Singer, former cop seeks District 2 council seat

HAMDEN — He used to be a police detective. Now he’s a singer.

And come November, Republican Nick D’Amato hopes to be the District 2 representative on Hamden’s Legislative Council.

He’s likely to face Democrat Jeron Alston, the council’s newest member. Alston, who was not available for an interview but confirmed he will run, was appointed to the District 2 seat early this year.

Alston, a public accountant and youth mentor, replaced Harry Gagliardi, a Democrat who represented the district for more than a dozen years until his death in November.

D’Amato knows the district heavily leans Democrat — Gagliardi got more than twice as many votes as his Republican opponent in 2019, according to election results available on the state website.

The GOP challenger supported then-President Donald Trump in last year’s presidential election, as the New Haven Independent reported. But D’Amato said he intends to campaign to all voters and “is perfectly willing to work across the aisle.”

“I’ll meet with anybody,” he said. “I’ll sit down with anybody.”

As for his support of Trump, D’Amato said he liked some of the former president’s policies, including his policy on trade with China and his efforts “securing the southern border.”

He did not, however, approve of Trump’s behavior.

“I didn’t care for his sort of belligerence and his arrogance,” D’Amato said. “I just wish he had exhibited a little more dignity in the way he expressed himself and expressed his views.”

As for his local candidacy, D’Amato said he genuinely wants to help Hamden.

“There’s no hidden agenda. I wanna try to help and do something for the town,” he said, adding that he hopes to collaborate to solve issues residents are concerned about, such as rising crime, high taxes and cuts to services.

A 67-year-old town native, D’Amato said he worked for 20 years in the New Haven Police Department, first as an officer and then as a detective.

After retiring in 2003, he practiced law for seven years, mostly as a criminal defense attorney, he said.

Now, D’Amato has a small music entertainment business, “the Nicky D Show.” At events, he sings along to recorded instrumental tracks.

The candidate described himself as “civic minded.” He volunteered as a youth sports coach when he was younger, did volunteer-work as a police officer and previously mentored children in foster care, he said.

D’Amato’s two children used to attend Helen Street School, where D’Amato served as president of the Parent Teacher Association from 2018-20.

“I’ve never really had the idea of injecting myself into local politics. I’m not a politician and you know it can be sort of a crazy business,” D’Amato said of his decision to run. “However, in looking over the past year or so of events that are taking place in our town and our country, I guess being quarantined for a year gives you a lot of time to reflect, it just occurred to me that my town might need my help.”

He plans to make neighborhood rounds all summer to meet as many residents as possible.

The Republican nominating convention will be held in July, according to Frank LaDore, chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

D’Amato