HAMDEN – Voters in Hamden chose a new mayor Thursday.
Three candidates were on the ballot to replace former three-term mayor Scott Jackson, who announced his resignation in March to take a position in Gov. Dan Malloy’s budget office (formally known as the office of Policy and Management). Jackson’s resignation took effect April 16, and since then, the president of the legislative council, Jim Pascarella, has served as interim mayor.
Endorsed Democratic candidate Curt Balzano Leng, endorsed Republican candidate Bob Anthony, and petitioning candidate George Levinson appeared on the ballot.
In the end, voters picked Curt Leng to run their town.
Before the election began on Thursday, the candidates were hopeful for a win.
“I feel good,” Anthony, a retired Hamden firefighter, said. “Unfortunately this came up very quickly. There was not a lot of time to prepare. We were gearing up for November. I talked to a lot of people who are not happy—that feel the way I do.”
The election came up quickly because Jackson’s departure was sudden, and local laws require the mayor’s office to be filled with a special election quickly.
“Democrats were probably a little more prepared than we were,” Anthony said.
“I’m feeling very good,” said Leng, who has served as the chief administrative officer of the town, working as the mayor’s right hand man. “I’ve knocked on almost 1,500 doors and the feedback has been very positive.”
One candidate isn’t as confident as the others.
“I am feeling very positive about the outcome,” Levinson, who worked for many years as an engineer, said. “I do not necessarily expect to win, I am going up against two organized parties that – particularly the Democrats who are spending an incredible amount of money to win this election. I spent next to nothing.”
Levinson said he was never involved in politics, this is the first time he has run for elected office.
“I think it would be miraculous if I won, but I do expect to make a good showing at the least,” Levinson said.
It is unusual for a mayoral election to be held on a Thursday in May, and some say that will effect voter turnout.
Leng predicts the turnout will be higher than initially expected, but not as high as a general election (typically held on a Tuesday in November).
The winner of the election will be mayor until November, when the general election will be held, as it does every two years.
Leng and Anthony say they do plan to run in November– Levinson said he is considering a run.
