Democrats Endorse Candidates for City Offices

The New Britain Democratic Party’s Town Committee endorsed candidates for city offices, while primaries are expected for Mayor and At-Large Council.

The Democratic Town Committee’s endorsement decisions are largely the same as the candidates recommended by its Nominations Committee, going back to May.

Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) was endorsed for Mayor, but Democratic leader and Mayoral candidate Veronica T. DeLandro and political activist and Democratic candidate Alicia Hernandez Strong have both said that they plan to collect petition signatures to send the Democratic Party nomination to a September 14th primary.

In Connecticut, major party nominations start with an endorsement by each party’s local town committee or a multi-town convention. The candidates who are endorsed become that party’s nominees at the expiration of the deadline to file petition signatures. However, if challengers succeed in collecting enough primary signatures, the nomination is made by everyday voters who are registered in that party.

In 2021, any primary would be held on September 14th.

Other endorsements by the Democratic Town Committee include:

• Town and City Clerk – Bryan Sabin
• City Treasurer – Current Treasurer Ron Jakubowski (D)
• Tax Collector – Lanette Spranzo Macaruso
• City Council At Large – five seats:
  • Ald. Chris Anderson (D-AL)
  • Amy Labas-Barbosa
  • Ald. Richard Reyes (D-AL)
  • Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5)
  • Current Board of Education Member, Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims (D)
• Council Ward 1- two seats:
  • Chris Porcher
  • Dave Stenson
• Council Ward 2- two seats:
  • Ald. Colin Osborn (D-2)
  • Angel Segarra
• Council Ward 3- two seats:
  • Ald. Iris Sanchez (D-3)
  • Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3)
• Council Ward 4- two seats:
  • Basil Green
  • Todd Arasimowicz
• Council Ward 5 – two seats:
  • Tre Brown
  • Former Ald. Carlo Carlozzi (D-5)
• Board of Education – three spots on the ballot:
  • Annie Parker- incumbent (D)
  • Diana Reyes- incumbent (D)
  • Eileen Ruiz
• Board of Assessment Appeals – two spots on the ballot:
  • Candyce Scott
  • Wyatt Bosworth

While all of the votes in the Town Committee, other than for Mayor, were uncontested, Strong said that her team boycotted the Town Committee process. She was joined by City Council candidates Richard Lacourciere and Nate Simpson, saying that they were forming a “People’s Slate”.

They said that, “the People’s Slate,” will, “campaign on shared values of working class solidarity, fair and affordable housing, and ending City Hall corruption.”

Strong’s campaign says that the slate, “plans on collecting the requisite signatures over the next two weeks to qualify for the ballot for the Democratic Primary.”

“There’s a whole lot of candidates who are gonna be rubbing elbows and schmoozing — try and get their opportunity to be endorsed by the party. But I’m here to tell ya’, I’m not one of them!” Lacourciere told those in attendance at a rally outside of the Town Committee meeting. “From what I can see, we don’t need it.”

Simpson said that, “I was reminded why I chose this path — because of the energy and vitality of this group. There is a never-dying strength and willingness to mobilize that told me I wasn’t alone in the pursuit of a greater tomorrow.”

“The establishment politicians of the Democratic Party are selecting their candidate,” said Strong. “I for one believe that the people of New Britain should select their candidates for mayor and city council.”