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Thomas Burwell, a 31-year-old engineering student, is running to oust Fair Haven Alderman Santiago Berrios-Bones, a high school biology teacher who just joined the Board of Aldermen this week.
Burwell (pictured), who said he’s a fourth-generation Fair Havener, filed papers for candidacy on Feb. 25. A registered Democrat, he’ll face Berrios-Bones in a primary in September.
Berrios-Bones was sworn in as an alderman on Monday. He was the winner of a special election on Feb. 22 to determine who would replace Alderman Gabriel Santiago, who resigned in January after extended absenteeism.
Berrios-Bones said on Wednesday that he plans to run for reelection this fall.
In a telephone interview, Burwell spoke about his candidacy. Click here to see his campaign website.
“I am a 31-year-old engineering student at Gateway Community College,” he said. “I get pretty good grades.” He said he belongs to the student government association and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Community Soup Kitchen.
Burwell said he didn’t run in the recent special election because he didn’t hear about it in time.
“It’s been a farce of a special election that happened,” Burwell said. “Nobody knows anything about the candidates.”
Burwell said he’s already started going door to door, meeting more neighbors. People know him already, he said. “I’m always going through the neighborhood, picking up litter.”
“I’m not a career politician,” he said. “I’m more of a community activist.”
Burwell said he doesn’t have job; he’s a full-time student living on “public assistance.” “That’s an open story right now.”
Burwell said he’s planning to work on youth activities, fixing up parks, gardens, and sidewalks, and cracking down on prostitution and other crime.