Len Honeyman Photo
Town Chairwoman Susie Voigt receives results from Vice-Chair Norma Rodriguez.
Roland Lemar was all but assured his party’s endorsement for the one state legislative seat open in the New Haven this year. But the race is just beginning.
A slate of 10 delegates supporting Lemar, currently an East Rock alderman, prevailed Tuesday night in a Democratic Town Committee (DTC) gathering at Conte School.
The 60-member committee also chose scores of delegates to attend separate conventions that will nominate candidates for governor and the under ticket, the Third U.S. Congressional District, and the 10th and 11th State Senate districts. Those slates were approved unanimously by voice vote. At this point incumbents are running for those seats, without announced challengers
That was different in the 96th district, where incumbent Cam Staples is stepping down after 16 years in order to run for state attorney general. At least three and perhaps four Democrats plan to seek the party’s nomination in a primary, which will take place after a convention at which delegates endorse a candidate. Tuesday night’s gathering was about picking delegates for that first step.
The race has not only sparked an intramural fight in New Haven. It has set up a political contest with Democrats in the adjoining town of Hamden. The 96th District includes several New Haven neighborhoods (including East Rock, Fair Haven, and Wooster Square) as well parts of southern Hamden. Because more of it lies in New Haven, a New Havener has always held the seat. That might change this year.
Sixteen delegates will choose the party’s endorsed candidate in advance of the primary. Six come from Hamden. Ten come from New Haven, so if they’re united, they can pick the first-round winner. Tuesday night’s gathering was the New Haven DTC’s chance to choose those ten.
Chris Randall speaks at meeting as co-chair Carmen Rodriguez looks on.
Ward 8 co-chairman Chris Randall challenged the Lemar slate Tuesday night. He asked that his name and that of his co-chair, Carmen Rodriguez, be substituted for two others.
Randall and Rodriguez, who earlier this month won a hard-fought battle to retain their ward seats, should be on the list to attend the convention because Democrats in their ward voted for them, Randall told the delegates.
They are allied with Wooster Square Alderman Michael Smart, who’s considering challenge Lemar in a primary for the party’s nomination.
“I believe the ward co chairs should have preference if they want to be a delegate at the nominating conventions, particularly Carmen and I, because we just won a resounding victory in the 8th Ward,” Randall said. “It’s just convenient that we are not on the list.”
“It’s a counter move because they tried to get us off the slate, because their assumption is that we would not support Roland,” he said. “Other opinions and discourse about options are good in a democracy,” he said.
Democratic Town Chairwoman Susan Voigt, who earlier had said she did not foresee a challenge, hurriedly prepared paper ballots that were distributed to the committee members.
In the end, Randall and Rodriguez garnered 17 votes for their slate. With over 30 votes, the Lemar slate was endorsed. Those chosen include Carlos Eyzaguirre, Rafael Ramos, Paul Wessel, Diane Casella, Joseph Rodriguez, Erin Sturgis-Pascale, David Streever, Richard Lyons, Justin Elicker and Jane Edelstein.
Smart (pictured), in an interview at the meeting before the vote results were announced, said he was “exploring running” and this vote would have no effect on his decision.
“I mean a slate is a slate, but the bottom line is it is what it is and you have to get out there and knock on the doors,” he said. “Obviously we know this is a fixed process here and certainly is very disrespectful of the two ward chairs who just won.”
“If I decide to run, we’ll get out there and we’ll work hard and, if I don’t run, we’re going to get behind a candidate that we feel will best serve the 96th District,” He called the slate “a slick move on his part,” meaning Lemar. “We are not anti at all.
“When I was first elected alderman, I lost the nomination. It’s always nice to get the nomination, but I know how to win an election,” he said. He called the odds on his running are “better than 50 – 50.”
But Debra Hauser (pictured), a former Ward 10 co-chair, said the odds of her running were 100 percent.
“I am officially a candidate for state representative in the 96th District,” she said.
“I am not an insider, so I have not been cultivating the delegates. Certainly, I have introduced myself … to New Haven and Hamden town committee members and elected officials and now am beginning my campaign officially.
“It seems customary that ward co-chairs in the district where are being held” should go to the convention, she said.
“Certainly, it’s plain to me that the current slate is entirely weighted for Roland. In that regard, it affects me but it does not deter me. I am getting a lot of support. I am looking forward to a hard-fought race that I will win.
She was asked whether having several New Haven candidates in a primary risks handing the seat over to Hamden, where politicos are united behind the candidacy of Hamden School Board Chairman Mike D’Agostino.
“I’ll take the women’s vote and they’ll split the male vote,” Hauser said. She said “a number of sources” have told her that the race is wide open.
Voigt said she was just following the law and Democratic State Central Committee rules, which do not give precedence to ward co-chairs when it comes to being named to a convention slate.
The DTC Tuesday chose a slate of 81 people to send to the party’s state convention in May, where they’ll vote on statewide races, some of which are highly competitive. New Haven has the biggest bloc of delegates statewide, so the city’s being wooed by candidates. Included on the slate were Mayor John DeStefano Jr., Superintendent of Schools Reggie Mayo, Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts and Randall. Some 83 people were selected to attend the Third Congressional District convention May 13 in Seymour.
Voigt said delegates to conventions for districts (unlike the 96th) entirely in a single city or town comprise the party co-chairs and are not chosen at meetings such as Tuesday night’s, according to state Democratic rules.
After the meeting, the organizer who put the winning slate together, 9th Ward Co-Chair and former city parking czar Paul Wessel (pictured with Lemar, who’s at left), said the list had been put together to assure Lemar the party’s nod.
“Many of us believe that Roland will be a great state rep and will well represent New Haven and Hamden, and that was our goal here. Not whatever tradition was or whatever but who would adequately represent and passionately represent New Haven and our interests and support Roland Lemar. So we put together a slate of people” who want Lemar seated.
“That was our goal. This is about a nominating convention for who is going to run for state rep and we are excited about the prospect of Roland Lemar serving people of New Haven and Hamden and in serving in the legislature and we put together people who share that excitement,” Wessel said. He said there is “no question” that he’ll win the expected primary.
“We elected 10 strong leaders in our community to serve as the slate to the Hamden-New Haven delegation to endorse the next state representative. I am glad to have a great relationship with all of these leaders,” Lemar said. He hopes to put forward evidence that “I will be a great state representative who can work for our communities and deliver positive results back to Hamden and New Haven,” he said.
State Sen. Martin Looney, who attended the meeting with State Sen. Toni Harp and State Rep. Toni Walker and a number of aldermen, said he expects a fight for the seat.
“There will be several good candidates and it may take a while to sort things out,” he said. D’Agostino is a former aide to Looney.