Nora Grace-Flood photo
State Sen. Jorge Cabrera with Lauren Garrett: “She has the passion and character” to do the job.
State Sen. Jorge Cabrera announced his support for Hamden mayoral candidate Lauren Garrett on Wednesday night, six days before a three-way Democratic primary.
Democratic Town Committee-endorsed Garrett squares off on Sept. 14 against incumbent Mayor Curt Leng and challenger Peter Cyr in the primary.
Garrett is so far the only candidate to have received formal backing from state legislators. In addition to Cabrera (who lives in Hamden), Hamden State Rep. Josh Elliott has backed Garrett for months.
Garrett also ran against Leng two years ago in 2019, when he was the Democratic Town Committee’s pick. During that election, Cabrera endorsed Leng. He did so on Sept. 4 that year, in the final days of the campaign then as well.
At that point, Cabrera was known as a union leader representing the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 919 and as a 2018 State Senate candidate who narrowly lost a race. “We don’t need to switch leaders at this point,” he said then. “We’re on a course, and I think we should keep the mayor so he can continue on the course he’s on.” He stated that Leng had done a solid job “given all the factors and all the things he’s had to deal with.”
Jorge Cabrera and Josh Elliott, the only two state legislators to have endorsed Hamden mayoral candidates, at the DTC’s event on Wednesday.
This time, Cabrera, who has since won the 17th State Senate District seat, said Hamden needs a change at the top.
“Working in Hartford, I need a partner. I can’t do this on my own,” he said to a crowd of onlookers and DTC candidates while standing in the Villano Park pavilion. “If I can’t communicate with the mayor, my job’s gonna be a lot harder.”
Off stage, Cabrera was asked what changed his mind from the last campaign. He responded that he has “started governing” and gained experience working alongside Leng. “I became very frustrated by the lack of communication coming from the mayor’s office,” he stated.
Cabrera represents parts of Hamden, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Naugatuck, and Woodbridge. According to Cabrera, Leng is the only elected official of those municipalities who he has struggled to get in touch with before legislative sessions. He said it has been “very difficult.”
“Sen. Cabrera and I met along with my legislative director both before and during the state legislative session, and we’ve communicated before and after that, so that’s a head scratcher for me,” Leng responded.
“But,” he continued, “given that Mrs. Garrett’s former campaign manager is his legislative liaison, I suppose people can make their own conclusions about that.”
Leng was referring to DTC Chair Sean Grace, who has been accompanying Garrett on canvassing ventures since she announced her candidacy.
Grace was the first person Cabrera addressed when he made it to the microphone on Wednesday. He called Grace “the best legislative aide in Hartford.”
“I’m not biased,” he added with a smile.
Cabrera also said that the “perpetually rising mill rate” informed his decision to choose Garrett over Leng. He credited Garrett with helping him understand the town’s finances.
“For the last six years, I’ve been really concerned by the direction our town is going in,” he said. He described a meeting with Garrett over pizza from Three Brothers Diner: “She showed up with spreadsheets in her hand!” He said that she walked him through the Hamden budget and its “dishonest practices,” a centerpiece argument of Garrett’s campaign both this year and in 2019.
In addition to the town committee, Josh Elliot, and Jorge Cabrera, Garrett has received endorsements from the Western Connecticut Area Labor Federation and statewide progressive policy network Our Revolution. Councilwoman Kristin Dolan, who will not be running for reelection, has also been a supporter.
Councilwoman Dominique Baez leads the crowd in cheering for “Row A Day.”
Members of Garrett’s slate have earned other endorsements. Justin Farmer, Abdul Osmanu, and Mariam Khan have been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, and Justin Farmer and Laurie Sweet by the Working Families Party. Read about those candidates here.
Meanwhile, Curt Leng has so far received endorsements from local officials like recently resigned Council President Mick McGarry, previous Council President Jim Pascarella, and current Board of Education Chairman Arturo Cabello-Perez and Secretary Melinda Saller.
Laura Glesby file photo
Leng and DeLauro in 2019.
In 2019, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro broke a common practice amongst federal officials of waiting until after a primary election to endorse a mayoral candidate when she spoke out in support of Leng. At the time, she told the Independent that Leng was a “dear friend.” She has remained neutral throughout this year’s primary campaign, her more common practice for intraparty contests.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Peter Cyr has reported endorsements from the Quinnipiac University Democrats and Southern Connecticut State University Democrats.
Members of the DTC slate for a photo together before splitting off to knock on doors.
Cabrera’s decision stood out as a public reminder of the fast approaching primary.
“I already told my wife not to expect me for dinner the next six days. We’re getting takeout,” he said before joining Row A members and a crew of resident volunteers for a night of door-to-door canvassing.