Allan Appel Photo
Mayoral candidate Henry Fernandez had two tasks at Fair Haven’s Atwater Senior Center as primary election day dawned: casting a vote and replacing a campaign sign he said had been stolen.
Fernandez is one of four Democrats competing in a Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday. The polls stay open until 8 p.m.
Fernandez went to the Ward 14 senior center polling site to vote alongside his wife, Kica Matos, and his son, Henry Jr.
They arrived shortly after 7:30 a.m. to find four Fernandez campaign signs missing, Fernandez said. His campaign reported that signs had also disappeared overnight in Wards 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 29, and 30.
“Signs don’t vote. We’ll win the vote here,” Fernandez proclaimed.
“It’s disappointing and unfortunate” that such things happen but “it’s wonderful so many good people” are out voting and volunteering today, he said.
After Matos and Fernandez filled out their ballots and walked them across the center’s main room, the candidate asked his son if he’d like to deposit the ballot. Henry Jr. did so. Then he played a tune he made up on the spot, on his harmonica.
Before hitting Atwater, Fernandez popped in to the Ward 15 polling spot at the Lombard Street firehouse to say hello to moderator Nilda Torres.
Fernandez went in briefly to say hello to the poll workers, including moderator Nilda Torres.
Torres asked him to be sure that his signs — they were in place here — - or any vehicles bearing his signs not be on the street or sidewalk at the southeast corner of Poplar. That’s still within the 75-foot forbidden zone, Torre said.
No problem, Fernandez said. He called Torres, who had worked with him when he ran New Haven government’s Liveable City Initiative (LCI)I, “the best moderator in the city.”
Torres offered the campaign workers courtesy use of the bathrooms in the firehouse. “But they have to cover the literature or propaganda [including buttons] if they want to use the bathroom,” she said.
Before he went inside, Fernandez chatted briefly with longtime ward activist Frank Redente. Redente was at the Lombard polling place to vote. He said he hadn’t worked for any campaign this year, the first non-working campaign season in decades.
“After 30 years, age creeps up. Plus Henry’s my friend. Toni Harp’s my friend. So I can’t vote in good conscience,” he said.
Good wishes to all the candidates today. But for Henry Fernandez a special wish. May your hard work and effort pay off in a big way today. The people of New Haven, the ones with a stake here need you. Your vision has been very clear and your intentions very honest. You have my vote.