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Rodriguez, Evans.
Among the primary elections that New Haven’s voting registrars will help oversee this September may be one for their own office.
That’s because two candidates plan to vie for the usually uncontested office of Democratic registrar of voters.
By law each major party gets a registrar of voters position. The last primary took place in 1988, when Sharon Ferrucci defeated Althea Jackson Tyson.
Now Sergio Rodriguez has filed papers to form an “exploratory committee” to challenge incumbent Democratic Registrar Shannel Evans.
Evans, who got her start in politics with the Dwight Community Management Team, ascended from the position of deputy registrar to Democratic registrar in January, when Ferrucci retired. Evans confirmed Thursday night that she plans to run for a full term this fall.
Evans said she wants to continue efforts to increase the registration rolls, including targeting young voters. She and Republican Registrar Delores Knight recently visited a civics class at New Haven Academy to register seniors who will turn 18 by this November’s election. Evans said she plans to make similar visits to other spots around town.
Rodriguez, a former five-term Westville alder, ran a spirited race for city clerk in 2013, ultimately losing to Michael Smart. He works for the State of Connecticut coordinating surrogate parent programs.
Although at this stage he has formed just an “exploratory” committee, he said he is assembling a team for a campaign. =
“This is not about the incumbent,” he said. “I think I can do this job.” Like Evans, he said he would focus on bringing more voters onto the rolls with a focus on youth. He said he’s working on a proposal for a “pilot program” with the Board of Education that he’ll disclose at a later date.