Debate Planned for Democratic Mayoral Candidates – CANCELLED

Editor’s note (6/30/2021): The New Britain Progressive has decided to focus on its new online TV news show, New Britain Forum by the New Britain Progressive, instead of its previously planned candidate debate. So, the online debate between the three candidates for the Democratic nomination for Mayor, that was to be held on Saturday, July 31, 2021, has been cancelled.

With a spirited campaign underway for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New Britain, the New Britain Progressive will host a debate between the candidates.

Three Democrats are running for the Democratic nomination for the city’s top office, Community and Democratic leader Veronica T. DeLandro, Democratic state Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) and political activist and Democratic candidate Alicia Hernandez Strong. While Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s hold on the Republican nomination appears locked-up, Democratic leaders and voters have a choice between three candidates

In an upcoming candidate debate, the New Britain Progressive will allow voters to hear from the three candidates on the issues, in the Democrats’ nomination process.

The date of the debate is to be announced shortly.

The debate will be held online and can be seen on the New Britain Progressive at newbritainindependent.com.

Nominations by the Democratic Party are a potentially two step process. The Democratic Party’s governing Town Committee makes endorsements of candidates for city offices in late July. If there is no primary, the Town Committee’s choice becomes the nominee of the Democratic Party. But, candidates not endorsed by the Town Committee can send the decision on the nomination to a Democratic primary by collecting petition signatures.

Any primary in 2021 would be held on September 14th.

While the same process applies to the Republican Party, most observers believe that Stewart will become the Republican nominee without a primary of Republican voters.

DeLandro has also been building a campaign with momentum after officially announcing that she was exploring candidacy for Mayor, jumping ahead in fundraising among Democrats in the April fundraising reports. DeLandro has been been doing a “listening tour” of different constituencies in the city, including businesses, CCSU students, faith-based leaders and parents. She has been reaching out to voters door-to-door for months, while she is issuing a detailed policy platform on the issues.

Democratic Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) has gained considerable support among Democratic leaders, in his Mayoral campaign. Senator Rick Lopes (D-6), Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26), Rep. Manny Sanchez (D-24) and the Democratic City Council leader, Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5), have all announced they they are backing the Twenty-Fifth District State Representative to be elected as Mayor. He enters the campaign able to show leadership in bringing state dollars to New Britain education, local government and community services.

Political activist and Democratic candidate Alicia Hernandez Strong was the first of the three candidates to officially announce that she is officially running for Mayor. Strong has said that, ”My priority is working people. I am fighting for working people because I believe that our students deserve a well-funded, quality education in this town.” She called for affordable housing and a police civilian review board with subpoena power. A founder and former President of the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, Strong is calling on residents to, “get involved in the movement to transform New Britain,” and has active grassroots volunteer support for her campaign.

It remains to be seen if the eventual Democratic nominee for Mayor will prevail against Stewart in the November 2, 2021 city elections. Stewart has repeatedly eluded political consequences to her own re-elections of unpopular policies and politics of her administration, including low funding for the city’s schools, higher property taxes, increased City Hall spending, floating city annual budgets with long-term taxpayer debt, the failed attempt to allow mining on public watershed land and what many view as the generally uncouth brand of the politics of her political machine.

But, in the debate, on the New Britain Progressive, voters will be able to hear the views on the issues from hopefuls for the Democratic Mayoral nomination, themselves.