It's official: New London mayoral race will be a three-way affair
Jul. 25—NEW LONDON — Democratic and Republican town committee caucuses on Tuesday set the stage for a three-way mayoral race this fall and the likelihood of Democratic primaries for two of the City Council's seven seats.
Both parties met inside the New London Senior Center with Democrats endorsing Mayor Michael Passero for a third term along with six incumbent councilors: Reona Dyess, Jocelyn Rosario, John Satti, Efrain Dominguez Jr., Alma Nartatez and Akil Peck.
The committee endorsed Board of Education member Jefferey Hart for the remaining council seat.
Democrats also endorsed incumbent school board members Bianca Alexis, Nathan Caron, Danni Cruz, Bryan Doughty and Elaine Maynard-Adams for reelection, as well as Alisha Blake and Susan Hambry for seats left open after Hart and Frank Silva opted not to seek board re-election.
Democrats currently hold all the council and school board seats.
Republicans, who met a few feet away from their Democratic counterparts inside the senior center, endorsed Beloved Grace Carter as their mayoral candidate. The group also endorsed Aaron Ide, Gina Phillips, Karen Paul, John Russell and Steve Brenek for the council race. John Martin, Lisa Martin, Marilyn Deshields and Kat Goulart were nominated for school board slots.
Goulart, the Republican committee chairwoman, said all endorsed candidates except Carter and Ide were placeholders, meaning they do not expect to campaign, win or serve.
Passero and Carter will vie for the next four-year mayoral term with New London Green Party candidate Leon "Eddie" Long. The party previously endorsed Seanice Austin for a City Council seat.
Though nominated, Democrat Mirna Martinez, a former school board president and executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Community Land Trust, did not garner enough votes for a City Council endorsement on Tuesday, but said she will seek the required number of signatures to force a Sept. 12 primary.
Democrat Shineika Fareus also failed to secure enough votes during a paper ballot vote to secure the Democratic committee's endorsement, but, like Martinez, said she'll pursue the primary petitioning route to a council seat.
Under election rules, Democratic candidates have two weeks to collect the required number of signatures, which amount to 5% of the registered Democratic voters in the city.
