Harp “Un-Suspends” Campaign

by Paul Bass | Oct 17, 2019 4:43 pm

(50) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Politics, WNHH Radio, Campaign 2019, Joe Ugly

“I’m in it to win it,” Mayor Toni Harp declared on radio Thursday. Harp made the declaration on The Joe Ugly Show, which aired live Thursday morning on WNHH FM and uglyradio.net. The incumbent mayor was responding to a question about whether she is actively campaigning for a fourth term in the Nov. 5 general election. Harp, who lost a Sept. 10 Democratic primary to challenger Justin Elicker by 58-42 percent, will have her name appear on the general election ballot on the Working Families Party line. But she announced ton Sept. 25 that she had “suspended” her campaign. She would not actively campaign, she announced, but she would leave her name on the ballot so people could vote for her if they chose. (Read about that here.) Her plans have since changed. “I’m un-suspending it,” Harp said of her campaign. “Hundreds of people have come and asked me to run. They’ve said they got these negative destructive mailers one after after another all summer with facts that are just not facts. Fake facts. “And so I have listened to folks who’ve come to me. I have decided I am in it to win it. I’m running. “I’m running. There’s a ‘People’s Campaign’ out there. There are hundreds of people who are part of that. They think it’s important that my leadership continue because it actually reflects them and the things they want to do in the city. I’m going to respect that. I’m in it to win it. We’re going to work really hard.” Later Thursday, Harp told the Independent that she does not plan to reopen a campaign office. She does not plan to hire campaign staffers. Instead, she said, she will rely on both a political action committee that has formed since the primary — that’s the “People’s Campaign” (read about it here) — as well as “others” who will volunteer to knock on doors to try to build support for her third-party reelection bid. Harp, who has a campaign fundraiser scheduled Sunday at the Woodbridge home of a Yale-New Haven doctor, was asked if she plans to purchase campaign advertising. Her primary campaign featured TV and web commercials as well as direct-mail flyers. “Not a lot. A lot of it’s going to be people to people. We’ll have some signs. We’ll have people on the doors,” she responded. The portion of the radio interview in which she discusses her campaign plans begins at the 25-minute mark in the above podcast. Elicker Forgoes More Public Dollars Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Justin Elicker has decided not to seek or accept public financing in the general election. Elicker accepted the money during the primary campaign under the auspices of New Haven’s voluntary Democracy Fund, which offers grants and matching funds to candidates who limit individual contributions to $390 (rather than $1,000) and swear off special-interest and political action donations. Harp did not participate in the program. The Democracy Fund last month had approved a $20,000 general election campaign grant for Elicker. Even though Elicker’s not accepting more public money, he will continue limiting donations and avoiding the special-interest money, according to campaign manager Gage Frank. “We do not wish to receive the $20,000 grant,” Gage stated in a written comment. “We have enough support to do our own grassroots fundraising leading up to the November 5th General Election. Our campaign will continue to abide by the Democracy Fund rules.” Because Elicker is not participating in the program for the general election, the Democracy Fund will not be hosting a candidate debate at which Elicker would need participate as a condition of receiving money, according to Director Alyson Heimer.

Share this story with others.

Post a Comment

Commenting has closed for this entry

Comments

posted by: ronanon on October 17, 2019 4:32pm Toni Harp should give up for good. She’s done enough damage to New Haven: never stood up to the unions; meddled with the school board and appointed cronies to it; and the budget mess and tax increases under her terms are the driving force behind high rents in the city.

posted by: apriori on October 17, 2019 4:41pm I don’t expect she’ll win, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with running. Aside from the democratic principles in play, no public officer or candidate for public office should rest on their laurels, and someone else nipping at their heels ensures just that.

posted by: Noteworthy on October 17, 2019 4:47pm Lame. Hundreds have allegedly come forward…you need thousands. With all due respect….this is beyond sad. #pathetic

posted by: Samuel T. Ross-Lee on October 17, 2019 5:55pm @ronanon, I guess it’s time for Justin supporters to rev up again their negative campaigning in the NHI comment section, huh?

