Support Row A Democrats
The Municipal Election is November 4th when New Britain voters will go to the polls to elect the Mayor, City Treasurer, alderpersons for Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable. Early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 2.
For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com
NEW BRITAIN – Alderman John McNamara (D-4) has received the endorsement of unions representing teachers and professionals in public and higher education in his bid for a second term on the New Britain Common Council.
The Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs) and the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut (AFT-CT) endorsed McNamara who worked for 22 years at Capital Community College as Director of Institutional Advancement.
The 4Cs (SEIU Local 1973) represents over 4,000 higher education employees in Connecticut at community colleges – now CT State – and the University of Hartford.
AFT Connecticut represents over 30,000 workers in the public and private sectors, including teachers and paraprofessionals, healthcare workers, and faculty and staff in higher education faculty and staff.
AFT Connecticut and the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) State Council have also endorsed State Rep. Robert “Bobby” Sanchez (D-25) for New Britain Mayor and members of the Democratic slate of which McNamara is a part.
In receiving the endorsement McNamara shared his priorities for New Britain including equity in school funding for the city and ensuring that economic development and affordable housing initiatives deliver benefits and opportunities for all residents. He favors stronger partnerships between community colleges and municipalities like New Britain for early college opportunities and workforce training.
“These endorsements are especially meaningful to me knowing that the faculty and staffs represented by AFT-CT and 4Cs deliver education and training for many first-generation college students and make sustainable jobs possible for working families,” said McNamara.
The Municipal Election is November 4th when New Britain voters will go to the polls to elect the Mayor, City Treasurer, alderpersons for Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable. Early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 2.
For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com
NEW BRITAIN – Alderman John McNamara (D-4) will host a Ward 4 Coffee Hour from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 18th, at the The Garage Dance Studio & Coffee Lounge, 1385 East Street.
“The coffee hour is an opportunity for residents to share concerns and hear updates on local and state issues before the November 4th election,” said McNamara who is seeking a second term representing District 12, 13 and 14 on the Common Council.
Alderman McNamara has previously held four constituent meetings in Ward 4 during the current term addressing flooding, traffic and public safety, education and city budget issues. The ward encompasses the Belvidere neighborhood near Central Connecticut State University, streets between Farmington Avenue and Stanley Street and the Brittany Farms neighborhood on the West Hartford border.
Participating in the coffee hour will be State Representative David DeFronzo (D-26) whose assembly district encompasses all of Ward 4.
The Municipal Election is November 4th when New Britain voters will go to the polls to elect the Mayor, City Treasurer, alderpersons for Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable. Early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 2.
For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com
The Connecticut SEIU State Council (Service Employees International Union) and District 1199 New England have endorsed New Britain Alderman John McNamara (D-4) for a second term on the New Britain Common Council in the November 4th municipal election.
The SEIU State Council includes five member unions whose members include workers in health care, public services, property services and community college faculty and staff. SEIU 1199 New England represents 26,000 nurses and health care personnel.
“I am honored to receive the endorsements from labor organizations whose members, including New Britain residents, deliver vital services and care that keep our communities healthy and safe,” said McNamara.
McNamara, the Common Council Majority Leader, received the endorsements after sharing his priorities for a second term including the development of affordable housing and equitable funding for public schools.
“The Common Council needs to address the housing crisis by encouraging and approving affordable housing, making the fair rent commission ordinance stronger and beefing up code enforcement,” McNamara stated. On public school funding, McNamara said “New Britain ranks 160th in Connecticut in local aid. Over 12 years local school aid has been flat funded. Education needs to be a greater priority in future budgets and in pushing for educational cost sharing and tax reform that will make funding for schools equitable regardless of zip code.”
McNamara worked as Institutional advancement director at Capital Community College (now known as CT State Capital) for 22 years before retiring in early 2022. At Capital, McNamara was elected to the Congress of CT Community Colleges (4Cs) SEIU Local 1973 Delegate Assembly representing faculty and staff on the campus. Previously, McNamara received endorsements of the CSEA Local 2001 union and Democratic Municipal Officials , a nationwide group of local and county elected officials.
New Britain’s Ward 4 is the area that includes the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) spreading north and west to Brittany Farms and Batterson Park.
paid for by McNamara 4 Council. Michael McNamara, Treasurer.
Approved by John McNamara
Information: 860-416-0665
The 2025 municipal campaign is in its final weeks, and your support and involvement will be the margin of difference in electing a Democratic Mayor and Democratic majorities on the Common Council and Board of Education.
Early voting begins at the New Britain Senior Center and Central CT State University on October 20 and continues through November 2. On Election Day November 4th polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Saint Francis Church and Pulaski Middle School.
Donations to the McNamara 4 Council Committee May Be Made Here
For more information contact Alderman John McNamara at 860-416-0665 or Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com. Thank you.
Labor donated. Paid for by McNamara 4 Council. Michael McNamara, Treasurer and New Britain Democratic Town Committee, John Tully, Treasurer. Approved by candidates.
Connecticut’s Service Employees International Union (CSEA-SEIU, Local 2001) has endorsed Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara (D-4) in his bid for re-election to a second term on the New Britain Common Council.
CSEA SEIU Local 2001 is a union representing 25,000 Connecticut state, municipal and private employees and retirees and is part of the Service Employees International Union.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement from a union that represents employees providing critical public services for the health, education and safety of residents in New Britain and across the state,” said McNamara.
