{news} Ralph Ferrucci to run as Independent, Allan Brison as Green

[David Bedell]

It's up to Ralph and the New Haven Greens to decide, but I don't see why he
couldn't run on both Green and Independent lines, as long as he's still a
registered Green.  And then there's Roger Uihlein, a friend of the Greens
who usually runs as a write-in candidate for New Haven mayor.

David Bedell

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/04/its_a_rematch.php

It's A Rematch

by Melissa Bailey | April 27, 2009 7:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

He may have no Democratic primary challenger in sight, but Mayor John
DeStefano will see a familiar face in this fall's debates and general
election: Independent Ralph Ferrucci. This time the third-party candidate
will campaign out of his home, not Rudy's bar.

Ferrucci, a perennial third-party candidate, ran two unsuccessful campaigns
for New Haven mayor in 2003 and 2007. Now, angered by the closing of three
city senior centers, he's launching a third campaign this year against
DeStefano, who's been running solo in his quest for an historic ninth
two-year term in office in a November election.

Ferrucci, who's 37, discussed his campaign in an impromptu sit-down with the
Independent Sunday at Rudy's Bar and Grill, where he used to be spotted
frequently, in all-black garb, smoking a cigarette. He ran his whole
campaign out of the Elm Street bar when he ran for mayor on the Guilty Party
ticket in 2003, polling a surprising 15 percent. That year, with no
Republicans or Greens in the mix, the general election was a two-man
faceoff. So far, after two potential contenders dropped out of the running,
this year looks like a rematch.

To gear up for the contest, Ferrucci said he's upgrading his campaign
headquarters from the tables of Rudy's to new digs - a house he just bought
on Summit Street in Fair Haven Heights.

During the day, he's still to be found at the same place: behind the wheel
of a small truck, delivering Pepperidge Farm cookies and bread to local
stores. He works as an independent contractor covering territory in New
Haven, Hamden and Woodbridge.

Ferrucci plans to run as an Independent. He said while the Greens will be
busy defending their incumbent alderman in Ward 10, Connecticut's
Independent Party, which is concentrated in Waterbury, has pledged to
support his candidacy. Ferrucci has already taken out petitions from the
Secretary of the State's office to run. He plans to file papers with the
city clerk in the next week or two.

The perennial candidate has made five unsuccessful runs for elected office:
twice for mayor, twice for U.S. Congress and once for a U.S. Senate seat. He
saw the biggest moment of his political career in 2006, when he stood on the
stage of Hartford's Bushnell alongside Sen. Joe Lieberman and Democratic
challenger Ned Lamont in a five-way candidates' debate. Most recently, ran a
low-profile Green Party ticket campaign against against U.S. Rep. Rosa
DeLauro in 2008.

Ferrucci said he was prompted to run this year when the mayor unveiled plans
to close three senior centers in effort to balance the budget.

"Crime is high, taxes are high, and he announced he's closing senior
centers?" said Ferrucci. "That pissed me off. How can you close the senior
centers?"

The candidate said he hasn't fleshed out the details of his campaign yet,
except to say that his main focus will be taxes and crime.