Rev. Ross-Lee

posted by: Thomas Alfred Paine on October 17, 2019 6:43pm This is not news. Harp’s actions have spoken louder than her words.

In many ways that has been part of the reason for her defeat in the primary.

Pushed by the People’s Campaign for Toni Harp which wanted a Harp victory more than Harp herself though possible, Harp moves forward.

Fine. So be it.

Her name was always going to be on the ballot, so the fight will go forward. The countdown is on.

Unfortunately for Harp, her new campaign friends are promoting a race-baiting campaign that is geared primarily to minority communities, the black community to be more specific. They are trying to excite black voters into coming to the polls to defend Toni Harp from what they call a “racist” campaign. This group has portrayed Harp as a black victim, a political “rape” and “lynching” victim. There has never been anything quite like this overt racial appeal to racially divide the city politically.

Toni Harp is obviously desperate. She has burned all her bridges behind her. Her actions have alienated her from the Democratic party whose leaders and top elected officials have thrown all their support to the official Democratic candidate, JUSTIN ELICKER. She is now the new “Joe Lieberman,” a persona non grata of party, a total political outsider, a politician without a party.

Toni Harp has taken very bad advice. Again.

It will be a very sad ending to a long Democratic party political career.

One last point. There is no such thing as FAKE FACTS. That is a Trumpism that no politician should want to use.

Voters in the primary made their decision based on facts. They will do so again on November 5th.

posted by: Twentyniner on October 17, 2019 7:34pm Just stop it already!

posted by: Samuel T. Ross-Lee on October 17, 2019 7:48pm Annnnnnd Their Off….. LoL Rev. Ross-Lee

posted by: Patricia Kane on October 17, 2019 7:55pm @BetweenTwoRocks: Love the art work! very clever.

posted by: ElmUrbanist on October 17, 2019 8:01pm I wrote a long comment but then I realized that this would be unlikely to actually convince anyone on here. I’m tired of this election.

posted by: Checking on October 17, 2019 8:20pm Rev. You seemed to have missed Alex’s month long airing of grievances. This is the Festivus campaign leveling racial complaints against the 125,000 city residents who didn’t vote for her. The defenses are lame

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 17, 2019 8:29pm The ‘Sore Loser’ Waffle? Where can I buy one!

posted by: Kevin McCarthy on October 17, 2019 8:36pm A priori, Mayor Harp has every right to resume her campaign. But the time she spends campaigning is time she cannot spend dealing with the problems of the city schools, lead paint, etc. She is highly competent, but cannot be two places at the same time.

posted by: thecove on October 17, 2019 9:00pm This is politics in the 2000’s where candidates rarely concede, even if it fosters party divisiveness. But the Mayor has every right to run, especially given her many years of public service. Whether you like the Mayor or not, it’s a tough job that requires 12+ hours a day, everyday. Let it play out.

posted by: Stephen Harris on October 17, 2019 9:02pm Toni won’t win. This is just a vanity project and a sad end to a good career.

posted by: alex on October 17, 2019 9:08pm Kevin, The People’s Campaign will do the campaigning. And by continuing her campaign she ensures that campaigning continues in this city that touches voters, listens to their concerns, and helps them amplify their voices by turning out their votes. That is a Good Thing for New Haven. Bravo Mayor Harp! The #RunToniRun Movement has already: 1) Dispelled lies about Mayor Harp’s record and the negative campaigning of the Elicker campaign;

2) Joined together hundreds of New Haven residents working together around the positive accomplishments and agenda of the Harp Administration;

3) Inspired Mayor Harp to continue campaigning to WIN on Tuesday, November 5 and continue her legacy and record of progress; and

4) Saved City Taxpayers $20,000 by getting Elicker to return the Democracy Fund money he was holding hostage over the Mayor’s decision to continue. By accomplishing these goals, we have shown that the People’s Campaign is viable. It is now on us to work hard, as the mayor said, between now and Tuesday, November 5 to make it happen. Forward! Not one step back! #peoplescampaign

posted by: Thomas Alfred Paine on October 17, 2019 9:28pm Despite the futility of winning this race, I believe most people in this city, including this writer, believe that Toni Harp has the right to run.

