Elicker Announces New Haven Mayoral Run

NEW HAVEN, CT — Former mayoral candidate and alder Justin Elicker announced that he will run again for mayor this year.

Elicker ran against now-Mayor Toni Harp in 2013 in both the Democratic primary and general election.

Since then Elicker has been the executive director of the New Haven Land Trust where he quintupled the operations budget, according to the New Haven Independent. Harp announced she plans to run for a fourth term.

"I’m running for Mayor because I want my daughters to grow up in a city that provides everyone
the education and opportunities they need to be successful in life. I believe my commitment to
lifting all New Haven’s neighborhoods together, coupled with my experience in local government
and as a non-profit executive, make me the right person to restore our city’s promise," Elicker said in a campaign announcement.

Harp was a longtime state senator before winning the mayoral race. There has been a steady decline in violent crime since she took office.

The city passed an 11 percent tax increase last year and there have been a number of

New Haven has seen its credit rating downgraded in recent years with credit agencies noting the city has a sustained structural budget deficit. S&P said the city had a weak management environment with overly optimistic revenue imbalances.

Elicker lives on Orange Street with wife Natalie and daughters Molly and April and dog Captain. He previously worked as a foreign service officer in the U.S. State Department.

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