When Gina Jackson (at right) encountered Daniene Cordy on Howard Avenue Tuesday morning, she made an impassioned pitch to head to the polls to vote for Ned Lamont for U.S. senator. Read on to see how Jackson ended up there — amid a statewide race that has uncharacteristically focused on the black vote — and how Cordy reacted to the pitch.
Lamont, a white Greenwich millionaire, has attracted dozens of black vote-pullers and organizers in New Haven. Chanelle Dumas (pictured) took charge of the black get-out-the-vote operation in New Haven for Lamont Tuesday .Dumas was born into a civic-minded family: her mom Doris has been active with the NAACP; her dad, Ron, is the assistant fire chief. As a Hopkins high school student, Chanelle volunteered for State Rep. Pat Dillon. After graduation from Howard University, she returned to New Haven and looked for a candidate to help elect. Lamont’s antiwar, pro-universal health care challenge to U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary inspired her.
Chanelle dispatched Gina Jackson (in photo) to work Howard Avenue Tuesday morning in Ward 4. Jackson, too, was drawn to Lamont based on issues, especially universal health care; Jackson, 44, is an outreach worker with pregnant women. She pulled up in her white Chevy Blazer Tuesday morning with a family crew.
One of Jackson’s goals in working on campaigns is to involve young African-Americans in politics. Like her family. Her daughter, 23 year-old Fredina Mendes, a “make-up consultant” who wore a campaign sticker on her pregnant belly, rode in the front seat and rang doorbells of registered voters. Jackson’s 24 year-old niece, Rameisha Armour, rode in the back checking names and addresses on a voter print-out provided by the Lamont campaign. The campaign had failed to circle the voter i.d.s — “strong Ned,” “lean Ned, “undecided” — on the list. So Jackson’s crew tried to hit everyone they could find, and talk people into voting for Lamont.
A lot of people were already at work on Howard Avenue. But they met up with Daniene Cordy (pictured), 33, as she left her house. “I’m Gina Jackson, and I’m working for the Ned Lamont campaign,” Jackson began. Cordy listened politely. Jackson spoke of Lamont’s support for universal health care. “Godforbid your kids or grandkids don’t have a job.” If Ned Lamont is the senator, Jackson vowed, he will fight for universal health care, and “any of us can still go the to doctor. Joe hasn’t fought for [universal care] for 18 years.”
After Jackson moved on down the street, Cordy, who works for the phone company, was asked how she’ll vote. “Actually,” she said, “I think Lieberman. I know he didn’t do the health care thing. But I like him overall. Plus, I don’t know Ned.”
Jackson and her family crew, meanwhile, returned to the Blazer, and to a new assignment: across town on Shelton Avenue.