Chairman Nick imposes his will once again

By Peter Stein

Why, in the midst of long papers, should any Yalie care about yet another political squabble? The reasons are twofold. First, Harp has a record of strong leadership, fighting courageously on behalf of women, poor families, and children without health insurance. She has served her district well and deserves the chance to run for re-election. Second, we should care because we have an opportunity to help restore some shred of democracy to a city notorious for its machine politics.

Perhaps in reading some Yale publications you've come across the name Nick Balletto. Balletto runs the New Haven Democratic Party machine (his official title is chairman of the Town Democratic Committee). Chairman Nick and his friends are angry at Wendell Harp, Toni Harp's husband, for backing a slate of people who challenged the party's endorsed candidates for the obscure positions of ward committee co-chairs. To retaliate against Mr. Harp, the machine is currently trying to deprive his wife of her Senate seat.

Here's where the fun begins. Part of Harp's district lies in West Haven. Therefore, Balletto needed the support of that town's Democratic Committee in order to unseat her. He bought this support by having one of his cronies in the Dixwell neighborhood resign from the State Democratic Committee so that he could give that seat to a member of the West Haven Democratic Committee.

But wait, it gets better. This move not only bought support against Harp, it also won support for Andrew Consiglio, Balletto's chum who is running for High Sheriff of New Haven County. Balletto, it should be noted, directly benefits from Consiglio's election. Sheriffs have the power to appoint deputies, a position Balletto currently holds. As deputy, he receives tens of thousands of tax dollars each year for a job whose main duty is evicting people from their homes. By securing Consiglio as sheriff, Balletto insures his own financial well being.

So, at this point, we have the white machine trying to destroy the career of an effective, credible African American female state senator in the same fell swoop that it installs another one of the boys in a position that does little else but hand out patronage. Add to this putrid image of race politics the fact that many view Harp as a potential successor to U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) or even a challenger for the mayorship. By killing Harp's career now, the machine can be sure that a black woman does not reach either of those offices in the near future.

How can Balletto get away with this? Easily, because he makes the rules. Chairman Nick chooses the delegates who attend the convention that will nominate the candidate for Harp's seat. Thus, he can select individuals who will choose his candidate over Harp. Surely, though, not everyone in town is against Harp. In fact, the leaders of seven wards either seemed unsure where they stood or actively supported her. So, Chairman Nick simply refused to include those wards in the nominating process. Problem solved. Ultimately, this conflict is not about whether Toni Harp wins re-election or not--it is about whether we permit a party boss to hijack our political process. The games Nick Balletto and his friends play hurt democracy and further many people's notion that it is not worth their while to participate in their government. That is the real shame.

So what can Yalies do about it? Luckily, Harp has collected enough signatures on a petition to force a primary, so voters may choose her delegates to the convention over Balletto's. The election will take place Tues., May 19. Registered New Haven voters who wish to make a difference should apply now for an absentee ballot with the Registrar of Voters. Concerned Yale students will also be going door to door with applications. Hopefully, the returned ballots will endorse the slate of candidates who represent our best notions of a democratic society.

Peter Stein is a junior in Davenport.

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