Melissa Bailey Photo
(Updated with final results) Edgewood voters might have thought they kicked Alderman Marcus Paca out of office in the Democratic primary — but they found him back at the polls again, asking again for their vote.
Paca is the outgoing alderman in Edgewood’s Ward 24; union-backed challenger Evette Hamilton beat him by 312 to 228 votes in the September primary. Unlike his colleague in West Rock, Paca didn’t opt to secure a spot on the general election ballot as a petitioning candidate.
The ballot for Tuesday’s election had only one name for Ward 24 alderman — Evette Hamilton.
That didn’t stop Paca from standing at the polls Tuesday in a suit, shaking hands with supporters. Two red Paca signs were stuck in the tree belt besides Hamilton’s.
One voter approached him around 3 p.m.
“I’m supposed to do a write-in?” she asked.
Paca said yes.
He didn’t tell her that her vote won’t count — but it won’t. Paca is not an official write-in candidate. To become an official write-in candidate, one had to submit a request to the secretary of the state’s office by Oct. 25. Only two candidates in New Haven did that — Robert Lee and Roger Uihlein, who are both seeking the mayor’s seat — according to Av Harris, spokesman for the secretary of the state.
“They can write him in, but it won’t count,” Harris said.
Paca later clarified that he tried to get approved as a write-in candidate, but the application “didn’t get there on time.” He said he’s continuing his quest anyway, to give Edgewood voters a way to show their support.
“People were upset when they found out that I lost,” Paca said. “A lot of people were saying they want to see me stick around in that position.”
Paca said he believes he should give voters an alternative because his opponent lacks “experience.” He exuded bitterness over his defeat: “They bought the election,” he said, referring to the union money that fueled union-backed candidates’ campaigns.
Across the driveway, Hamilton (pictured) frowned on Paca’s Election Day surprise.
“He’s misleading folks,” she said. “Just be truthful.”
She suggested defeated candidates unite with successful ones to “work with the community.”
Meanwhile, voter Cory Potts shook Paca’s hand and pledged his support at the polls.
Paca told him that if he’s not successful Tuesday (which, according to the state, will certainly be the case), there’s always another election to look forward to — the Democratic ward co-chair elections in March.
Hamilton ended up getting 353 votes.
A total of 480 people cast votes for mayor on the machines, meaning at least 127 people may have written in a vote for Paca — but none of them counted.