This run for Harp however will cost her much more than money.

Many residents just don’t like the mixed signals of suspending her campaign, calling on the Board of Aldermen to fund a transition, and then un-suspending her suspended campaign.

Many do not like the racial tone and tenor of the campaign. Despite what Harp, Alex and the People’s Campaign for Toni Harp and others say, the Harp campaign was the only campaign to inject race, race-baiting, racial animosity and division in this race.

There may be extreme differences over policy between the candidates, and some people may have had difficulty handling the truth, but there was no attempt by the Elicker campaign to make race an issue. In fact, the Elicker campaign was very sensitive to racial matters and worked diligently to avoid that landmine, only to have the Harp campaign throw it in Elicker’s face several times in an attempt to scare black people from voting for Elicker.

That is what the record shows to those who have paid close attention.

To Rev. Ross-Lee, there is nothing negative about exposing the truth.

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 17, 2019 9:30pm Alex, Interesting spin, but it’s difficult to return money that you never received to begin with!

posted by: WSQres on October 17, 2019 11:34pm She comes across as a flip flopper now, does she not? As she is still likely to lose the general election I think she will leave office looking like a bit of a sore loser by continuing this run.

posted by: alex on October 17, 2019 11:50pm The problem with all of the commentary about why Mayor Harp shouldn’t run is that it’s about how it would “look.” Mayor Harp doesn’t care how it looks! She cares about what’s right. And what’s right is to reach out to every corner of this city with a positive message that emphasizes the progress and accomplishments that have been made over the past six years. It’s time to correct the record.

posted by: strangefruit on October 18, 2019 12:06am The People’s Campaign seems to be a stunt to get Alex to not receive the $20,000 from The Democracy Fund in addition to prevent their from being a debate between the two candidates

posted by: Dennis Serf on October 18, 2019 2:12am Alex: ‘Mayor Harp doesn’t care how it looks!’ For once, we agree! Dennis Serfilippi

posted by: duncanidaho645 on October 18, 2019 4:07am She probably received legal advice about accepting and spending campaign funds in bad faith.

posted by: Christopher Schaefer “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.” - attributed to Mark Twain

posted by: CityYankee on October 18, 2019 5:38am What a joke NH is. Not to be taken seriously. What a pathetic way to end a career, Toni Harp! NH deserves to have you win so you can finish wrecking what’s left of the city

posted by: RetiredGuy If New Haven doesn’t work out, there’s still time for Mayor Harp to enter the Democratic Presidential primaries.

posted by: Ravenclaw on October 18, 2019 9:09am Mayor Harp has every right to run for re-election, and it is convenient for her that her name will be on the ballot despite losing the primary and without collecting lots of signatures. Of course her way of doing so - suspending the campaign, then suddenly reviving it - is going to raise questions. Was there really a huge groundswell of support from all over? “Hundreds” doesn’t quite sound like it, but maybe. Is she gravely misinterpreting the encouragement she has received, believing it represents something big when it doesn’t? Disturbing if true, but who knows? Is she responding to the pleas of a smallish cabal of folks who “do business” with City Hall and fear being frozen out, possibly even investigated, should a reform candidate come in? Most likely not, since she’s unlikely to win anyway, but possible I guess. The one clever aspect of this is that the Elicker campaign and his many supporters were lulled into a false sense of security, which might suppress turnout on election day, which would work in favor of The Machine. And Harp is the machine candidate, after all - not any kind of outsider or reformer. If she’s smart, she’ll disavow the near-lies and near-slander spewed forth by her supporter Alex on this site. And refrain from any more scurrilous attack ads. We’ll see.

