Harp Urged To Keep Running

Dozens of core supporters at an emotional private pow-wow Monday night urged Mayor Toni Harp to keep her reelection campaign going as a third-party candidate.

Meanwhile, the third party’s statewide director cautioned against expecting much on-the-ground support.

Harp’s primary campaign manager has left his post, on good terms with the mayor.

Those were the latest developments in the guessing game of the moment: Will she or won’t she?

The question concerns whether Harp will proceed with a general election campaign as the candidate of the Working Families Party after a 58 – 42 percent loss last week in a Democratic primary to challenger Justin Elicker. The Working Families Party — a third party which endorses progressive pro-labor Democrats — endorsed Harp and placed her name on its line on the New Haven general-election ballot. So Harp can continue to run if she chooses.

Rumors have run rampant since the primary that Harp has made up her mind.

She hasn’t.

Some 50 core supporters showed up to her 50 Fitch St. campaign headquarters for a two-hour-plus closed-door meeting to consider the issue. Harp, a three-term incumbent, told them she has not yet made up her mind. She said she needs to see a strategic path to victory. For the following hours, supporters spoke about what they felt were injustices on primary day. (They declined to elaborate on the record for a reporter.) They promised to back her in the general election and said they believe she can win.

“I have not decided what I will do concerning the general” election, Harp confirmed after the meeting.

Supporters began filing in to the headquarters around 7 p.m. for the meeting, which began at 7:40 after the conclusion of a smaller session.

Harp’s primary campaign manager, Ed Corey, left the building before the meeting started. He’s no longer working for the campaign.

“My departure has nothing to do with the mayor or any decision she may or may not make,” Corey said. ​“We left on good terms and I wish her the best whatever she decides to do.”

Attendees at the meeting included Ward 30 Alder-apparent and retired public works employee Honda Smith, who took a prominent role in the primary campaign; city employees such as mayoral spokesman Laurence Grotheer, mayoral aide Andrea Scott, deputy community services chief Sheila Carmon, and deputy economic development chief Cathy Graves; former Alder Robert Lee; clergy members such as Pastor Donald Morris, Rev. Steven Cousin, and Rev. Jose Champagne; police accountability activists Emma Jones and Rodney Williams; civil-rights attorney and debate coach Alex Taubes.

“The purpose of tonight’s meeting is for everybody to have a chance to be heard,” Rev. Cousin told reporters on his way out. ​“Her supporters are still processing [what happened]. Nothing has been set in stone.”

“The beautiful thing is everyone’s being heard,” Cousin said.

Working Families: ​“Other Priorities”

Meanwhile, the Working Families Party’s statewide executive director, Lindsay Farrell, said she doesn’t expect the group to devote many resources to Harp’s general election run should she proceed with one.

Working Families Party members went door to door for Harp, texted supporters, and participated in get-out-the-vote efforts in the primary.

That probably won’t happen again should Harp proceed with a general-election run, Farrell said.

“It will be hard for us to invest in this race given our other priorities,” she said in a conversation Monday night. ​“We have some council seats in Hartford. We have a good shot of taking out [Mayor] Mark Boughton in Danbury, which is exciting.” The party also plans to work hard to elect candidates with a chance of unseating Republicans on the Hamden and West Hartford councils as well, she said.

“She has devoted a lifetime to public service. It makes sense she is taking time to deliberate whether to run,” Farrell said of Harp.

Justin Elicker, meanwhile, has scheduled a formal public kick-off for his general election campaign for this coming Monday evening.