In his bid to become New Haven’s next mayor, Alderman Justin Elicker has tapped a 24-year-old who helped Dannel Malloy become the current governor.
Elicker, a 37-year-old East Rock Democratic alderman, Friday hired Kyle Buda (at right in photo) to be his campaign manager.
Elicker is running to replace 10-term Mayor John DeStefano, who announced he will step down at the end of this year. Newhallville Democratic state Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield has also launched a mayoral run; he is in the process of selecting a campaign manager. (Sundiata Keitazulu, a plumber from Newhallville, has also filed papers to run for mayor.)
Buda, who’s 24, was a field organizer for Malloy’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign. He worked in the Third U.S. Congressional District, which covers New Haven. Buda also worked on the Wisconsin campaign to recall Gov. Scott Walker, and the U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s recent successful campaign there.
Buda said he connected with Elicker through a mutual friend: “I’d lived in New Haven before. I really liked his vision for the city.”
Buda was one of about 20 applicants for the position, Elicker said. Elicker said Buda has “strong field experience. … We think that’s the most important element in the race.”
“We’re just going to try and engage as many voters as we can, door to door,” Buda said.