Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons. Source: City of Stamford Website

Overview

We’ve talked a lot about Democratic primaries over the last couple of weeks. But there is another one we have to discuss in Stamford.

Stamford has had an active couple of Democratic primary cycles between a faction led by Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons and an opposing faction. The two factions have had a number of disagreements around a variety of issues over the past few years.

Issues included amendments to the City Charter, conduct of town endorsements, and general consensus with the Mayor or opposition.

Mayor Caroline Simmons is running for a second term. She will face the Republican-endorsed candidate Nicola Tarzia in November. Simmons did not get a primary challenge from former Stamford police sergeant Michael Loughran. Loughran told reporters, after the town committee endorsed Simmons, that he’ll gather signatures to force a primary. However, Loughran did not gather enough signatures to force a primary for the mayoral race.

However, there will be a Democratic primary on September 9th for the Stamford Board of Representatives in five districts. Some districts have an incumbent who did not receive the town endorsement and are challenging the endorsed slate.

Stamford Mayor

Caroline Simmons has been a rising star in the Connecticut Democratic Party. The former state representative won a tough 2021 race against Independent Bobby Valentine. Valentine received the support of the Republican Party and benefited from outside spending to aid him in his race. Simmons won the race 53-47 and became the first woman to win the Stamford mayoral race.

Before her mayoral tenure, she was the State Representative for the 144th District.

Simmons outlined her 2nd term priorities, which included rebuilding Westhill High School and Roxbury Elementary. She also talked about increasing investment in major infrastructure projects and the city’s parks.

Simmons has received criticism about some issues, such as a failed affordable housing proposal, zoning laws, and her opinion on the local charter revision process. However, she remains generally popular.

Charter Debate

One of the biggest recent debates in Stamford was about the city’s charter. According to city law, every ten years, the charter (which defines the functions, powers, and organizations of the city), needs to be approved by the voters.

Democrats in the city quickly split into two factions. One was led by Mayor Simmons, who told city voters to vote “no” on proposed changes set by the City’s charter revision committee and the Board of Representatives. The other faction, led by the aforementioned Board wanted city voters to vote “yes”.

Simmons and her allies wanted voters to vote “no” as the charter made it easier for residents to appeal and reverse zoning approvals for developments. In addition, they felt that several proposed provisions had issues. One was it would let any city owner sign a petition to appeal planning and zoning approvals (and not just neighbors).

Stamford and Westport are the only municipalities in the state that allow a direct appeal of planning and zoning decisions by a committee. In Stamford, that is the Board of Representatives (BOR).

A majority of the Board of Representatives and State Rep. David Michel told reporters, the proposed revisions were valuable by providing checks and balances for the people. Though the mayor said several projects couldn’t have occurred under these proposed rules, the majority leader of the BOR, Nina Sherwood, called Simmons’ fears overblown.

Simmons went to the state legislature to block some parts of the charter revision. House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) and State House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) both agreed with Simmons, saying some of the proposed charter proposals go too far and could set a dangerous precedent in other towns. They noted it would pit local home rule against state authority, and would pit slower development against ambitious development.

Though successful, many other proposals, like how much power the Board of Representatives could have, and how appointments are conducted, were still on the ballot in November of 2023. Though some criticized Simmons for not appealing to the voters directly, and her opponents called her secret measure a “rat” (as in benefiting one person or group). Some felt it was just statewide policy.

During the November vote, Simmons and her allies came out victorious, winning a 57-43 vote “no”, with a majority of the city’s voters opposing the changes to the city’s governing document. Sherwood told the press that a lot of money was spent to tell people to vote against what she believed was in the city’s best interest.

Some other controversial proposed changes included the appointment process for non-elected boards and commissions. The proposed change would give any one of the Board of Representatives the power to nominate a candidate when the mayor fails to appoint a member. Some felt it was a proposed power grab by the Board.

Democratic City Committee Primaries March 2024

The feud continued between Democrats in Stamford during the Democratic City Committee Primaries a few months later.

Not every town has this process, but in Stamford, voters elect the members who are on the city’s Democratic Party committee. This committee endorses candidates, provides candidate support, and is part of the town party leadership and strategy to mobilize and get voter engagement. Some members are part of the Board of Education, the Board of Finance, and the Board of Representatives

Most members running were split into two groups: Stamford Dems for Responsive Government, and Democrats United for Stamford. Mayor Simmons and DCC Chair Robin Druckman supported the United Team.

One of the major disagreements between the two groups was the practice of members endorsing themselves for board positions. Very important in a state where an endorsement means easier ballot access.