posted by: EarlyBird on October 18, 2019 9:17am Alex - your boosterism of Harp borders on the compulsive. Are you the same person who, a few years ago in comment after comment on the NHI, insisted that gas prices were going to $15 a gallon within the year?

posted by: RussellMama on October 18, 2019 9:44am Hi Harp Supporters! Here’s your chance! I am an Elicker supporter. What are these lies from the summer? I’ve only heard that there are lies, but I don’t know what they are. I work for New Haven Public Schools and live in New Haven, and I haven’t been impressed with Harp’s record on the BOE or with some of her appointees. Here is your chance. Convince me now.

posted by: alex on October 18, 2019 10:41am Mayor Harp discusses some of the false and misleading mailers in the interview. The Elicker supporters now flooding in here to troll and make sarcastic comments clearly didn’t listen to the interview. Mayor Harp is no machine candidate. She is a People’s candidate. This is a People’s Campaign. Its founders do no business with the city and have no intention to do any business with the city. We don’t have any money. We go door to door and make phone calls and spread the truth about our community. We’re tired of being lied to. We are tired of the belittling and mocking of New Haven and our mayor. We are tired of the disrespect shown toward this 72-year old elder first black woman Mayor of New Haven. We are tired of the name calling and corruption allegations without proof. Mayor Harp is an upright and honest woman of integrity. And if the vote turnout is high on November 5 — I predict higher than september 10 — Mayor Harp will win!

posted by: newhavenlives on October 18, 2019 10:44am Betweentworocks-

That is dope. RussellMama-

Girl bye😒.

posted by: Sean O'Brien Every time I read the words “People’s Campaign” in this context I literally, physically cringe.

posted by: ctddw on October 18, 2019 12:16pm LOL she is going to campaign and run again because of FAKE news ....sound familiar….she must have found some more money to be gained or more nepotism needed. Lamont must not have a job ready for her yet.

posted by: beyonddiscussion on October 18, 2019 2:32pm The facts are the facts, and they haven’t changed since the primary. The Mayor gave us an 11 percent tax hike! She considered turning the city’s finances over to the state. Ultimately she borrowed millions to keep the city going. City pensions are about 38 percent funded! Our school system is totally dysfunctional. The Mayor overruled citizens to hire a one year disaster of a Superintendent. Police, fire and other talented city personnel have fled because of her mismanagement. The lack of enforcement of lead paint laws has jeopardized the safety of our kids. Give her two more years and this city may be beyond repair. It is time for a change and everyone seems to know that but the Mayor and her zealots.

posted by: SparkJames on October 18, 2019 5:25pm “alex” did this. I for one think he should go back to Madison. He spread endless fake news on social media.

posted by: NewHavenRaven on October 18, 2019 5:40pm How much more damage is her administration going to do to this city? Arrests, coverups, FBI investigations, blatant disregard of spending. Enough is enough. Toni please ride out into the sunset. You have your health, you have your family and friends. Please go enjoy life. Spend time as an adjunct professor or guest lecturer. Volunteer. Something similar. You’ve accomplished some good things as well but it’s time to move on.

posted by: New Haven Taxpayer on October 18, 2019 10:14pm Yes Ms. Harp has every right to run.

But just because she has the right, does not make it right.

She has been supported and benefited from the Democratic party and claimed to be a life long democrat, until they stopped supporting her and now everyone is out to get her….?

She should show the loyalty that was shown her for 20+ years. Accept the inevitable and help usher in the next administration. But no, she is all about HER not the City, not the Party. When she loses by 26% I will laugh, and she will look the fool, by her own choice. Sad.

posted by: BFLY on October 18, 2019 11:12pm Alex, Can you tell me what a Working Families “Democrat” party is? Toni has changed her name of the party in her interview with WTNH yesterday….hmmmm Are the Working Families Party aware of the change and does that change the endorsement? TH words:

“I’m actually running on the Working Families Party on the ballot but I am a Working Families Democrat,” said Harp Democrats have spoken in the primary her line on the ballot is not the Democratic.She slid it in IMO it was to cause confusion and to deter democratic voters to vote for her.. Justin Elicker is the only Democratic candidate running for mayor!

