Thomas Breen file photo
State Rep. Candelaria at an Elicker campaign event in 2019.
In one of the first high-profile endorsements of the mayoral campaign season, State Rep. Juan Candelaria has backed incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker’s bid for reelection.
The Elicker campaign broke that news in a fundraising email sent out Saturday morning.
Candelaria, a former city alder who represents parts of the Hill and Fair Haven in the state House of Representatives, said in the email that he’s backing Elicker because of the “once-in-a-generation wins” the mayor has helped notch — such as the doubling of state funding through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program. Candelaria also praised Elicker’s Spanish-language fluency.
Elicker, a first-term incumbent, is running for reelection against mayoral challenger Karen DuBois-Walton, who previously ran the city’s public housing authority for 14 years.
See the Elicker campaign email in full below.
I’m Endorsing Mayor Justin Elicker
Thomas,
As state representative for the 95th Assembly District for nearly 20 years, I know how important leadership is to a vibrant New Haven. In a city that so values its diversity, building and leading strong coalitions is the only way to keep us moving forward together. That’s why I’m asking you to support Mayor Justin Elicker, and why I’m endorsing him — he’s earned a second term.
Help keep New Haven’s leadership strong. Contribute just $25 now.
Whether it’s big, once-in-a-generation wins like working with me and the rest of our delegation to double state funding from PILOT to more than $90 million, or the day-to-day details like always having a moment to speak to city residents (even in Spanish!), Mayor Elicker has proved again and again he’s the leader to move New Haven forward. We need him right where he is: in City Hall, carrying on the business of the people.
Can you chip in $25 to keep him there?
Throughout the pandemic, and now that we’re finally approaching the end, I’ve been thankful to have a partner in City Hall who understands what it takes to bring people together and move towards a common goal. With your support and Mayor Elicker’s leadership, there’s nothing New Haven can’t accomplish.
Juan Candelaria
State Representative, 95th District
How good is Elicker's Spanish (or Chinese)? My own experience is that if I don't use a language regularly, I get very rusty very quickly. How is KDW's Spanish? With so many mono-lingual Spanish speaking residents, it seems a Spanish-speaking mayor (and superintendent) would be real pluses.