The United Team was taking aim at 14 members of the Board of Representatives who were on the Responsive Government Slate for being “double dippers” on endorsements. The endorsements are important for determining who gets the rubber stamp of party endorsement on the ballot for state legislature races in the city and municipal elections in 2025.

Dual Op-Eds by BOR Rep. Carl Weinberg and BOR Majority Nina Sherwood showed opposing oppositions. Weinburg targeted his colleagues for endorsing themselves. Sherwood said it’s not a pretty situation; however, the party has allowed this situation because of “predatory behavior against anyone that doesn’t toe the line“.

Members were split amongst the two sides, as they all had different perspectives on the situation they faced. Some said they wouldn’t double dip, and only retain one of their current positions; others disagreed.

During the March 2024 election, however, the United Slate swept the election. The group aligned with Mayor Simmons won 27 of the 34 seats up for grabs. The incumbent Board of Representatives fared poorly during the election, with only three of the fifteen incumbents winning their districts. Simmons now had many more of her allies on the committee.

State Reps. Ousted in 2024 Primaries

Simmons and her allies on the committee now had the votes to not give endorsements to two local state representatives with whom they had many disagreements. State Rep. David Michel and State Rep. Anabel Figueroa. Both were on the outs with the town committees, along with three other members of the State House delegation. However, out of the 9 contested primaries for State House and Senate that involved an incumbent legislator in August 2024, only Michel and Figueroa lost, signaling it was far more than just internal disagreements.

Figueroa, in particular, garnered national attention after remarks she made about her opponent, Jonathan Jacobson. Figueroa, who already looked in danger of losing her seat, told voters in a Spanish ad that, when translated, was “we cannot permit a person who is of Jewish origin, of Jewish origin, to represent our community. It’s impossible”.

Figueroa found herself in national headlines after those remarks, which were described as very antisemitic. She was encouraged to apologize, but Jacobson did not accept her initial apology until she offered an unconditional apology after she spoke with a rabbi. However the damage was done and Figueroa lost in a 37-63 landslide against Jacobson.

Michel’s opponent, Eilish Collins Main, was part of that faction that Mayor Simmons was a part of. His loss could be due to disagreements he had with Mayor Simmons, as Michel was known as a liberal Democrat, but Main was just more popular with voters and had a strong background in local politics. Michel lost by a large margin 44-56.

Who is in the September Primaries

Party-Endorsed Candidates Marked With A *

In all districts, voters have to vote for up to two candidates on their ballot.

Find the ballot on the State’s Secretary of State Website listed here.

District 5

Nicole Beckham*

Kierra Dorsey*

Bonnie Kim Campbell

District 6

Ryan Hughes*

Parker Johnson*

Lindsey Miller

Denis W. Patterson

District 10

Felix Gardner*

Stephanie Sylvestre*

Brittany Lawrence

District 13

Amiel Goldberg*

Eric Morson*

Dave Adams

District 17

Lewis Finkel*

Bobby Pavia*

Sean Boeger

Rosa Colon

Notable Points About Challenges

With all the recent infighting over the past few years, it is no surprise that challengers emerged against the party-endorsed candidates.

In the 5th District, Incumbent Campbell will challenge the endorsed slate. She was elected to the board in 2021.

Similarly, in the 6th District, Incumbent Paterson will challenge the endorsed slate. He has been on the board since 2015. He will run alongside Lindsey Miller, who was previously on the board in the neighboring 7th district for a decade before resigning due to moving out of said district.

Surprisingly, there is currently no race in the 8th district. At the last minute, Board President Nina Sherwood said she was withdrawing from the race. Former State Rep. Figueroa was looking to challenge Sherwood and her fellow endorsed member, Theo Gross; however, it looks like she did not make the ballot.

Another incumbent, Sean Boeger, will challenge the endorsed candidates in the 17th district due to how redistricting worked in 2022.

The rest of the candidates have interesting profiles and experiences that they will have to use to appeal to voters, for what is likely a very low turnout primary in September. You can find out more about the other candidates in this piece by the Stamford Advocate.

Overview

Based on recent elections, I would say that the candidates who have the party endorsement are likely to beat out their challengers, even if they are incumbents. However, I wouldn’t be too surprised if one or two incumbents make it through. I think most of the endorsed candidates will prevail at the end of the day.

Stamford has had a long history of Democratic infighting in the city, and it will only continue into the following weeks. I look forward to seeing what happens in these downballot races.

I will soon have articles on primaries we are looking at on September 9th, and will try to make some predictions in the bigger races.

Thanks for Reading!