Wow Slickie

posted by: JoeChi on October 19, 2019 2:28am “the People, the People” WHat people!? She lost the primary, as the INCUMBENT, with the endorsement of the Party! Clearly the people have already spoken, and this is a pathetic last minute effort to try to force her on them anyway. It’s pathetic, and a slap in the face to to Party. Alex, you’re not even from New Haven and she doesn’t even live there, so cut it out with all the “our city our city” bs.

posted by: alex on October 20, 2019 1:48am BFLY, I fail to see the confusion here. The whole point of the Working Families Party is that it is for Democrats

Who Earn

The Support of Working Families Mayor Harp has been a Democrat as long as she has been a voter. She has been a loyal Democrat. And she earned the Working Families line in this unique mayoral election. Nothing complicated about that at all.

1 City

1 C - Toni Harp!

posted by: Checking on October 20, 2019 9:43am Alex, She is opposing and spewing lies against the Democratic nominee who beat her by 20 points. Don’t act like this stupid Few People’s Campaign has anything to do with the party. You are becoming a horrendous and frequent liar. Are you trying to win the Bahgdad Bob Award?

posted by: alex on October 20, 2019 10:17am Checking, Do you think childish name-calling is going to silence me? Do you really honestly believe that? The People’s Campaign will stay focused on telling the positive truths of the last six years in New Haven. I really couldn’t care less what a bunch of anonymous commenters say about me rudely on the Internet.

posted by: Checking on October 20, 2019 1:10pm I think Nov. 5 will stop you (if you possess enough wisdom to shut up for a while and lick your self-inflicted wounds).

posted by: Conscience on October 20, 2019 2:07pm Envelope please. Thanks to the brilliance and insight of my fellow commenter, Checking on, I hereby nominate Alex for the first Baghdad Bob Award in the Western Hemisphere. Having won the Alfred E. Newman Award, the Chicken Little Award, and the Boy Who Cried Wolf Award, it is only fitting that we bestow this highest of accolades on a young man who clings ferociously to myths and falsehoods in the service of a friend, group, or organization. I am hoping that Alex can win this honor by a landslide so that no other competitor would dare challenge him going forward. A vote for Alex is, who knows?

posted by: alex on October 20, 2019 4:14pm What’s the award given out to a member of the Board of Education who goes online to make anonymous comments name-calling and telling others to “shut up”? Doesn’t sound like someone I’d want teaching lessons to my children…

posted by: John Champion on October 20, 2019 5:04pm Alex has modeled his “advocacy” style after Roy Cohn. Never let the truth get in the way of sounding off.

posted by: BFLY on October 20, 2019 8:12pm Alex is making reference to the anonymous female board of education member who comments on NHI, whom has a close family relationship with Harp that calls people paid trolls and makes racist posts about “white identity politics”. Hmmm Really Alex, NHI allows everyone to remain anonymous but when defeat in debate arises…here comes the name calling.. Alex was anonymous too until everyone figured out who he was and the rest is history…

posted by: OhHum on October 21, 2019 4:18pm It’s unfortunate that it’s too late for the Republicans to run a candidate. With the Democratic party in New Haven in such disarray It would have been interesting to see them come in second in a three way race this year.

posted by: SparkJames on October 24, 2019 11:13am “alex” did all this for himself. Toni nor Emma seemed to be on board, but then “alex” then got to work online, 24/7, trolling, and purporting to be a supporter and lover of the mayor… while really just doing this as a personal project at the expense of New Haven democrats. “Irl trolling” Write in Seth Poole if you want a people’s candidate. He’s registered as a write in candidate and is a decent human being running for the right reasons.