New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Former Elicker ally joins challenger’s team
Darryl Brackeen Jr. supporting Tom Goldenberg’s bid for mayoral nomination
NEW HAVEN — Westville Alder Darryl Brackeen Jr., D-26, a longtime ally of Democrat Mayor Justin Elicker, will be on a different team in November’s election, now supporting party challenger Tom Goldenberg and agreeing to be Goldenberg’s campaign manager.
“Education has always been top of my agenda, and I am disappointed by the current administration’s delayed action towards addressing the everwidening opportunity gap for students that has plagued the district for years, and the emergent concerns surrounding reading levels,” Brackeen said Thursday.
He said his decision was all about education.
“Personally, I have been on the frontlines as an longtime education advocate and educator, who now has two children in the NHPS and a third on the way to the school system in a few years,” Brackeen, who teaches social studies in the New Haven Public Schools system, said in a text.
“I have personally seen first-hand the struggles of the school leaders, teachers, students and families before and after the pandemic, and the opportunity gap is widening,” he said. “We need a more hands-on approach in this emergent moment by working with teachers and parents in addressing the dire needs of our school system.”
Brackeen has been an alder for nine years, representing Upper Westville, and was one of the first elected officials to support Elicker in his original 2019 challenge to then-Mayor Toni Harp. In 2021, Brackeen formed an exploratory committee to investigate a potential run for secretary of the state. Elicker supported him in that venture.
Elicker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Goldenberg, who announced Brackeen’s support and addition to his campaign Wednesday evening, said Thursday that he’s happy to have Brackeen onboard.
Brackeen “has got a lot of experience. He’s a New Haven native” and “he’s been in the community for a long time,” Goldenberg said. “I think, particularly, his experience as an educator” will be an asset.
“I’ve been very outspoken about the need for more hands-on involvement in education,” Goldenberg said.
“We are excited to have Darryl as part of our team and are looking forward to making more progress talking with residents about real issues and solutions,” Goldenberg said in a release announcing Brackeen’s addition to his campaign.
“Our students are not showing up to school, which will have long-term negative consequences, and our teaching force is losing hope,” Brackeen said in the campaign’s release. “I am inspired by Tom Goldenberg’s vision which is why I am joining his campaign team.”
Among other roles, Brackeen was part of the Biden-Harris Connecticut campaign, serving as a policy volunteer on the transition team and campaign surrogate. He was a Connecticut delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Goldenberg, a former consultant for McKinsey & Company, announced plans to run for mayor on Dec.
27. He said at the time of his announcement that he saw issues facing New Haven through his experience working with local and state governments and different organizations.
He said that the city faced “crises” in public education, affordable housing and racial equity.
Goldenberg, who lives in the East Rock section, grew up in West Haven and went to West Haven public schools before attending NHPS’s Educational Center for the Arts the last two years of high school. He has made education central to his campaign.
“Make no mistake — this is a moment of crisis,” Goldenberg wrote. “As mayor, I will be hands-on with education, ensuring that district leadership has the rigor, accountability, and transparency that our families deserve. I will enact policies that improve our ability to attract and retain exceptional teachers, strengthen our partnerships, and ensure that every student in a classroom is engaged.”
Elicker filed paperwork Dec. 5 to run for a third term.
He cited as accomplishments the passage of ordinance changes enabling the creation of accessory dwelling units, adding more than 500 affordable units to the city’s housing stock so far, creation of rental assistance program and putting in place policies requiring more landlord accountability.
Elicker also cited a number improvements aimed at youth, including completing the rebuilt Dixwell Community “Q” House, supporting improvements at The Shack community center for the West Rock and West Hills neighborhoods and beginning to refurbish eight city buildings as youth centers.