Justin Farmer marked Jamaican Independence Day and the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by casting a ballot — for himself in a west-side state rep race.
Early Voting
He also encouraged fellow New Haveners to take advantage of early voting, which began on Monday. “It’s important to vote,” he said. “People have died for the opportunity to vote. Whether you engage in politics or not, politics will be done to you.”
Farmer, a former Hamden Legislative Council member, is running to represent the 92nd State House District in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary. He’s facing off incumbent State Rep. Pat Dillon and fellow challenger Eli Sabin.
New Haven has two early voting spots: the second floor of City Hall and 1 Wintergreen Ave. on Southern Connecticut State University’s (SCSU) campus.
Farmer noted that there are more native-born Jamaicans outside of Jamaica than inside. “As a diasporic people,” Farmer added, this day is an important one for plenty of people in Connecticut — including Farmer. “There’s a lot of Jamaicans here in New Haven.”
He also spoke about how Thursday happens to be the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark piece of 1960s Civil Rights legislation.
When asked about the Democratic gubernatorial primary between two-term incumbent Gov. Ned Lamont and challenger Josh Elliott, Farmer said, “I plead the 92nd!”
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
