A Yale student challenging an incumbent alder has picked up the support from four other alders, who themselves have challenged New Haven’s political leadership.
The campaign of the student challenger, Fish Stark, issued a press release Monday with endorsements from the four alders, Newhallville’s Brenda Foskey-Cyrus, East Rock’s Anna Festa, Bishop Woods’ Richard Spears, and West Hills’ Carlton Staggers. Those four alders joined a short-lived group — “The People’s Caucus” —that formed in January 2014 to oppose the labor-backed Board of Alders majority. (The group sputtered out of existence by that summer.)
Stark’s release also announced the endorsement of Justin Elicker, who ran for mayor in 2013 as a Democrat, then as an independent, against Toni Harp, the eventual victor.
Stark is challenging incumbent Ward 1 Alder Sarah Eidelson in a Sept. 16 party primary. The Democratic Town Committee chose not to make an endorsement in that race. (Click here to read that release.) A political science major, Stark is a son of former U.S. Rep. Pete Stark.
The Republicans have also nominated a candidate to run for Ward 1 alder in the Nov. 3 general election, student Ugonna Eze.
Asked about Stark’s endorsements, Eidelson responded, “I don’t want to comment on that. But thank you so much for the call. I appreciate. it.”