ross-Lee, that is a fair question. As I noted earlier, if Mayor Harp choses to run, it will take time away from her efforts to address the problems facing the city. And both campaigns have been nasty, something that will undoubtedly continue if the race goes on.

In addition to the points raised by others on Mayor Harp's chances, there are a fair number of dyed in the wool Democrats in town. Some of them who voted for Mayor Harp in the primary will choose to support the party's nominee or (more likely) stay home on election day.

@1644,

The purpose a continued run will serve is fulling the candidate's desire to run, as she has the right to do so, just as Elicker had six years ago.

The right to run in an election is based on a candidate's choice and a party or people's willingness to put said candidate on the ballot, not on the candidate's opponents' opinion about whether she should run or not.

I notice you didn't address the question about why you guys are so vociferous about her not running. If you are so confident she will lose, why not be quiet and let it happen. If she wants to run, she will run. If her supporters want her to run, they will advocate for her to run.

If Elicker's supporters want him to be Mayor, they probably spend their time supporting his candidacy, rather than wasting their time trying to tell another candidate what she should or should not do.

Rev. Ross-Lee

This is a blue town, and she lost the Democratic primary, badly.
Running in the general would be hubris. She would be better off leaving with dignity.

There are many ways to contribute to the quality of life in New Haven. Being mayor is only one of them.

@Kevin McCarthy,

" if Mayor Harp chooses to run, it will take time away from her efforts to address the problems facing the city."

So, the very people who've said that she had handled the problems in the city poorly, now use their desire for her to "address the problems facing the city" as the reason she should not continue to run.

You guys are tripping all over yourselves to discourage her from running in an election that you believe she will lose, and you're now more funny than persuasive. Maybe you should give it a rest.

Rev. Ross-Lee

Group Therapy Notes:

Patricia Kane if the WFP is looking to poach Bernie supporters their recent endorsement of Warren is a weird way to go about it...

Rev. Ross-Lee, you did not read my earlier comments. I did not say or imply that Mayor Harp "handled the problems in the city poorly". I did say "she has done many good things for the city as mayor." I also said, truthfully, that I respect her.

WFP and DSA both vary from state to state.
I reported on what is happening in our area.

"According to Lindsey Farrell...."Working Families Party members went door to door for Harp, texted supporters, and participated in get-out-the-vote efforts in the primary.

That probably won't happen again should Harp proceed with a general-election run, Farrell said.

If your main supporting political party will not support you in the general election....well that's game over.

Don't expect Kimber to be on the doors or pulling at the polls ... Kimber is already trying to court Elicker.

There are stark differences between Justin and Toni. And should she decide to run, she should. If the commentators on this forum had their say, she would never have run in 2013, 2015, 2017 or now. That you say she shouldn't run is no reason for her not to run. And that she faces long odds is no reason for her not to run. Indeed, Justin faced long odds in 2013 and he was encouraged to run as a newcomer with no executive experience and was given benefit of the doubt. That was your right to encourage him.

As for the stark differences, respecting diversity as a concept and employing it are different. Wanting safe streets as a concept and paying for them are different. One of the primary attacks on Toni is that she raised the mill rate when Martin Looney and Ned Lamont withheld funds to bail Luke Bronin and Hartford out of it's fiscal mess. Rather than cut services, she raised taxes at great political cost to her. Aside from that one incident, she has kept the mill rate steady and balanced the budget while expanding services. I wonder whether Justin will do the same. Will he protect the poor by taxing those more fortunate or will he cut services to them? Will he not raise taxes when not necessary to gain political favor with unions. I don't know his tract record but if his campaign is any indication of his character, he will not.

I say that because he could have beat Toni without calling her administration corrupt because one employee is under investigation. He could have beat her without arguing that someone who has spent a lifetime of service to the poor does not care about lead. The city demographics had tilted in his favor but he did all in his power to wrest it from her. His character, or lack thereof, is why I cannot support him until he proves he has some.

@Samuel T. Ross-Lee
It does not appear from most comments her that Elicker supporters fear Harp running in the general election.
There is no anxiety or handwriting here, since it is quite clear that there is no political path for her to win. There is no objection to Harp running. If she does chose to run, it will be for her a optical disaster, pastor!
@LIvinginNewHaven
"Toni Harp should continue her campaign. She has nothing to lose!"
That's easy for LINH to say! That writer will not have to stand before the media and he public on election night with a greater electoral loss than the primary. That writer will not suffer the embarrassment, the blow to Harp's pride and dignity at losing a second time. It is so easy, and so selfish, to stick out someone else's neck!
Two women who claimed the same baby went to Solomon to resolve the dispute. One jumped at Solomon's offer to cut the child in half so each could have half a baby. The real mother cried no, offering to give up her child to the pretender. Solomon, in his great wisdom, acknowledged the real mother, and handed her the child.
Some Harp supporters are now acting like that selfish fake mother. They are thinking only of themselves, their desires and their agendas. They would rather see Harp cut in twain at the polls rather than face political reality.
This decision to run is Harp's decision alone. No one should try to coerce or pressure her, or load her with any burden of guilt.
This is a personal matter requiring deliberate consideration of the pros and cons of waging a monumental battle.
Give her the space to decide. Respect her decision. Support her either way.
That's what real friends and supporters do.
We may wage our battles on the political field, but we must remember out political differences must not make us enemies. We may have different views of a host of issues, but we must always remember we are all human beings, with human emotions, faults and frailties and strengths. We are all fellow citizens.

I have voted for Toni Harp for mayor in every election she has been on the ballot. But she will not get my vote this November. She has the right to run. And I have the right to vote for the Democratic nominee.

@ThomasAlfred Paine, I agree with almost all of your post about Solomon's judgment except: "[Harp supporters] would rather see Harp cut in twain at the polls rather than face political reality." It is New Haven that would be cut in twain in the scenario of her persisting as a third-party candidate. Those who love and care for the city, including Mayor Harp, should now support Justin Elicker, and spare all of us pointless waste and acrimony.

Rev Ross-Lee; Of course she has the right to run. No one has said that she doesn't. However, if she really did want to run, she would have immediately declared that she was running. Throughout the campaign, she has looked and sounded tired and worn out. Have any of those fifty besides Alex shown their support for Harp by changing their registration to WFP? Are the Alders who supported her resigning from the DTC and moving to WFP? Are Harp supporters energizing WFP with new energy, money and voters for the campaign ahead?

"The city deserves a real choice"? This after years of everyone being perfectly fine with the previous and current mayor running unopposed? If the Democratic party in New Haven really wanted to foster "choice", then the rules for running in a primary wouldn't be prohibitive. You need to collect 2,000 signatures to run in a Democratic primary, and only 200 signatures to run as an independent. What other reason could there be for this than, in my opinion, to discourage someone from challenging an incumbent?

There's so many people hooked into this Matrix like system in New Haven, that no doubt there will be a level of uncertainty. However change, often times might scary, can be good. Especially in a town that's been ruled far too long by machine politics.

The voters have made their voices heard. They felt it's time to go in a different direction, and running what looks like again in my opinion, a zombie campaign would downright embarrassing.