New Haven, Conn. – On Tuesday, attorney Alex Taubes filed official paperwork with the City/Town Clerk’s Office to enter the 2027 mayoral race. Taubes, 37, is seeking the Democratic nomination and has named his campaign committee “Bad Mayor.” The filing marks the first formal challenge to four‑term incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker, who is running for a fifth term under the city’s newly amended charter that will create a four‑year mayoral term.
Taubes’ “Bad Mayor” Pitch
During a straight‑forward interview on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven,” Taubes explained his rationale for running. He argued that past mayors have been “good” to the “people in the room” – aldermen, governors, union leaders, and city employees – while neglecting the taxpayers who actually fund municipal services. A “bad” mayor, he said, would focus on “the people who are paying for that room to be there.”
Key Platform Points
- Casino on Ball Island: Taubes proposes converting the former English Station power plant and surrounding Ball Island into a casino, rather than the swimming pool and park that Mayor Elicker has suggested. He said developers would be invited to bid, even naming former President Donald Trump as a potential participant, noting Trump’s earlier, unsuccessful attempt to build a Bridgeport casino.
- Debt and Workforce Reduction: The candidate wants the city to refuse payment of most outstanding debts, allowing banks to sue, and to cut the municipal workforce dramatically. This would include eliminating most firefighter positions and consolidating emergency‑medical‑technician (EMT) roles, which Taubes described as a “huge waste of money.”
- Police Department Restructuring: Taubes pledged to hire a smaller number of ex‑offenders for the police force, arguing they would cost less than current officers who, he claimed, earn salaries comparable to the chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court.
- Surveillance Camera Removal: He plans to eliminate the city’s 311 license‑plate‑reading cameras, questioning who has access to the footage and suggesting possible sharing with ICE.
- End City‑Supported Composting: Taubes labeled the municipal composting program as another example of government deciding what is “good” for residents, and he intends to discontinue it.
Background and Controversy
Taubes makes his living representing plaintiffs in lawsuits against the City of New Haven and other entities, often on behalf of wrongfully imprisoned Black men or individuals alleging police mistreatment. When asked whether this legal work makes him “good” rather than “bad,” he responded, “There’s lots of people who don’t agree with what I do… A lot of people think I’m bad, and they’re right. I am.”
Potential Withdrawal
Following a semi‑viral Facebook post urging City/Town Clerk Michael Smart to run for mayor, Taubes indicated he might step aside if Smart entered the race. Smart later told the Independent he has not considered a mayoral run.
What Voters Should Know
Taubes’ filing introduces a starkly different vision for New Haven’s future, emphasizing aggressive cost‑cutting, private‑sector development, and a reduction in municipal services. Voters will have the opportunity to compare his proposals with those of incumbent Mayor Elicker, who emphasizes continued investment in public safety, infrastructure, and community amenities such as the proposed park and pool on Ball Island.
The filing deadline for mayoral candidates in New Haven is approaching, and the race is expected to draw significant attention as the city prepares for its first four‑year mayoral term under the charter amendment.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
