Complex races in New Britain, West Hartford

Town Council primary possible in Southington

Elections are a little more than three months away, and the jockeying is well underway: Democrats in New Britain are bracing for a three-way primary for mayor, and West Hartford voters could end up with a council from three parties in November.

And a Democratic member of Southington’s council is weighing a primary after the party wouldn’t back him for another term.

Observers will be closely watching New Britain this year, where Republican Mayor Erin Stewart is going for a fifth term. She has the unanimous backing of the city’s GOP.

The Democratic Town Committee is banking on longtime state Rep. Bobby Sanchez to defeat her and nominated him this week in a 30-5 vote over Veronica Delandro. But many Democrats expect Sanchez will face a Sept. 14 primary challenge from either Delandro or Alicia Strong.

Delandro, a former district director for U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, has raised more than $63,000 in donations and built a substantial volunteer team. Strong, a community activist and co-founder of the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, has taken in more than $18,000 in donations.

Strong said she will be part of a “People’s Slate” to include council challengers Richard Lacourciere and Nate Simpson. Strong and Delandro have until Aug. 11 to submit enough voters’ signatures to force a primary.

For the city’s council race, the Democratic Town Committee is backing Chris Anderson, Amy Labas-barbosa, Richard Reyes, Francisco Santiago, Violet Jiménez Sims, Chris Porcher, Dave Stenson, Colin Osborn, Angel Segarra, Iris Sanchez, Aram Ayalon, Basil Green, Todd Arasimowicz, Tre Brown and Carlo Carlozzi.

Republicans have nominated Willie Pabon, Matthew Malinowski, Desiree Costa, Luz Ortiz, Alden Russell, Howard Dyson, Peter Scirpo, Valerie Ruby Ingram, Jerrell Hargraves, Sara Piatti, Jeffrey Gumbs, Robert Smedley, Michael Thompson, Paul Catanzaro and Kris Rutkowski.

In West Hartford, a contingent of former Republicans has raised the strong possibility that the 2021-23 town council will be divided between three parties.

Democrats have a 6-3 majority, the maximum any party may hold. Shari Cantor, who serves as mayor, along with incumbents Carol Blanks, Ben Wenograd, Leon Davidoff and Liam Sweeney are running with newcomer Adrienne Billings-smith, who launched Concerned Parents of Color of West Hartford and orchestrated the town’s first Juneteenth commemoration.

Republicans are backing a slate with one incumbent — Mary Fay — and new candidates Alberto Cortes and Mark Zydanowicz.

Incumbent Lee Gold, who was the top Republican vote-getter in 2019, earlier this year left the GOP to create a third-party slate. Under the banner of A Connecticut Party, Gold is running alongside Mark Merritt, Rick Bush and Roni Rodman.

In Southington, Democrats and Republicans in November will be vying for control of the nine-member town council, which is now in the GOP’S hands. The Republican Committee has nominated Victoria Triano, Mike Delsanto, William Dziedzic, Paul Chaplinsky, Jim Morelli and Tom Lombardi.

Democrats on Tuesday night chose a six-member slate but left off incumbent Chris Poulos. The Democratic Town Committee is backing Val Depaolo, Chris Palmieri, Kristen Guida, Jack Perry, Kelly Leppard and Christina Volpe.

Poulos complained Wednesday that Democratic leadership hasn’t explained why he was denied the endorsement. He said he is considering a primary but wrote “no decisions have been made at this time.”