Paul Bass File Photo
Shenae Draughn working with Church Street South tenants at 2015 meeting.
“Exploratory” mayoral candidate Karen DuBois-Walton will take a leave from her post running the Housing Authority of New Haven/Elm City Communities (HANH), handing the reins to a trusted deputy.
The HANH Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to select Shenae Draughn as the public-housing authority’s president, executive director, and secretary starting May 1.
The leave runs through Sept. 30 “or such further time as may be in the best interest of the authority.”
That language gives the board the authority to extend the leave in case DuBois-Walton doesn’t return to the job, and/or if the board chooses to search for a permanent new successor.
Thomas Breen Photo
DuBois-Walton at recent mayoral exploratory campaign event.
DuBois-Walton, meanwhile, has formed an exploratory committee to lay the ground work for an anticipated Democratic primary challenge against incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker.
At the commissioners meeting, DuBois-Walton didn’t sound like someone preparing to return.
“What an amazing past 14 years it has been serving as leader here as I step aside to pursue other ventures,” she told commissioners. She said Draughn’s ascension fits in with a succession plan on which she and the board have collaborated.
DuBois-Walton, Chair Erik Clemons, and Commissioner William Kilpatrick expressed their support for Draughn, who has worked for HANH for 13 years. She has worked directly with tenants on the management end, including helping hundreds of families navigate bureaucracy when health concerns led to the condemnation and bulldozing of the Church Street South housing development. Draughn currently serves as senior vice-president of HANH’s nonprofit development arm, the Glendower Group, In that role she has helped oversee the rebuilding of housing developments around town.
“The residents know her and love and respect her. She does all of her work with them in mind first,” DuBois-Walton said.
“I can think of no other person to bring into that seat than Shenae Draughn,” Clemons said, who added that he also feels “excited for Karen as she steps away for a new endeavor.”