Leng Keeps ‘Options Open’ As Potential Write-In Candidate

HAMDEN, CT — Mayor Curt Balzano Leng is keeping “all options open” regarding a potential run for re-election as a write-in candidate in the upcoming municipal election.

The New Haven Register reported Thursday that Leng has registered with the Secretary of the State’s Office as a write-in candidate for the Nov. 2 election.

The news came just days after Al Lotto announced he was back in the race for mayor as a write-in candidate after previously removing himself from the ballot.

Does this mean there are suddenly four candidates vying for mayor, with Leng and Lotto joining Democrat Lauren Garrett and Republican Ron Gambardella a little more than a week before the election?

Leng, a three-term incumbent who lost to Garrett in the Democratic primary election, said Thursday that he isn’t “planning” on being a candidate and isn’t “actively or inactively” running for mayor.

He said that he’s keeping all options in case anything unlikely happens, like a candidate withdraws or drops out. In order for write-in votes to count in the election, the candidate must file appropriate paperwork with the state. The deadline to register was Oct. 19.

Leng addressed the issue in a post on Facebook after news began to circulate that he was back in the race for mayor.

“An article was written just now in the NH Register about my being a write-in candidate for Mayor,” Leng wrote in the post. “While it’s true that I submitted the required paperwork for this potential outcome, I am not planning on being a candidate in the upcoming municipal election.

“A lesson I’ve been taught well by people I respect deeply is to do your best and take every action needed to be prepared for all potential outcomes.

“Hypothetically, if one of the candidates were to withdraw, have to drop out or move to Pluto, etc; I wanted to make sure I kept the opportunity for being a choice open to consider. If these extremely unlikely events don’t occur, I will be removing my name from consideration. I’m not actively or inactively running for Mayor.

“Keeping all options open given the unorthodox election we are seeing and the very specific rules of the election process made proper preparation seem like the responsible choice.

“This is the honest reason, nothing more and nothing less. I’m sure some players will see this as some sinister plot, but when they don’t see me actively talking with my consititients, or my lawn signs being erected or mailers coming in, I trust they too will believe the truth.

“I care deeply about this Town and it’s well-being, now and into the future. Taking back-up actions was something I thought would be responsible, thoughtful and ensure preparedness.

“I can see why there was some confusion. I did hand deliver the necessary document to Hartford on the required last day on 10/19. I did it without an announcement, press release or otherwise yelling it from a rooftop, and you all know that if I am looking to get the word out on something, I typically know how to express things across a variety of platforms.

“(My mother even just called me concerned that I was running!! 😃😳)

“This action is one done in order to be prepared for any outcome, because those outcomes have serious impact on our Town and our residents. Nothing more, nothing less.”