New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
3 Democrats seek mayor’s seat
HAMDEN — Three people are seeking the Democratic endorsement in Hamden’s mayoral race, while current Mayor Curt Balzano Leng, a Democrat, has neither ruled out a run nor applied for the endorsement under a new process implemented by the Democratic Town Committee.
Those seeking the mayor’s seat include Lauren Garrett, a former member of the Legislative Council who challenged Leng in the 2019 primary; Brad Macdowall, a fouryear Legislative Council member, town native and seasoned political organizer; and Peter Cyr, also a town native, who serves as lead organizer for U.S. Sen. Chris Mur
phy’s field operation Fight Back Connecticut.
Each candidate participated in a new DTC process, geared toward determining who wins endorsements, that asked interested individuals to fill out questionnaires by March 15.
The committee also has requested questionnaires from those who wish run for Legislative Council, Board of Education and Town Clerk, with a due date of April 1.
Leng did not return a questionnaire, according to DTC Chairman Sean Grace.
When asked for comment, Leng indicated he was focused on the job at hand, citing the budget presentation slated for Wednesday evening.
“I am 110% focused on governing right now. My team and I are preparing a Town budget that is strong, balanced and which immediately addresses the clear needs in police services to protect our residents,” he said in a written statement.
Amid the ongoing pandemic, Leng wrote in an email to a reporter, it has “never been more important” to work to protect residents, prevent violence and expand youth activities.
“There will be plenty of time for politics, plenty of time for debate, and I look forward to those, especially given how much intentionally misleading misinformation is being stated,” he continued. “However, now is a time for leaders to govern, to take actions to help those in need and provide increased safety and protection for all, focusing all our attention on the duties we were elected to fulfill and which help our neighbors.”
Candidates still can seek endorsement at the convention this summer even if they do not go through the process the DTC has laid out, according to Grace.
Though asked, Leng did not say Wednesday whether he would seek the Democratic endorsement or petition to be on the ballot.
With many newcomers elected in early 2020, Democratic Town Committee membership has changed drastically since Leng won the 2019 endorsement, and the mayor clashed with his party earlier this year over a newly-ratified party platform.
While he said the platform contained some important values and goals, he called elements of it “misleading.”
Grace has said the platform is meant to guide the DTC in deciding whom to endorse in elections. The questionnaire for those interested in the mayoral endorsement asked whether respondents could commit to upholding the platform.
Now, the DTC is slated to move forward with a process whereby members will get to know the candidates.
“We’re gonna be soliciting questions from the DTC, and we will set up a Zoom meeting with DTC members and the candidates where we can ask them questions live,” Grace said.
The chairman hopes a candidate search launched early in the year will ensure “people actually know who they’re voting for” come convention time, he said.