The Yale College Republicans will field Paul Chandler ’14 in November’s Ward 1 aldermanic election.
Chandler, a registered independent from Westport, is the first candidate to enter the race. Ward 1 has not seen a Republican contestant since 1993, a record of Democratic dominance that Chandler’s campaign manager, Ben Mallet ’16, said the YCR is hoping to overcome.
“We trust that Yale students will look at the issues and the characters involved and make a decision that isn’t just based on party lines,” Mallet said. “We know it’s going to be an uphill battle but I think people are going to be really taken with Paul’s values and priorities.”
Mallet said Chandler was selected among a pool of six interested campus Republicans because of his experience growing up near New Haven and his passion for the issues, notably education. As a high school student, Chandler spent time mentoring in the New Haven Public Schools, Mallet said.
As Chandler prepares to kick off his campaign, Democrat candidates have yet to come forward. That’s largely because current Ward 1 Alderman Sarah Eidelson ’12 has not yet announced whether she will seek a second term, a decision that will likely determine the field of other Democrats. Eidelson said Thursday she would be “honored” to continue leading the Board of Aldermen on youth issues but was not clear about her precise plans.
The filing deadline for aldermanic candidacies is Aug. 10.