Two Yalies vie for Civin's spot on board of Alderman

While odd-numbered years are usually a barren time for politics, this year's election will probably be the most interesting in years for Yalies. Two of their very own, Julio Gonzalez, CC '99, and Robert Kokta, BK '00, are the official Democratic and Republican candidates, respectively, for the position of Ward One Alderman.

Ward One contains most of Yale's undergraduate community, including most of the residential colleges and Old Campus. It is the only ward that has consistently sent a student delegate to the Board.

While both candidates express a commitment to the City of New Haven and to the Yale community, their views and plans for changing New Haven are notably different.

"My candidacy for alderman arose after talking with friends about the problems facing our city and how the city seems unable to deal with them," Kokta, the Republican nominee, said. Specifically, Kokta cites crime around campus, the loss of local manufacturing jobs, and a "broken public education system" as chief areas of concern, and the main planks of his platform.

In contrast, Gonzalez believes that cooperation, and not radical political change, is the best means for improving New Haven. Gonzalez's primary concerns include social and economic policies, such as homelessness, the Living Wage Initiative, and police re-education, as well as more student-related concerns like the Metro Taxi monopoly and the availability of popular retail stores downtown. Gonzalez views his bid for the position of alderman as "a natural extension of things I have done in my Yale years."

The candidates' different perspectives are products of their diverse experiences with government and public service. A native of McAllen, Texas, Gonzalez asserts that his previous work in Dwight Hall social justice groups, New Haven politics, and an internship at Casa Otañal give him a unique, inside view of the city's issues. "I have a very clear sense of what is there and what will and what won't work," Gonzalez said.

Julia Tiernan/YH Democrat Julio Gonzalez, CC '99, (left) and Republican Robert Kokta, BK '00, (right) will face off for the Ward One Aldermanic seat vacated by Josh Civin, CC '96

Gonzalez worked closely with outgoing Ward One alderman, Josh Civin, CC '96, on the Living Wage Initiative. Also, Gonzalez advised other Democratic candidates in their races for a seat on the Board of Aldermen, including Jelani Lawson, MC '96, who won the Ward Two Democratic primary just two weeks ago.

Kokta, a resident of Washougal, Washington, worked over the summer in the Urban Affairs office of his congresswoman, Republican Linda Smith. Kokta is confident that his inside experience provides the perspective necessary to understand the needs of this city. He believes that this position has given him a "clear understanding of the importance of experience in political endeavors."

Gonzalez and Kokta are each aided by a committee of eight student advisers. Both have "door-belled" rooms around campus, visiting students to solicit suggestions and input on popular issues, and they also plan to post flyers around campus. There is also the possibility of a formal debate between the two candidates in October.

In the meantime, Gonzalez is hoping to break down the mystique of the Ward One aldermanship by organizing focus groups of students with similar concerns. "During the next few weeks, we'll be engaging the voters of Ward One in a discussion of the issues that impelled Julio to run," Josh Hill, TD '99, Gonzalez's campaign manager, said.

Kokta has planned a series of public speeches to achieve his primary goal of becoming visible and recognized. "We feel like we've got a plan," said Kokta adviser Larry Schooler, BK '00. "Bob will lay out his agenda item by item with bi-weekly announcements" on Cross Campus Lawn. The first of these speeches was his candidacy announcement on Wed., Sept. 17.

Surprisingly, the November election will be the first real contest either candidate has had to face since neither dealt with a primary challenger. When Civin announced that he would not seek a third term in March, three students petitioned the Ward One Democratic committee to be their representative. Gonzalez was then selected.

Over the summer, the New Haven Democratic Committee held a primary to formally select a Ward One candidate. When nobody filed against Gonzalez's bid, he became the unchallenged Democratic candidate.

Kokta is running independently of a political committee selection process. "I contacted the chairwoman of the local Republican Town Committee, Sandra Astarita, and informed her that I was going to run," Kokta said. In July, the annual New Haven Republican convention formally endorsed his bid. Kokta has also received support from the Yale College Republicans.

However, Kokta insists that he is an independent, "unbeholden to any political establishment in New Haven, independent of any party bosses." According to Schooler, the official Republican nomination "was necessary to get him on the ballot."

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