Just days before voters head to the polls, Toni Harp Friday released a video ad that plays up her quest to be New Haven’s first female mayor—and dismisses her three male opponents as an “old boys club.”
The 30-second spot went up on YouTube on Friday, posted to an account belonging to Yvonne Manning-Jones. In the video, shots of Harp addressing the camera are interspersed with newspaper-style graphics and footage of the candidate in action.
Click the video to watch.
Harp is competing with Kermit Carolina, Justin Elicker, and Henry Fernandez for the Democratic nomination. The three men’s likenesses appear in the video grouped together in black and white.
Democrats head to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 10 to vote in the primary. All four candidates have online video or radio ads.
“Lately, my opponents have gotten a little desperate,” Harp begins, in her video. “They’re attacking my family and not focusing on the issues,” she continues, referring to campaign criticisms of unpaid taxes by Harp’s late husband and housing conditions at buildings run by her son.
Harp goes on to name some of her accomplishments as state senator: gun safety laws, and funding for after school programs.
Text identifies her as the “first African-American woman to co-chair appropriations committee.” If elected, Harp would be New Haven’s first female mayor.
“If the old boys clubs thinks they’re going to distract me from making our streets safer, improving our schools and creating good jobs then boy, are they wrong,” Harp concludes with a smile.
A video spot made by the Carolina campaign debuted earlier this week. Click to watch.
The Fernandez campaign Friday announced a new 30-second radio ad, featuring actor Danny Glover, who has campaigned twice in town with Fernandez.
In the ad, Glover says Fernandez “has the right experience to lead New Haven. He was on Obama’s transition team, he helped register 400,000 African-American voters, he brought IKEA and Gateway Community College downtown.” Click the arrow below to hear it.
The Elicker campaign also has a radio ad on the airwaves, as of yesterday. Elicker’s 60-second spot names three reasons to vote for him. “Here’s what sets me apart,” he says. “First, clean elections. … I chose to participate in public financing, I won’t owe favors to any special interests. Second, the right experience. As an alderman I’ve fought for increased public safety, improvements in education and reining in irresponsible spending. Third, … I’ve released 75 specific solutions to our city’s challenges.”
Click the arrow below to listen: