The Working Families Party has decided to take advantage of Hartford’s minority representation laws by putting up it’s own slate of candidates. While Democrats can only hold six of the nine seats on the Hartford City Council, the minority representation doesn’t have to come from the Republican party. Thanks to the WFP’s slate voters can choose minority representation that more closely reflects their own values.
And the slate looks pretty good too. From the WFP press release:
The Working Families Party candidates are Luis Cotto, co-owner of the
popular La Paloma Sabanera coffeehouse and bookstore on Capitol Avenue; Urania Petit, a community activist and recent graduate from the UCONN School of Social Work; and Dr. Larry Deutsch, a pediatrician, PTO leader, and healthcare advocate.“I’m very excited by how receptive people all across the city have been to the idea of a new, independent voice on the council,” said Luis Cotto. “Voters want to see a city council that fights for them, and we’re eager to take on that role.”
This is a great example of how minor parties can make an impact in Connecticut. Democrats and Working Families candidates may not agree on everything but a city council made up of members from both parties could make for a strong coalition. Minority representation is still respected, but voters can elect candidates whose views are more closely in line with their own. It’s a win-win for both parties.
8 responses so far ↓
“This is a great example of how minor parties can make an impact in Connecticut”?
Yeah they can make an impact all right. Like the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.
It’s useful to keep a few adults around. Keep the Republicans Hartford. Your city’s problems are bad enough.
How much stronger of a coalition can you get than a supermajority from one party?
Come out from behind the shadows CCG, we all know it to be true, you don’t give a hoot about the “Working Families” party, they’re just a means to the end of crushing any Republican in sight.
Hartford is not coming “back” until it learns how to stop spending money. I just don’t see the “Working Families” (Democrats by another name) being the ones to pull it off.
Luis Cotto has a blog. There’s a Hartford area campaign meeting on Tuesday.
Cotto hosted Ned Lamont’s first public appearance in Hartford at his coffeehouse. Eddie Perez showed up, scolded Lamont for opposing Lieberman and Cotto for hosting the event, and walked out.
There are already elected officials in Hartford who ran on the WFP. But that’s just details, Jack and John.
After the cronyism we’ve seen under Perez’s regime, a few Republicans and others would be a breath of fresh air.
kerri said:
I know, and Elizabeth Horton Sheff is on the Council as a “Green Party” member.
That’s not my point. My point is, I don’t think anyone in any strand of the Democrats (Democrats themselves, Green Party, Working Famillies, etc.) has the will or the way to cut Hartford’s $500 million budget and its associated exorbitant tax rates. Until someone does, Hartford will continue to take two steps forward and three steps back.
THOMPSON PAGE, West End of Hartford activist and DTC member, has also qualified to run for Hartford City Council. He reports that he submitted 2, 775 petition signatures for the Democratic primary on Sept. 11th. If the reported statistics are correct, this amount is more than any other candidate including the Mayoral ones. It is 45% more signatures than Charlie Mathews’ campaigneffort of 1,900 and put in more than the next closest candidate’s submissions, Art Feltman’s @2,400. Good Luck, Thom!
Hello folks…
Just to set the record straight on Ned’s kick off event at La Paloma. Eddie walked in with Matt Hennessey and told him not to run and that if he did, not to expect any help from him {i paraphrase} Neither that evening (or since) has Eddie ever ’scolded’ me for hosting the evening.
peace
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