As the Hamden mayoral election looms, Democratic candidate Lauren Garrett and Republican candidate Ron Gambardella call upon supporters to raise funds for their campaigns.
While Garrett has raised $24,980 so far, Gambardella has raised $13,260 since he started campaigning in June, according to the latest campaign financial disclosures.
Both hosted fundraising events this week. Garrett held one on Oct. 20, and Gambardella organized a gathering on Oct. 22.
Among over 130 donations Garrett collected from individual contributors, four people gave her the maximum amount of $1,000.
During the third quarter Gambardella raised $7,265 from individual contributors, and $6,000 from the Republican Town Committee (RTC), an increase from the $58.60 the candidate ended the second quarter with.
Gambardella received two maximum donations of $1,000, one was from Chair of the Hamden Police Commission Mike Iezzi. He also received contributions from other officials, including a $200 contribution from council members Marjorie Bonodies and Betty Wetmore and a $100 contribution from RTC Chair Frank LaDore.
Candidates on Row B, the Republican slate, held a wine and cheese fundraising event Friday night. Around 70 individuals RSVP’d to the invitation and, at $50 per attendee, raised about $3,500, LaDore said.
At the event, Iezzi took aim at Garrett and emphasized the importance of Gambardella’s candidacy.
“This is a very, very, mind-blowing campaign over the fact that we actually have a declared socialist coming in as mayor,” Iezzi said.
Garrett identifies herself as a progressive Democrat and has not formally adopted a socialist identity, however, three candidates on the Democratic slate have.
Councilman Justin Farmer, and first-time candidates Mariam Khan and Adbul Osmanu, are running on row A as democratic-socialist candidates, and have been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America(DSA). Farmer is campaigning as an incumbent for the fifth district; Osmanu is running in the third legislative district. Khan is campaigning for a seat on the Hamden Board of Education.
Gambardella continued the offense against Garrett, alleging that she doesn’t have the experience or knowledge necessary to be Hamden’s mayor and that she lies to the public.
“What she says publicly and what she says privately are two different things,” Gambardella said. “She wears a mask, and so we need to be cognizant of that.”
The Republican candidate then pivoted to what he would do as mayor and expressed his support for the police, and for an open forum on “thorny issues” such as marijuana and critical race theory, an approach to education examining the intersection between race and law in the U.S.
Gambardella closed his speech by continuing his attacks on Garrett and alleging that he will be victorious on election day.
“She has a very low opinion of the people,” Gambardella said. “And therefore she [believes she] has the ability, the sole authority [as mayor] to make decisions for everybody because her vision is better than everyone else. She thinks everyone here [believes in] white supremacy.”
Garrett and other candidates in Row A, on the other hand, secured an endorsement from Connecticut Attorney General William Tong at her fundraising event on Wednesday night at Democratic State Rep. Mike D’Agostino’s house.
Many Democratic state representatives and local politicians attended.
Tong said he first met Garrett when he was running for Attorney General, and they’ve been friends ever since. He said his relationship with Garrett hasn’t been “transactional” like others in politics.
“Women mayors will do it differently, and they will do it better, and they will do it collaboratively and inclusively,” Tong said. “They will see everybody and they will come to their town and their constituents with open hands and open hearts.”
Tong stressed the significance of this race and said that it’s important because “there is only one functional party” in the country right now. Tong referred to the “Stop the Steal” movement during the 2020 presidential election as evidence.
“It’s on the shoulders of [Garrett],” Tong said. “It’s not easy … but there’s nobody else to do this work, the Republicans are gone. Who you recognize as Republicans, they’re not there anymore.”
After the endorsement, Garrett thanked the attorney general and said that Tong’s work was the reason why many of the candidates got involved in politics.
“I really appreciate the work that you do,” Garrett said “You’re a firewall against Republican policies and [former President Donald] Trump and a leader in consumer protection and you really do the work that helps people, protects people.”
With all the problems Hamden is facing, Garrett said she and her team can do better.
“The old men’s club that’s been running this joint has not been doing what’s best for people,” Garrett said. “And that’s what we’re going to do now, we’re going to do what’s best for people. So I’m just really happy to have all of your support here tonight.”