Paul Bass Photo
Justin Elicker swearing in Lisa Milone.
A Democratic mayor swore in a Republican election official with calls for bispartisan cooperation as GOP members cheered them on.
Yes, that really happened. Wednesday evening. In New Haven. When Mayor Justin Elicker administered the oath of office to newly elected Republican Register of Voters Lisa Milone.
Milone, who previously worked as assistant registrar before taking a job as a family recovery specialist helping families impacted by addiction and mental health crises, succeeds retiring GOP Registrar Marlene Napolitano.
Dozens of Republican officials and activists from New Haven and around the state filled City Hall’s second-floor atrium for the ceremony.
In remarks after reciting the oath, Milone promised to work alongside Democratic Registrar Shannel Evans “to run fair, transparent elections for all voters” from an “apolitical office” with “transparency, inclusivity, and fairness.”
“Together we will ensure that our elections are conducted with integrity and serve the best interests of all New Haven residents,” Milone told the crowd. She cited as a key goal public education about voter registration and participating in elections.
Elicker called it “an honor to swear in Lisa” given the political divisions preventing people from working together nationwide.
“If we can’t agree on the fact that we want more people engaged in the political process, more people coming out and voting, more people that are expressing their opinions in a fair and honest way, then what can we agree upon?” Elicker stated.
Milone is the only Republican in elected office in New Haven, where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans roughly 10 – 1. State law requires that municipalities have both Democratic and Republican registrars.