Paul Bass Photo
As he began officially exploring a run for mayor, Hillhouse High Principal Kermit Carolina stressed his New Haven roots and pledged to participate in the city’s clean elections program.
Carolina (pictured) announced Tuesday that he is forming a committee to explore a run for mayor. He would be the fifth candidate to enter the race, joining East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker, Newhallville state Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, former economic development director Henry Fernandez and a Newhallville plumber named Sundiata Keitazulu.
All the candidates, including Carolina, are Democrats running to replace Mayor John DeStefano, who plans to retire at the end of the year after two decades in office. The Democratic primary is scheduled for Sept. 10.
In a press release Tuesday, Carolina said people have been encouraging him to run for mayor for months.
“After very careful consideration, I have decided to form an Exploratory Committee to get a more formalized assessment of whether or not I should seek public office.”
Unlike Elicker, Holder-Winfield and Fernandez, Carolina was born and raised in New Haven. He emphasized his local roots. “As a lifelong resident of the City of New Haven, my strong connection to and love for this city have served as the foundation for my many years of public service here. New Haven has been the only place that I have called home, and the public school system is the only place where my children have gone to school.”
Carolina brings to the race years of relationships built during his childhood in Elm Haven projects, his time as Hillhouse basketball coach, and most recently as principal. He began positioning himself as a vocal critic of DeStefano over the past year, as he fought back against an investigation into allegations of grade-tampering at his high school.
Carolina received a three-day suspension in connection to the investigation; he has maintained his innocence and is challenging the punishment through a grievance process.
Carolina said he plans to participate in the Democracy Fund, the city’s public campaign financing program. Elicker and Holder-Winfield are already participating; Fernandez has said he will not do so.
“Although potential candidates who form Exploratory Committees typically raise funds while doing so, in keeping with the spirit of the Democracy Fund I have decided not to raise any money during the Exploratory Committee phase,” Carolina said.
Carolina also announced the membership of his exploratory committee (pictured below), which, the release states, “not only consists entirely of New Haven residents, but also consists of a cross-section of the city.”
Chris Volpe Photo
Seated from left to right: Gary Gates; Anne W. Lozon; Kristin Horneffer; Teretha Brooks; Darrell Allick.
Standing Middle row: Samantha Reaves (Co-Chair); Edwin Martinez; Kermit Carolina; Jack Paulishen (Co-Chair); Darryl Brackeen, Jr.; Miriam J. James.
Back row: Bob Pellegrino, Esq., Percy Penn; David Newton.
Missing from photo: Taneha Edwards; Samantha Myers; Bess Spann.