Hamden Democratic Primary: Garrett Seeks Mayoral Nomination

HAMDEN, CT — This year's Democratic Primary election features a three-way race for mayor.

Former Legislative Councilwoman Lauren Garrett, 40, received the Democratic Town Committee's endorsement in July.

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Curt Balzano Leng did not seek the party's endorsement and is seeking a fourth full-term in office through the primary election. Peter Cyr also petitioned his way onto the ballot.

Garrett forced a primary against Leng in 2019 after he received the party's endorsement by a 34-27 margin. Leng won the primary election by winning each of the nine voting districts.

Patch asked the candidates to answer questions about their campaigns ahead of the primary, which is slated for Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Lauren Garrett

Occupation: Real estate investor

Family: Abby (16) and Connor (14) go to Hamden High School and Bobby (9) goes to West Woods School.

Experience: Inland Wetlands Commissioner 2016-2017. Hamden Legislative Council 2017-2019

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

Taxes! Under the Leng tenure, taxes have gone up 25%. We have over $1.3 billion in liabilities and the most debt per capita of any municipality in the state. Our bond rating is one step above junk bond status. Our fund balance went negative in the most recent audit and is now only being propped up with more borrowed money. We cannot trust the current administration to clean up the mess they have created. Mayor Leng has been involved in shaping our town’s financial strategy for over a decade. He has had 6 years as mayor to right the ship. He has failed. We need a new path forward. We need to stop awarding contracts based on political connections. Our contracts for service need to get sent out to bid in a competitive bid process. We need to negotiate costs for savings. We need to stop giving out excessive, voluntary raises to department heads. This past year, while many companies laid-off workers and faced hiring freezes, the Leng administration gave out voluntary raises, including a raise of $25,000! The good news is that Hamden has an opportunity to invest the federal American recovery funds into infrastructure and economic development. Unfortunately, the Leng administration has already used $6 million of the American Recovery funds to plug holes in their budget. We need responsible, stable leadership to allocate the rest of this funding so we don’t waste any more opportunities. Cuts and savings will not be enough to address our financial challenges. Economic development and a thriving local economy will improve people’s lives AND reduce our dependence on property taxes to manage town finances. I have spoken with people who tried opening a business in Hamden but were ignored. For example, Counterweight, a popular Hamden business that was looking to expand, reached a dead end so we lost them to a neighboring town. My experience on the Legislative Council showed me what is working well and not so well in our town. As a small business owner, I have paid off debt, grown my business, and and negotiated good deals - all things we need to do in Hamden. I have a skilled and hard-working team in place to get to work on day one. You can trust that I will work with other small businesses to guide them through the process of realizing their dream while at the same time growing our grandlist.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

My experience on the Legislative Council showed me what is working well and not so well in our town. As a small business owner, I have paid off debt, grown my business, and negotiated good deals - all things we need to do in Hamden. I have a skilled and hard-working team in place to get to work on day one. You can trust that I will work with other small businesses to guide them through the process of realizing their dream while at the same time growing our grandlist. As a parent with 3 kids in Hamden Public Schools, and I am deeply invested in all of our student outcomes. These experiences set me apart from the other candidates.

Accomplishments:

My work on the Legislative Council in uncovering the financial shell games and clearly communicating them to the community has earned the trust of the voters. I run a small business that is successful because of careful planning and good financial strategy. My organizing and advocacy around issues lets voters know where I’ll stand.

Other issues:

Education and Environment. I believe that equitable access to education is a fundamental right of all children. I will collaborate with Hamden Public School (HPS) administration, educators, and families to create an optimal learning environment that allows all students to reach their potential. I will make our town more environmentally sustainable and save money at the same time.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

It has been my pleasure to speak with thousands of Hamden residents over the past several months. It is clear that our residents are ready for change and they are going to vote for change. Please go to LaurenforHamden.com to find out more about my vision and to be a part of the change that my team and I will bring to our town. And don’t forget to Vote Row A on September 14th.