Garrett Forces Mayoral Primary In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — Legislative Councilwoman Lauren Garrett has secured the necessary signatures to force a primary election against Hamden Mayor Curt Balzano Leng in September. Garrett announced Tuesday that she collected more than 1,200 signatures to force her way onto the ballot for the Democratic primary on Sept. 10. She needed to collect 835 signatures by Aug. 7.

“Thanks to our volunteers and the Hamden voters who signed my petition, we have qualified for the September 10 primary!,” Garrett wrote in a post on Facebook. “We will continue the conversation of how to move Hamden forward. See you on the doors!”

Leng, who is seeking a third full-term in office, received the party's endorsement by a 34-27 margin over Garrett at the Democratic Town Committee’s convention two weeks ago. Leng was first elected mayor in May of 2015 in a special election to serve the remainder of former Mayor Scott Jackson's term after he resigned to take a position with the state. Leng went on to win the next two mayoral elections.

The winner of the primary will face Republican Jay Kaye, the party’s endorsed candidate, in the municipal election in November.