Melissa Bailey Photo
Kerekes and “staunch supporter” Robyn Hayes.
Declaring that Tuesday’s Democratic primary showed John DeStefano has “lost control of the city,” mayoral challenger Jeffrey Kerekes vowed to make a second attempt at toppling him in November.
Kerekes was the top vote-getter of three contenders who battled DeStefano in Tuesday’s primary.
According to the official vote tally released Wednesday, including absentee ballots, DeStefano picked up 5,716 votes, or 44.3 percent; Kerekes 2,895 votes or 22.4 percent; Clifton Graves 2,255 votes or 17.5 percent; and Anthony Dawson 2,032 votes or 15.7 percent.
Kerekes won three wards: Wooster Square’s Ward 8 and East Rock’s Wards 9 and 10.
In a speech in the garage of his Lyon Street home Tuesday evening, Kerekes said he “absolutely” plans to challenge DeStefano in the general election on Nov. 13. Kerekes can do that because he already snagged a spot on the ballot as an independent. Dawson and Graves opted not to do that, so their races are over.
“A new campaign starts tomorrow — I hope you’re not too tired,” Kerekes told a dozen campaign volunteers around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. He will start his new campaign with zero dollars in the campaign treasure chest. Because he was participating in the city’s clean elections Democracy Fund, he had to spend all of his public money in the primary.
In brief remarks to supporters, Kerekes pointed out that about 60 percent of the city voted against DeStefano. The mayor “can’t beat his own record” of sky-high taxes and crime, he said.
Judging by the upsets across town of City Hall-backed aldermanic candidates, Kerekes concluded DeStefano is done for.
“He has lost control of the city and come November 8, we’ll have a new mayor.”
The quick speech drew applause from the volunteers, including (from left in photo:) Edgewood’s Eliezer Greer, East Rock’s Alyson Heimer, Wooster Square’s Chris Randall, and East Rock firefighter Ray Saracco.
Kerekes was asked how he expects to beat DeStefano in the general election, given that he got fewer than 3,000 votes in the primary.
He noted that if he got all the votes that Graves and Dawson got, he would beat the mayor. Graves and Dawson drew heavily from African-American wards, where DeStefano has historically performed well in elections, especially against white opponents. (Kerekes is white.)
“I suspect we can build up support from the other two campaigns,” as well as independents, Greens, and Republicans, Kerekes said.
In Kerekes’ garage Tuesday night, Robyn Hayes said she would “absolutely” be there for the next campaign: “I’ll work till there’s nothing left.”