MAYOR HARP SUSPENDS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN DESPITE INCLINATION – AND PASSIONATE EXHORTATIONS – TO CONTINUE
WILL FOCUS ON PROJECT COMPLETION FOR DURATION OF TERM
New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp said today she has suspended her campaign for re-election despite some inclination – and repeated and passionate pleadings from supporters – to continue.
The city’s November ballot will include Mayor Harp’s name – on the Working Families Party (WFP) line – so voters have an opportunity to vote for the mayor at that time, but there will be no active effort to seek voter support between now and November 5.
A lifelong Democrat, Mayor Harp said she was honored by July’s overwhelming endorsement at the New Haven Democratic Town Committee’s convention, pleased last month by the WFP nomination, and grateful for continuing affirmation of her successful, six-years’ record leading the city.
“I’ve been blessed – and remain grateful – for enthusiastic assistance from thousands and thousands of supporters, contributors, and voters and it’s been my good fortune – literally – to have the opportunity I’ve had to be mayor these past nearly six years,” Mayor Harp said. “We’ve worked together to advance this city well beyond where it was six years ago and among so many accomplishments, I’m most proud of the partnerships and collaborations at the heart of them.”
Mayor Harp cited a most-impressive list of citywide improvements over six years, beginning with the removal of an ominous fence separating New Haven from Hamden, arranging for clean-up of the old English Station power plant, the restored College Street Music Hall, the new police department indoor firing range, the renovated Ralph Walker skating rink, the new Fort Hale Park fishing pier, development plans for Long Wharf, a refurbished Food Truck Paradise and new, two-way bike lane there, renovations at the Ives Main Branch – and other improvements throughout the public library system, the overhauled Coogan Pavilion in Edgewood Park, creation of a new Cherry Ann Park with its new gazebo, demolition of the Church Street South housing complex ahead of more transit-oriented, mixed use on that parcel, steady progress on the major Downtown Crossing and Hill-to-Downtown redevelopment projects, the District innovation and technology hub in East Rock, the bioscience career ladder in partnership with SCSU, the ESUMS campus at UNH, the Gateway to College high school completion program at Gateway Community College, the Hillhouse High School academies, the small business academy and financial empowerment program for adults, and steady progress toward a worker-owned, commercial laundry facility in Newhallville.
Mayor Harp said that despite these and other achievements, a balanced budget and improved city finances, lower crime rates, the eminently successful Youth Stat program, improved outcomes at New Haven Public Schools, and robust private-sector development throughout the city, the compromised political climate and daunting financial and operational logistics of a continuing campaign make prospects remote for a successful outcome.
“On one hand it’s completely counter-intuitive to walk away from all this progress and allow coalitions to be shattered that’ve been irrefutably successful, yet on the other hand there are simply too many practical considerations and obstacles to overcome for my team to effectively campaign for another term,” Mayor Harp said.
Mayor Harp said with a new firefighter labor contract pending before the Board of Alders, the next phase of Downtown Crossing just underway, construction of the Q House started, Yale New Haven Health’s $838 million neuroscience center ramping up, and a full fall schedule still pending, it’s most important to pursue her duties as mayor and continue advancing the city’s fortunes.
Mayor Harp restated and underscored her appreciation and gratitude for the generous contribution of time and effort from supporters these past many months, and over many years.
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