Kerri Provost at Real Hartford has the scoop on last night’s public forum for Hartford City Council candidates, hosted at the city’s public library in conjunction with neighborhood coalition Hartford 2000 and the MetroHartford Alliance, moderated by NBC 30’s Tom Monahan.

Provost notes that “not even half of the candidates” were present, and then lists the roster of candidates there as follows: Pedro Segarra (D), Matthew Ritter (D), Kevin Carroll (R), John Lupo (R), Michael Lupo (R ), Veronica Airey-Wilson (R), Thom Page (D), Kenneth Kennedy (D), James Boucher (D), rJo Winch (D), Gerald Pleasant (R), Michael McGarry (R), Calixto Torres (D), and Larry Deutsch (WFP).

A variety of subjects were touched upon, but I particularly like learning about the open-ended portions of these types of events. From Provost’s post:

In the final segment, questions from audience members were read. Citing the recent [Abraham] Giles contract scandal and strong mayor charter, one member wanted to know why voters should re-elect any incumbent.

Segarra pointed out that he does not always agree with everything the other council members or the mayor does. Kennedy and Page advocated changing the charter, though Airey-Wilson would not go that far, saying that residents would ultimately decide that.

Most of [Aiery-Wilson's] comments sounded very “maintain status quo at all costs,” but one refreshing answer was how she thinks that if there is luxury housing in one area, low and moderate-priced housing should be available in the same area, including downtown. She did not want to see all of the low-income housing relegated to one or two areas.

Page remarked that the “council has the authority to do things, but hasn’t done them.” McGarry sidestepped the issue, expressing a desire for more Republicans on the council.

Provost also mentions that two candidates for the Working Families Party, Luis Cotto and Urania Petit, running along with Deutsch, were not present. But all three received some indymedia coverage on Christine Stuart’s CT News Junkie early this week, capturing their Saturday morning rally at Aqui Me Quedo restaurant on Albany Avenue, and subsequent door-to-door visits to talk about campaign issues. From that post:

Luis Cotto, co-owner of the popular La Paloma Sabanera coffeehouse on Capitol Ave., said he fought hard to get his party to kick-off the campaign in the neighborhood where he grew up. He said traditional politicians don’t come to this neighborhood off Albany Avenue because there’s the perception that people here don’t vote. He speculated that it may only be a perception, but voters probably don’t vote because they’re disenfranchised by local politicians.

Cotto said the Working Families Party candidates are running to bring those types of voters back to the polls by giving them a voice on the city council. He said the Working Families Party candidates…will offer voters that independent voice.

Petit said Saturday that her candidacy is personal and political. She said her sister who lives in St. Lucia called recently and asked her why she’s running for office in Hartford when she’s a native of St. Lucia. “Hartford is where I live. I have to make it a better, safe place to live,” she said. She said it’s personal because she wants to make the city a better place to live for her family and it’s political because she wants to make it a better place for all Hartford’s residents.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2007 at 12:19 pm and is filed under City Council, Community building, Demographics, Events, Hartford, Libraries, North End, Public spaces, Urban Compass.