Honda Smith Raises The Bar For Alder Run

Glasses were raised at 50 Fitch Restaurant and Bar not for the Boston Red Sox on the TV screen, but for the familiar face from around the city looking to launch a second career as an elected official.

The occasion Wednesday evening was a campaign fundraiser for Honda Smith. Smith (at left in the above photo, with campaign Treasurer Cassandra Long) retired as a public-space inspector for New Haven’s Department of Public Works in March, after 30 years working for the city. She immediately filed papers to run for the Democratic nomination for the Ward 30 Board of Alders seat, representing the West Hills and West Rock neighborhood. She is challenging incumbent Alder Michelle Edmonds-Sepulveda, who has filed papers to run for reelection. Smith told the crowd that she has already hit 700 doors of registered voters. ​“I’m going to knock on all 1,606-plus” by the election, she vowed.

Inside the cozy exposed-brick establishment, it felt as much like a West Hills version of Cheers as a campaign event, where everyone present not only knew Smith’s name but had seemingly known it forever. They said so in a series of individual toasts. Yul Watley spoke of growing up near her in the Shelton Avenue area, then working with her on the Implementation Committee overseeing the rebuilding of Ward 30’s Brookside public-housing development, one of many community roles Smith has taken on since buying a home in West Hills’ Harper Avenue in 1997. Smith served as the neighborhood’s Democratic ward committee chair from 2004 – 2015.

“My Auntie Mae said, ​‘You can’t stop her when she makes up her mind,’” remarked lifelong friend Ruth Hoskie. ​“There’s not better person to have in your corner.”

Campaign Manager Kenneth Redding, a barber and DJ, recalled how Smith stepped in to help him obtain financial backing for a West Hills basketball league he and some friends had launched at McConaughy Terrace.

Retired New Haven police Lt. Rebecca (Sweeney) Goddard spoke of getting to know Smith since their days in the police academy and working with her in the community. (Smith eventually decided to take a public works job instead of a police badge.) ​“She is the most caring, loving person I know. She is my sister,” Goddard said.

The evening’s host, 50 Fitch’s co-owner Joy Monsanto, spoke of how Smith supported her in the difficult process of winning approval to open the nightspot. She has worked closely with Smith on Smith’s annual ​“Winter Wonderland” Christmas toy give-away blow-out.

For her part, Smith spoke of concentrating as an alder on increasing the number of activities for kids and for seniors on both sides of West Rock, which divides West Rock and West Hills. She also spoke of reviving past events that brought both sides of the rock together, like parties and dances. She notes the ward’s anemic voting numbers (sometimes the city’s lowest); she said change begins with involving people in community activities year-round. She also spoke of trying to bring more resources to the ward and helping people learn about government rules, like recycling and the need to shovel sidewalks after storms (a task she took on for the public works department). ​“I’m a people person,” she said. ​“That’s what I’m all about.”

In a conversation Thursday, Michelle Edmonds-Sepulveda said people have urged her to run for reelection to continue work she has done as an alder, from traffic-calming to helping shepherd the redevelopment of Westville Manor and the building of a new playground at Winslow Augustine Field. This is the second go-around as an alder for Edmonds-Sepulveda, who served two terms from 2006 to 2009 and rejoined the board in 2017. Her day job is as a school truancy worker; she also coaches the Hillhouse cheerleading squad. ​“I enjoy working with this new board. I enjoy doing stuff for my community,” she said. She said she expects to have her own campaign event within the next month.