Team Dixwell-Newhallville: Alder candidates Jeanette Morrison, Troy Streater, and Brittiany Mabery-Niblack.
Three New Haven natives are running as a team for alder seats in Wards 20, 21, and 22 in Dixwell and Newhallville.
The three candidates — incumbent Ward 22 Alder Jeanette Morrison, incumbent Ward 21 Alder Troy Streater, and Brittiany Mabery-Niblack, who is seeking the open Ward 20 seat — gathered outside the Q House on Thursday afternoon to kick off their runs in unison.
They said their focus is giving back to the community that raised them and improving their neighborhoods specifically for youth and seniors.
They were each joined by their families and dozens of community supporters including State Sen. Gary Winfield, former Newhallville Alder Delphine Clyburn, and Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers.
Streater with supporter Jeanette Sykes, 85 year old mother Martha Conyer, and “second mom” Queen Lacks.
Streater, who won a four-way special election for Ward 21 alder in January said he hopes to serve a full 2‑year term as alder of Ward 21. He faces a repeat challenge from Fred Christmas; the Democratic ward committee is set to meet Saturday to make an endorsement.
“I was born and raised in Ward 21,” Streater said. “I want to continue what i started and do more.”
If reelected, he said, he will continue pushing for large employers to hire locally, advocating with New Haven Rising to fight against mega-landlords who fail to keep up their properties, and seeking to have a youth-oriented park built at the end of Gibbs Street.
Mabery-Niblack with her mother, kids, sister, pastor, nieces, and nephews.
Mabery-Niblack won her ward committee’s endorsement vote this week. Addie Kimbrough also sought the endorsement.
On Thursday she recalled the help she received from Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven to become the first home owner in her family and from New Haven Works to land a job at Yale. She said that if elected, she will help others get similar help.
“Do I have all the answers? No. But I am willing to work tirelessly with other alders, with other people in the community, with other community organizers to get those good jobs for our youth,” she said.
Morrison with father Howard Morrison.
Morrison has served as Dixwell alder for the past 12 years, first elected on a pro-labor slate that won control of the Board of Alders in the 2011 campaign.
She recalled what her father Howard Morrison told her that first campaign: “You got to protect this community. You got a lot of work to do.”
If reelected she promised to keep working to protect Dixwell.
She said she hopes to make sure the relocation of the Elks Club and city’s purchase of the Monterey Place “are done right” if she is eelected.
Supporters pick up canvassing materials at launch event.
After the candidates’ remarks, supporters joined the trio in knocking on voters’ doors.