New Haven Mayors Endorse Karen

Dear Friends,

We write to you as progressive policy advocates; as partners in so many efforts on behalf of the residents of your communities and our own City; and, in keen awareness that the talents and character of those whom we elect to public office is critical to the well-being of all of Connecticut’s families.

It is for that reason we urge you and your fellow delegates to support Karen DuBois-Walton, for our Democratic Party’s endorsement for State Treasurer at the 2022 Party Convention.

Together, we three have served as Mayors of New Haven over the last 29 consecutive years.  We three have worked with Karen DuBois Walton over that time in her positions as the City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Chief of Staff to the Mayor and these past 15 years as President of Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of New Haven.

We three, better than anyone but her family, best know Karen DuBois-Walton. And we know her from her 20 years of directly working with the people of New Haven to see that they are safe; have economic and social opportunity in their lives; and, to see that kids have a better chance to do better than their parents did.

Specifically, we have worked with Karen DuBois-Walton, a colleague and a leader:  

• Who has run large, complex organizations;
• Managed hundreds of staff members;
• Formulated and overseen budgets, debt financings and assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars;
• Who has been a strong policy advocate for issues such as housing, public schools, equitable opportunity and fiscal accountability; and,
• Karen has done this through sheer persistence, unwavering integrity, leadership by example and by a strict commitment to the ethics of the best of public service.

And Karen has done this for 20 years.

Now in truth, this is the first letter that the three of us have ever written together.  But that’s what Karen does. Her leadership brings people together around the right values, a sense of hope and opportunity – and the sheer hard work to get the job done. We know. We know Karen. And we know that it matters, it really matters, who our next State Treasurer is.

Thank you for your consideration of Karen – and for all that you do in your own communities and for our State Party.

Very truly yours,

Justin Elicker

51st Mayor

2020-Present

Toni Nathaniel Harp

50th Mayor

2014-2019

John DeStefano, Jr.

49th Mayor

1994-2013