Contributed Photos
Angel Hubbard and Miguel Pittman are vying for a Hill North Board of Alders seat.
Local restaurateur Miguel Pittman and home healthcare provider Angel Hubbard are officially running to replace former Alder Ron Hurt in a special election to determine who will represent the Hill’s Ward 3 on the Board of Alders.
That special election will take place on Sept. 16.
Hubbard and Pittman, both Democrats, were the only two candidates to file paperwork ahead of the deadline at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Ward 3 alder seat has been vacant since Aug. 2, when Hurt resigned following revelations that he had a relationship with a patient during his time as an addiction counselor.
Pittman, 60, said he’s lived in the neighborhood for 34 years. He co-owns Sandra’s Next Generation, the nationally-recognized soul food restaurant at 636 Congress Ave. (mere steps outside of the ward boundary), with his wife Sandra. He also chairs the city’s Development Commission.
In an interview on Tuesday afternoon, Pittman framed himself as an independent voice “not necessarily tied into any entity — for example, the union,” alluding to the many alders affiliated with Yale Locals 34 and 35. “I’m not saying that the union is bad, but my obligation is to Ward 3,” Pittman said.
He named increasing voter engagement as a top goal of his for the neighborhood. Low voter turnout, he said, “has a lot to do with us not getting the respect or the resources that we need to enhance our quality of life. To me, that is central.”
“I have a vested interest” in the neighborhood’s future, Pittman said — not only because of his own roots, but because of his family and customers.
Hubbard, 39, said she’s lived in the neighborhood for six years. She works as a certified nursing assistant, providing in-home care to patients. She also serves as one of two ward co-chairs representing Ward 3 on the local Democratic Town Committee.
“Somebody has to be the voice of reason and voice of change and I know that’s what I’m here to do. I need to make a change in the Hill, I need to make a change in my ward,” Hubbard said.
Her top priorities, she said, include increasing the police presence in the ward and expanding activities and mentorship opportunities for kids and teens. She also pointed to loitering and a lack of lighting outside some of the addiction and homeless services providers in the neighborhood.
Hubbard has in recent years become a vocal advocate against gun violence, drawing from her own experience grieving several murdered family members over the years. She said that this would be a key focus for her if elected, noting, “It does not affect you until it affects you.”