New Haven Election 2021: John Carlson Running For Mayor

NEW HAVEN, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Republican John Carlson, 52, is running for mayor of New Haven.

Occupation: Teacher

Family in government: no

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

Violent crime and I plan to hire more officers and increase patrols.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

My opponent cut millions from the NHPD's budget, wastes money in other areas, and supports increasing respiratory illness by expanding Tweed. I support the police, and would cut wasteful spending and would not have supported the current Tweed deal.

Accomplishments:

As a Dept. manager I increased profit while decreasing cost to the consumer. I've turned the NHRTC around into a functioning organization and I've gotten students to outperform the state averages in math and reading on the SBAC and CMT tests.

Other issues:

Education and accountability. I have a plan for improving NHPS and I will hold people accountable to do the jobs they were hired to do.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Born, raised and spent a lifetime in the Hill Section of New Haven. Dad was a WWII veteran and retired as a NHPS school custodian from Prince ST school and my mom was a "lunch lady" at Kimberly School. She was a devout Catholic, and parishioner of St. Peter's and grew up on Washington Ave.