Elicker Endorses Sabin

by Laura Glesby

Mayor Justin Elicker endorsed Eli Sabin on Tuesday in the three-way race for a west-side state House of Representatives seat — splitting from other Democrats who have endorsed 21-term incumbent Pat Dillon.

Elicker announced his endorsement at a press conference outside Mauro Sheridan School.

Sabin, a former downtown alder, is running to represent the 92nd General Assembly District, which encompasses Edgewood, Westville, Amity, and parts of Dwight, Beaver Hills, and the Hill.

He and fellow challenger Justin Farmer, a former Hamden Legislative Council member, are both looking to unseat Dillon, a deputy majority leader and the co-chair of the Health Subcommittee of the state legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

All three are slated to compete in a Democratic primary election on Aug. 11.

At Tuesday’s press conference, Elicker pointed to Sabin’s work on the Board of Alders, particularly the “Downtown For All” legislation he stewarded that rezoned Downtown so as to permit more housing development. 

“He rolled up his sleeves, got deep into the legislation, understood the zoning better than I did, and offered practical, action-based suggestions to ensure that we had more options for affordable housing downtown,” Elicker said.

Elicker also heralded Sabin’s work advocating for school-absenteeism solutions and science-based reading curriculum reforms as chair of the alders’ Education Committee.

“We need people that are willing to call out when our state isn’t doing enough to fight back against the attacks of Donald Trump,” said Elicker. Sabin “puts in the effort, he has the intellectual capacity to find the proper solutions, and he understands the urgency.”

He noted, “I have nothing bad to say about Representative Dillon” and “I admire her service to the community.”

So far, Dillon has received the local Democratic Town Committee’s official endorsement, along with support from a handful of alders whose wards are in the district and from state Speaker of the House Matt Ritter.

Meanwhile, both Farmer and Sabin petitioned their way onto the Democratic primary ballot.

Alannah Doheny, a spokesperson for Dillon’s reelection campaign, wrote in a separate email statement sent out on Tuesday that “While disappointed by Mayor Elicker’s support of our opponent, we remain confident of our strong support across the community and we are encouraged by the endorsement of the Democrats of the 92nd District.”

Doheny wrote, “Given the mayor’s past praise for the state delegation’s success in securing an additional $22 million—including $13.9 million transferred to the Board of Education to close its deficit—it is puzzling to see that support shift after he acknowledged the delegation ‘knew the stakes and delivered’ this ‘desperately needed funding.’”

“The mayor has made his choice for the 92nd district,” New Haven DTC Chair Vinnie Mauro, who has endorsed Dillon, told the Independent in a comment Tuesday. “While primaries are always difficult, the cohesion we’ve built in our party remains strong. We heard directly from Speaker Matt Ritter on Representative Dillon’s influence in securing critical funding for the city of New Haven — and that record speaks for itself. Her work this past legislative session warrants her reelection.”

Sabin — a lifelong New Havener who graduated from Yale Law School this spring — currently works as the legislative coordinator for Connecticut Voices for Children. He said that, if elected to the state House of Representatives, he’d step down from that role to avoid a conflict of interest. He also previously directed the state legislature’s Progressive Caucus.

Prior to running for state representative, Sabin served as an alder for a total of six years, first representing Yale and Downtown’s Ward 1 and then representing Downtown and East Rock’s Ward 7. He was elected to a third two-year term as Ward 7 alder last November, but resigned hours before inauguration on Jan. 1 in order to move to Westville and run for state representative.

Sabin said that he chose to host Tuesday’s press conference outside Mauro Sheridan School because he once volunteered there as a tutor while in high school. The location represents his campaign focus on education funding, as well as the fact that “my public service journey really started right here,” he reflected.

At the press conference, Sabin praised Elicker’s focus on “coalitions” while advocating for school funding, as well as the Mayor’s commitment to “make sure that we are not letting this administration get away with the violations of the rule of law.”

“I was so proud to work with him for 6 years on the Board of Alders,” said Sabin. “And I’m so grateful to have support in this race.”

Thomas Breen contributed reporting.

Sabin speaks to over a dozen supporters who gathered at the press conference with “Eli Sabin for New Haven” signs.