Paul Bass Photo
Dan Malloy opened his regional campaign headquarters in a converted garage in New Haven’s black community — and made a direct pitch to opponents of the local mayor who’s behind his opponent for governor.
Call it a 2006 grudge match.
Malloy made the pitch to 75 supporters and “tire-kickers” (curious fence-sitters checking him out) crowding Tuesday night inside 119 Whalley Ave., the site of the former “Good News Garage” at the southern edge of the Dixwell neighborhood.
They assembled one day after a similar gathering of New Haven politicos crowded into Foster’s restaurant in the Ninth Square neighborhood to support the campaign of Ned Lamont, Malloy’s opponent in an Aug. 10 primary for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. (The Lamont campaign didn’t alert the press to that gathering.) Lamont’s event drew members and supporters of Mayor John DeStefano and the New Haven Democratic machine.
Malloy’s gathering, by contrast, drew a host of African-American aldermen and activists either opposed to the DeStefano machine or — as State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield suggested in comments to the crowd Tuesday night — branded as opponents because they don’t always toe the party line. Holder-Winfield is pictured with Dixwell activist Lisa Hopkins, who has also run campaigns against City Hall.
“Right now everybody in this city [political establishment] is going in one direction. You put a lot on the line when you go in the other direction,” Holder-Winfield said before introducing Malloy, a seven-term Stamford mayor, as the gubernatorial candidate with the experience to “go in there and understand how to govern.”
Malloy ran against New Haven Mayor DeStefano in a bitter 2006 gubernatorial primary. DeStefano won that election (before losing the general election). Four years later, a last-minute Malloy campaign ad still rankles DeStefano’s supporters and contributed to their mass support of Lamont. The ad showed DeStefano in a dress.
DeStefano sat out this year’s governor’s race, supporting Lamont instead. In 2006, DeStefano carried his home city easily; Malloy picked up support of a small group of local politicians angry at the mayor.
Tuesday night Malloy drew a broader crowd of local politicos, such as Hill Alderwoman Jackie James-Evans (pictured above). That could indicate that anti-machine sentiment has grown in New Haven, or that Malloy’s campaign has made more inroads in the city without the mayor on the ballot. (Both he and Lamont have promised to help cities by promoting urban jobs, cleaning brownfields, boosting public schools and transit.)
In either case, the gubernatorial primary is turning into a test for New Haven’s two Democratic Party camps, to see whether City Hall critics can match the machine in turning out the vote for a citywide race.
James-Evans is serving as co-coordinator of Malloy’s Whalley Avenue office along with another DeStefano critic, West Rock Alderman Darnell Goldson. The office will serve as campaign headquarters for the Third U.S. Congressional District. Lamont’s statewide headquarters are on New Haven’s Orange Street.
Shirt sleeves rolled up, voice rising at times, energized by the crowd, Malloy (pictured) urged the crowd to see his campaign as a vehicle to make their voice heard. He didn’t mention DeStefano’s name. He didn’t have to.
He also urged them to see his campaign as a people’s challenge to an inexperienced millionaire pouring his own money into the race. He didn’t mention Lamont’s name. He didn’t have to.
“Some people say, ‘That guy can’t win because he’s rich.’ If I can’t win, none of you can win,” Malloy said.
“Some people say, ‘That guy can’t win because the political hierarchy of certain places are with the other guy.’ If I can’t win, none of you can win.’”
In case they didn’t get the point, he promised they, not City Hall or the local party establishment, will be the go-to New Haveners at the governor’s office if he wins the election.
“When it comes to New Haven, you are the faces I see. When it comes to New Haven you are the leadership I believe in. When it comes to New Haven, you are the people I will return to to make decisions.”
Taking in the pledge were DeStefano critics like former State Rep. Bill Dyson (pictured), who toyed with a mayoral challenge last year; Jim Newton, who did run against DeStefano in 1999; Aldermen Michael Smart, Andrea Jackson-Brooks, Claudette Robinson-Thorpe, and Gerald Antunes …
… as well as some veteran party machine supporters with whom DeStefano parted ways in a pivotal 2001 mayoral election, including business deal-maker Sal Brancati (pictured) …
… and former Democratic Town Chairman Nick Balletto (at left in photo with Darnell Goldson).
Some DeStefano allies showed, too, such as Dixwell Alderman Greg Morehead (pictured).
Morehead said he’s supporting Malloy because “he has the leadership ability” — and because “he reached out to me” months before Lamont did. “The administration just assumes [incorrectly] some aldermen are going with Ned Lamont,” Morehead said.
Westville Alderman Sergio Rodriguez showed up, too. He refused to say whether he’s backing Malloy or Lamont for governor.
“No comment,” he said. “I’m busy doing other stuff.” Rodriguez is running for state representative.
