Hamden Daily News

Election Day Preparedness

A tax-relief group changes its name and rolls up its sleeves to try to unseat a council member or two this November

By Sharon Bass

They begged for a phase-in last year after property taxes shot through their roofs after the town-wide revaluation. But only one councilperson was behind them. Feeling the current Democratic-controlled Legislative Council and Democratic mayor have let them down, lied to them and will not serve their best interests, members of Hamden Homeowners for Tax Relief gathered last night to discuss how they could break through the party machine—or at least scratch its surface.

“I think we should put all our efforts into replacing this Council. They didn’t listen to us [about a reval phase-in] and I don’t think they will now,” said Sherren Adrian.

“The only thing we did was make the current administration and Council look bad,” Kelly McCarthy said about the group’s failed phase-in attempt.

Said Mark Sanders, who spearheaded the phase-in effort, “We’ve concluded it’s time to get rid of them.”

After announcing the group’s name had been changed to Hamden Alliance for Responsible Taxation, Sanders threw out strategies to the 15 who showed up.

  1. Publicly endorse certain major-party candidates who agree with them about lowering property taxes and spending.
  2. Create their own party with their own candidates.
  3. Form a nonpartisan alliance and cross endorse candidates.

“Let’s start looking for candidates. I like it,” said Adrian.

“We need to start identifying people as soon as we can, whether it’s an independent or a disaffected Democrat,” said Sanders.

“How much will it cost?” an elderly HART member asked.

“As much as you want to spend,” said Sanders. He said “someone” was recently approached about running for mayor this year and was told he’d need $100,000 to campaign.

“How much?” a woman asked incredulously.

“You’re not going to go anywhere with less than $50,000,” another male member said.

McCarthy explained that it wasn’t realistic to try to take over the mayor’s office or the entire Council.

“Who’s weak?” said Richard D’Albis, meaning which council people would be easiest to defeat. The group agreed on Gretchen Callahan, 4th District, Mike Germano, 8th District, Willie Mewborn, 5th District, and Berita Rowe-Lewis, 3rd District.

“Any one of them could be beaten with a good candidate,” said D’Albis.

“In my opinion we’d be more effective in supporting the opposition party instead of finding our own candidates,” said Joe LeGrand.

McCarthy disagreed with supporting Republicans or Democrats. “We need to have a slate of people who aren’t beholden to a party but to the taxpayers,” she said. “It is possible for a third party to win. It’s in groups like this that it can happen.” In 2005, McCarthy narrowly lost a three-way 5th District Council race as a Green. Virtually every Democrat in every district scored big that election because of Craig Henrici’s coattail effect. He got nearly 82 percent of the vote in the general election against Republican Dick Reilly and swept everyone in.

“If you endorse a Democrat, how do you know they won’t get swallowed up by the town committee?” said Jan Barber. “[Republican Councilman Ron] Gambardella is the only one who sticks it to them. The others don’t give a damn. I don’t see any Democrats [on the Council] giving a damn, and I’m a Democrat.”

“Unfortunately, we’re going to look at Democrats with more scrutiny than independents or [candidates] from other parties because they’re the party in power,” said Sanders.

Folks nicknamed the current legislative body of 13 Dems and two Repubs the “Stepford Council,” after the 2004 movie “The Stepford Wives.”

Sanders also implored the group to attend Council and Board of Education meetings and to closely follow the budget process, which has just begun. “We want to be involved in the budget. There is a role, in theory, for the general public,” he said.

Copyright © 2007 Hamden Daily News, reprinted with permission. Originally published on 19 January 2007.

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