Stamford Advocate: Primaries likely in Stamford after DCC, RTC endorse candidates for state House, school board
By Brianna Gurciullo, Staff Writer
May 24, 2024
Eilish Collins Main
Katharine Calderwood / Contributed Photo
STAMFORD — The Stamford Democratic City Committee endorsed candidates for state House seats representing districts entirely within the city this week, and most were incumbents.
But members backed Eilish Collins Main over David Michel in the 146th District and Jonathan Jacobson over Anabel Figueroa in the 148th.
The incumbents, Michel and Figueroa, are expected to collect signatures from registered Democrats in their districts to force primary elections. Michel will need to gather about 260 signatures in his district, and Figueroa must get about 245, said Deputy Democratic Registrar of Voters Monica Di Costanzo.
Stamford Republicans, meanwhile, endorsed Jim Malerba to run in the 146th District and Olga Anastos to again try to win in the 148th District. Anastos ran unsuccessfully for the seat in a special election last year, losing to Figueroa.
DCC members endorsed state Reps. Hubert Delany, D-144; Corey Paris, D-145; and Matt Blumenthal, D-147, for reelection. Republicans backed Layne Rodney to run against Delany and former Republican Town Committee chair Fritz Blau to run against Paris for the second time.
Current RTC Chair Joe Andreana Jr. said a GOP candidate for the 147th District will be named at a later date.
The party endorsements come after a battle between Democrats for seats on the 40-member DCC. Candidates who ran on a slate supported by Chair Robin Druckman and Mayor Caroline Simmons secured a supermajority of seats on the committee earlier this year.
In a statement, Druckman said the delegates for the 146th and 148th districts “endorsed the two candidates they believed to be the most qualified to represent their district’s values and priorities, to work collaboratively with members of the Stamford delegation to advance legislation that supports our city and to serve their fellow constituents with integrity.”
Michel has represented the 146th District, which includes Shippan, the South End and much of downtown, since 2018.
“What the people should be asking is why are only myself and Anabel Figueroa being primaried, the two people who refused to toe the party line and (who) stand up for the people,” Michel said in a statement. “My six years as state representative will stand for itself as my constituents know I have gone above and beyond to represent them both individually and as a collective.”
The members of the DCC who live in the 146th District voted 5-1 to endorse Collins Main, a first-time candidate and community volunteer who has been involved in state and local Democratic campaigns.
“I have been attending events all over the district while speaking with Stamford residents about their concerns,” Collins Main said in a statement. “It’s clear that they’re ready for new leadership for the 146th state House District that will address what matters to them."
In addition to serving as the representative of the 148th state House District, which includes much of Glenbrook, the East Side and the Cove, Figueroa is a member of the Board of Representatives and the DCC. She did not immediately return a request for comment.
Jacobson, a fellow member of the Board of Representatives, won the endorsement for the 148th District seat in a 5-3 vote.
“Thank you to all the delegates who put their trust in our vision for a more accountable and transparent approach for the 148th District,” Jacobson said in a statement. “I will proudly fight every day for the Democratic values that we all support like making housing more affordable, strengthening reproductive freedom and creating an economy that works for everyone.”
The DCC also endorsed Julienne Foy, Jennifer Forman and Stephanie O’Shea for the Board of Education and Di Costanzo for Democratic registrar of voters. Board of Education President Jackie Heftman and current Democratic Registrar Ron Malloy aren’t seeking reelection.
The RTC endorsed Luisa Duran, incumbent Rebecca Hamman and Prasad Tunga for the school board and Lucy Corelli for reelection as the Republican registrar of voters.
Current Board of Education member Joshua Esses said he unsuccessfully sought the Republican endorsement for reelection but won’t pursue a primary.
Includes reporting by staff writer Ignacio Laguarda
May 24, 2024
REPORTER
Brianna Gurciullo covers local government and politics for the Stamford Advocate. A Meriden native, Brianna came to the Advocate after four years at POLITICO, where she wrote about federal transportation policy. She is always looking for a dog or cat to befriend when she is not working -- and sometimes when she is working, as evidenced by her photo.