Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) has won the support of Democratic voters as their candidate for Mayor against Republican Mayor Erin Stewart.
According to unofficial results at the office of the Secretary of the State, Rep. Sanchez won by a margin of 1,286 votes to 718 over Alicia Hernandez Strong, and was nominated along with the slate of endorsed City Council candidates.
At the same time, Attorney William Rivera was nominated by Democratic voters to be the next Judge of Probate, winning over Attorney Robert Scalise.
Democratic Mayoral Primary Unofficial Results
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Robert "Bobby" Sanchez | 1,286 |
| Alicia Hernandez Strong | 718 |
After winning the nomination, Rep. Sanchez said,
Tonight, I am humbled to win the Democratic nomination for Mayor of New Britain. As a kid growing up in Malikowski Circle, I was never aware of who the local elected officials were in New Britain. My family was simply focused on getting through the week with food on the table. That struggle my family faced is unfortunately the same struggle that families are still facing today across our city under the current Republican administration.
I know this to be true because I have had the privilege of speaking to thousands of New Britain residents. I continue to hear a consistent message: our taxes are too high, our schools are under-resourced and the city lacks the services to meet the needs of our community. New Britain is ready for change.
“I have heard,” Rep. Sanchez said, “that residents are truly excited at the opportunity to elect a leader who will prioritize everyone’s needs across our great city. We need leadership in city hall that not only has a vision for our city, but has a proven record of getting things done.”
Sanchez won the endorsement of the New Britain Democratic Party’s Town Committee on July 26th, but political activist Strong collected petition signatures to qualify for a September 14, 2021 primary in which everyday Democratic voters decided their nominee for Mayor.
Sanchez has said that, as Mayor, he plans to work for, “true social, racial and economic justice for all communities, no matter your race, gender or ethnicity,” adding,
Now more than ever New Britain needs a mayor that will uphold that commitment. For too long, the current administration has picked winners and losers depending on where you live in our city causing our schools to be underfunded, small businesses left behind and the tax burden falling on our working-class residents.
Rep. Sanchez has also said that,
As a kid growing up in Malikowski circle, I was never aware of who the local elected officials were in New Britain. It played no role in my life at that time. My family was simply focused on getting through the week with food on the table. And what is sad, is that same struggle that my family faced, is the same exact struggle that I know families are facing across our city today. Now is the time to change that. While New Britain has different neighborhoods, we are one community, and we need leadership that is ready to put in the work to reflect that through policy and action.
Rep. Sanchez is currently Chair of the powerful legislative Education Committee, his second term in that important position. Advocates for Sanchez frequently laud his work in supporting funding for New Britain schools, early childhood education and public education, in general. He has been named as a “Children’s Champion” by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance.
Sanchez’ official biography has said that he, “is a longtime leader in the New Britain community. Before joining the state legislature, he served on the New Britain Board of Education, where he was a strong voice for quality education and efficient administration.”
“Bobby is also well known for his work at the Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc.,” his biography has said, “where his efforts have led to a stronger Head Start education program in New Britain.”
“From my time as a teacher, to my work at HRA, to serving as a state representative,” Rep. Sanchez has said, “I have seen how this city has changed over the years and I know that we can get New Britain on a better path forward under the right leadership.”
“I want to thank Alicia Hernandez Strong and her team,” Rep. Sanchez said, “on a hard fought campaign focused on the issues that face our great city, and I look forward to sitting down with her soon to talk about how we can all move forward as Democrats to defeat the Republican mayor in November.”
Strong, as a candidate has said, that her campaign was for, “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, “in which the police will be accountable to all of the residents of New Britain.”
“City government has continued to underfund critical services that our community needs such as education, housing and mental health services,” Strong has said. “We need city leadership that prioritizes working-class people, this is especially important because New Britain residents are struggling even more due to COVID-19.”
“My campaign is of, for, and by the working people of New Britain,” Strong has said, “and I am excited to continue fighting for a future where all of New Britain has the universal rights to housing, healthcare, and a healthy environment to live in.”
“I’m running with the singular goal,” Strong said during her campaign, “of making sure there is a candidate for Mayor who believes in supporting the people with educational opportunities, social services and a drastic reduction in unchecked police power in New Britain.”
“The fact of the matter is,” Strong said before the primary, “if we truly want to transform this city, we need bold change.” Strong said that Republicans in office want to keep the status quo, “and even some of the establishment Democrats are afraid of too much change.”
Democratic voters also nominated their five candidates for the At Large Council seats, nominating Ald. Chris Anderson (D-AL), Amy Labas-Barbosa, Ald. Richard Reyes (D-AL), Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5) and current Board of Education Member, Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims (D).
Richard Lacourciere and Nate Simpson also ran for Council, after petitioning for a primary on Strong’s “People’s Slate.”
Democratic At-Large Council Primary Unofficial Results
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Chris Anderson | 1,177 |
| Amy Labas | 1,122 |
| Richard Reyes | 1,268 |
| Francisco "Cisco" Santiago | 1,224 |
| Violet Jimenez Sims | 1,284 |
| Richard Lacourciere | 684 |
| Nate Simpson | 679 |
In the election for Judge of Probate for the probate district that includes New Britain and Berlin, attorney Bill Rivera won the majority of votes in New Britain, while attorney Robert Scalise received more votes from Berlin. But Rivera’s margin in New Britain was enough to win the nomination in the unofficial results.
Democratic Judge of Probate Primary Unofficial Results
| Candidate | votes |
|---|---|
| William C. Rivera | 1,230 |
| Robert A. Scalise, Jr. | 1,168 |
With the Democratic nomination for Mayor now determined, it remains to be seen if Rep. Sanchez 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.
Editor’s note (9/14/2021): This article has been continuously updated as new information becomes available.
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