Paul Bass Photo
Samod Rankins at a 2021 press conference about a lawsuit in which he served as a named plaintiff challenging a New Haven Fire Department promotional exam.
An almost-fallen New Haven firefighter who had the community praying for him will now “explore” whether to ask the community to vote for him.
The firefighter, Samod “Nuke” Rankins, announced that he has formed an exploratory committee to consider a campaign for the 17th State Senate District seat currently held by Democrat Jorge Cabrera. Rankins is seeking the nomination of the Independent Party.
Rankins was the subject of an outpouring of support when he landed in the Bridgeport Hospital burn unit after suffering severe injuries while battling a May 12, 2021, Valley Street fire that killed his firefighting colleague Ricardo Torres Jr. Rankins recovered — and began getting more involved in civic life, as a Hamden fire commissioner.
“The backbone to community building is the willingness to help others regardless of political affiliation. The people of the 17th District need now more than ever to unite against the divisiveness of two party politics,” Rankins stated in a release issued Friday.
“The reason why I’m exploring this candidacy is because I care about our community and the best interest of every resident of our community; our youth, seniors, veterans and taxpayers. I believe if we all work together our community would be a much better place.”
The district includes swaths of New Haven and Hamden as well as Ansonia, Derby, Bethany, Woodbridge, Naugatuck, and Beacon Falls. It has flipped between Democratic and Republican representation in the past two elections.
Republican Kathy Hoyt of Hamden is also seeking the seat this year. Read about that here, and click here to read about and watch an interview with Cabrera about his work in his first term in the seat.