With little money to pay for TV ads or mass mailings of glossy flyers, mayoral challenger Jeffrey Kerekes is casting his luck with a cheaper, more modern alternative.
Kerekes is one of three Democratic challengers on the ballot for a Sept. 13 primary against Mayor John DeStefano, who’s seeking a 10th term in office.
Kerekes is taking part in the city’s clean elections program, where he’ll get a $24,000 grant in exchange for agreeing to accept only small contributions from donors. DeStefano, who’s ditching the program this year, had already raised 10 times that amount by the end of June. DeStefano’s campaign is being bankrolled by mayoral appointees, other city employees, and contractors who depend on city government for business.
A new 1‑minute video (above), released Friday by Kerekes’ campaign, features five New Haveners from different neighborhoods expressing their support for his candidacy. In releasing the ad, he’s following the lead of other candidates who, in the modern era of campaigning, have banked on free distribution channels like Youtube to spread their message and build a network of support.
In a change of tone for his campaign, Kerekes refrains from directly attacking DeStefano. Instead, he tries to build an image of what Kerekes stands for. Supporters focus on two things: Term limits, and the fact that he’s not a “career politician.”
Kerekes, like fellow challengers Clifton Graves and Tony Dawson, has come out in favor of term limits that would allow a mayor to serve no more than eight years.
Will the video go viral? Watch it above and decide for yourself.