The race is on — to see which mayoral candidate would pay himself the least if elected.
Jeffrey Kerekes issued a release Tuesday morning promising to cut the mayor’s total compensation at least 50 percent if he wins this fall’s general election.
Kerekes is one of four Democrats who have announced they plan to challenge incumbent Mayor John DeStefano in a Sept. 13 party primary. Kerekes has also vowed to run as an independent in the general election if he fails to win the primary.
Kerekes stated in the release that he would pay himself a “flat $75,000” a year in salary — and, on top of that, ditch the job’s “generous health and pension plan.” The current mayor’s compensation adds up to $175,000 when you combine his $127,000 in salary with “an estimated 40 percent” in pension and health care contributions, Kerekes said.
His statement follows a vow by another Democratic candidate, Clifton Graves, to cut the salaries of the mayor and all top appointees by 10 percent.
“Most people in New Haven do not make $75,000 and their average tax bill is more than $6,500 on pretty modest homes,” Kerekes’ release stated. “Our kids are not being educated and there are murders in the streets almost every other week. Our finances are a mess. All of it is tragic and we deserve a mayor less consumed with his own compensation, attaining higher office or being feted in Amsterdam.”
Click here to read the full release.
“This is just a prelude to Mr. Kereke’s announcement next week where he will roll out his plan to eliminate the mayoral salary completely,” mayoral spokesman Danny Kedem responded. “Instead of gimmicks, Mayor DeStefano is committed to creating jobs and growing our economy by creating opportunities for kids to succeed like extending school day hours, providing many afterschool programs and creating and maintaining New Haven Promise.”
Mayoral spokesman Adam Joseph called it “tough” to calculate the precise value of one employee’s pension and health benefits. DeStefano contributes $6,135 a year to his own health care plan, according to Joseph; he didn’t have a breakdown for the city’s contribution.