The city’s seven-course menu of Democratic mayoral candidates is ready for a public grilling — with the first questions coming from New Haveners with some of the most at stake in this fall’s election.
Those New Haveners — clients and staffers from New Haven Legal Assistance, Christian Community Action, Junta for Progressive Action, and IRIS — will pose the questions at the first scheduled debate to include all seven of the Democrats officially seeking the nomination for mayor.
The event is entitled the “New Haven Mayoral Social Justice Debate.” It begins Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in the north wing cafeteria of Gateway Community College’s downtown campus. The New Haven Independent, La Voz Hispana, and the Inner-City News are sponsoring the debate in conjunction with the New Haven Democracy Fund.
Staffers at the agencies preparing the questions came up with the grassroots approach to this debate. Their goal: To make sure that low-income and working-class New Haveners have their voices heard right from the start of an important citywide election campaign.
The seven Democrats seeking to replace retiring two-decade incumbent Mayor John DeStefano are Hillhouse Principal Kermit Carolina, East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker, former city economic development chief Henry Fernandez, state Sen. Toni Harp, state Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, former Chamber of Commerce prez Matthew Nemerosn, and Newhallville plumber Sundiata Keitazulu.
If you can’t make the debate in person, you can follow the play-by-play and commentary from a live-blog panel featuring Independent, La Voz, Inner-City, New Haven Register, and WNPR reporters.
Many more candidate debates are expected to follow leading up to the Sept. 10 Democratic mayoral primary, the most hotly contested in decades. On May 13 the Register is sponsoring a youth issues debate at the Boys & Girls Club; Westville Democratic ward committees are organizing a May 19 debate at Davis Street School focusing on economic development issues. Yale Democrats held a debate with candidates prior to Carolina and Harp entering the field; click here to read a detailed account of how that went.
And for a taste of how New Haven’s democratic moment looks 35 miles up I‑91, click here.
Friday afternoon Harp said she has learned that she cannot attend the Tuesday debate because of a critical Democratic caucus meeting scheduled at the same time in Hartford. She said she expects not to be able to participate in any weekday debates until the legislative session ends. She said she does plan to attend the May 19 debate in Westville.