With incumbent Republican Mayor Erin Stewart apparently headed for the nomination of her party for a sixth term, former City Council member Chris Anderson has been endorsed for Mayor by the Democratic Town Committee.
Anderson, who is the Chair of the New Britain Democratic Party, took issue with Stewart’s self-characterization as setting the city on a strong financial track. Anderson pointed to the recent large increase in taxes approved by Stewart and the Republican-dominated City Council, saying it is a sign that the city finances are actually not strong. Anderson contrasted the large increases in taxes for city residents against the large tax cuts received by developers from Stewart, and he criticized low city operating funding for New Britain’s schools.
Anderson was endorsed by the party-leading Town Committee, without a single vote of opposition, but he still may well face a challenge for the Democratic nomination.
City Council member Angel Segarra (D-2) says he was disappointed that his name was not entered into nomination by any Town Committee members, but he promised to wage a primary for the nomination.
“I am a proud Democrat,” Segarra said in a written statement, “and my aim is to bring us all Democrats together to get an upset victory in November, get the Stewart dynasty out of City Hall and get our party, and that means (ALL OF US) in power and make this a New Britain that we can be proud of.”
Segarra would have to collect petition signatures from five percent of New Britain registered Democrats to qualify a challenge to Anderson for the Democratic Party nomination. If there is a primary, registered Democrats would vote on September 12, 2023 to choose their nominee for Mayor.
City Council
Recent City Charter changes mean that each of the city’s five Council districts, commonly called “Wards”, will now elect three members of the Council. Voters will only be permitted to vote for two, ensuring that no more than two of the three members from any ward can be from one party. There are no longer at-large seats on the Council.
In Ward 1, generally in the southwest corner of the city, the Democratic Town Committee endorsed Richard Lacouriere and Nate Simpson.
In Ward 2, in the southeast part of the city, Wilma Barbosa and Lori McAdam are the endorsed Democrats.
Incumbent Council member Iris Sanchez (D-3) is joined by current Board of Assessment Appeals member Candyce Scott (D) as the Democrats’ endorsed candidates in Ward 3. Ward 3 is generally in the center of the city.
Neil Connors and former Democratic Party Chair John McNamara are the endorsed Democrats for Ward 4, which is generally in the northeast part of the city.
Luz Osuba joins former Council member Francisco Santiago (D-5) as the endorsed Democrats in Ward 5, which includes the northwestern parts of the city.
Board of Education
For Board of Education, former teachers’ union leader, Sal Escobales, and longtime community leader, Joan Pina, join incumbent Board of Education member Joseph Listro (D) as the endorsed Democratic candidates for Board of Education.
The Board of Education has all-at-large elections, with five of its ten seats up for election every two years. Voters may only vote for three candidates, but five candidates are elected.
The 2023 election for Board of Education is advantage-Republicans. The current Board is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, and three of the five seats up for election this year have been held by Democrats. If Republicans win the maximum possible to win, three seats, control of the Board will go to the Republicans.
Other offices
The Democratic Town Committee endorsed Tim Yanchak to run for City Treasurer.
For Board of Assessment Appeals, Democrats endorsed David Grant and former Council member Colin I. Osborn (D-2).
For Constable, Democrats endorsed former Council member Suzanne Bielinski (D-AL), former Council member Carlo Carlozzi (D-5), community leader Jan Sykes and Patrick Thomson.
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