McNamara received the endorsement of the labor organization after sharing his priorities for the city, including affordable housing and fair taxes, neighborhood flood relief, equitable funding for schools and safer streets.
McNamara is serving his first term on the Common Council and is the Council’s majority leader. A former Democratic Town Chairperson, he was previously elected to the Board of Assessment Appeals and chaired the city Building Commission.
McNamara worked as Institutional advancement director at Capital Community College (now known as CT State Capital) for 22 years before retiring in early 2022. At Capital, McNamara was elected to the Congress of CT Community Colleges (4Cs) SEIU Local 1973 Delegate Assembly representing faculty and staff on the campus.
New Britain’s Ward 4 is the area that includes the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) spreading north and west to Brittany Farms and Batterson Park.
paid for by McNamara 4 Council. Michael McNamara, Treasurer.
Approved by John McNamara
Information: 860-416-0665
NEW BRITAIN – Common Council Democrats are questioning the use of $470,000 to fund construction of pickle ball courts at A.W. Stanley Park in a budget transfer resolution to be considered at the September 24th regular meeting of the Common Council.
The resolution proposes to transfer accrued revenues from the 2024-2025 fiscal year to the current budget to fund projects and purchases not covered in the current year budget totaling $5,858,459. Funding for pickle ball courts is one of nine proposed expenditures as well as the transfer of funds to “fix deficits” and align revenues and expenditures on the city’s ledger before an independent audit for the year ending June 30,2025 begins.
“We welcome the availability of unaudited fund balances from the last fiscal year to allocate funds for the Board of Education, tax stabilization and needed capital improvements,” Council President Francisco Santiago (D-5), Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3) and Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4) said in a joint statement. “The city, however, should use these general fund dollars to meet more urgent priorities other than the addition of more pickle ball courts at this time.”
Earlier this year the city administration sought $150,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the A.W. Stanley Pickle Ball Court Project in a request that also proposed use of $300,000 from the A.W. Stanley Trust Fund at an estimated cost of $450,000. The plan would construct four pickle ball courts and a tennis court at the park that currently provides swimming pools, little league fields, a playground, walking trails and a fishing pond. The Common Council, however, allocated funds to other capital improvement projects as part of the annual plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Democratic Council leaders said alternatives should be considered for using the $470,000 “that meet compelling needs in the community to prevent evictions, reduce food insecurity and improve streets and infrastructure in our neighborhoods.”
“Now we are facing federal funding cuts and harmful policies from Donald Trump and the Republican Congress. Grants for community health and immunization programs have been jeopardized, Nearly $1.5 million in federal education funds were held up creating uncertainty before the school year began. An estimated 7,000 New Britain residents will lose Medicaid benefits once the Republican “big, beautiful bill” that slashes the social safety net and cuts taxes for billionaires takes effect,” the Democratic caucus statement said.
“Spending with our limited resources should go to essential services and investments that directly improve the health and well-being of residents,” said Alderwoman Wilma Barbosa (D-2), who serves on the Council’s Administration, Finance, Law and Public Services Committee.
The Common Council meeting will be held at New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street on Wednesday, September 24th. Public participation begins at 7 p.m.
Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara has been endorsed by an organization of Democratic elected officials in his bid for a second term on the New Britain Common Council.
The Democratic Municipal Officials Organization (DMO) endorsed McNamara who is serving his first term on the Common Council and serves as Majority Leader.
DMO is a national association of elected Mayors, City Council Members, School Board Members, and other municipal leaders “who identify with the values of the Democratic Party.” It serves to “to connect, elect, and empower municipal elected officials by leveraging its national network of members, alumni, and strategic partners.”
McNamara and former Alderwoman At Large Luz Ortiz-Luna are the endorsed Democrats in the September 9th Democratic Primary in Ward 4 that includes District 12, 13 and 14. In 2023 the city changed the composition of the Common Council from a hybrid system of five at large members and two members from each of the five wards to three alderpersons in each of the wards. Parties nominate two candidates to appear on November’s ballot under the minority representation law.
McNamara welcomed the DMO endorsement saying “New Britain and municipal governments across the country are addressing aging infrastructures, the need for affordable housing and school funding issues. We face funding cuts and harmful policies from a Republican administration and Congress. DMO is a resource in these uncertain times to exchange ideas and solutions with other elected officials in the effort to sustain and build healthy communities.” McNamara participated in a DMO Leadership Council last year at the Democratic National Convention and served as a Connecticut ambassador for the organization.
In seeking a second term on the Common Council, McNamara cited his key priorities for city government over the next two years that include affordable housing and fair taxes, neighborhood flood relief, equitable funding for schools and safer streets.
The Democratic Primary for Ward 4 Common Council will be held on Tuesday, September 9th to select two nominees for the November election.
Endorsed Democrats John H. McNamara and Luz Ortiz-Luna are working as a team to earn your vote and provide responsive service for all residents in addressing neighborhood needs over the next two years.
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY – WARD 4
Tuesday, September 9. Polls Open 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
Districts 12 & 13 Vote At Saint Francis Church, 1755 Stanley Street
District 14 Vote At Pulaski Middle School, 757 Farmington Avenue
Early Voting September 2-7 New Britain Senior Center, 55 Pearl Street
Paid for by New Britain Democratic Town Committee, John Tully, Treasurer and McNamara 4 Council Committee, Michael McNamara, Treasurer. Approved by all candidates
A $70 million comprehensive renovation of the Stanley H. Holmes Elementary School on Stanley Street near A.W. Stanley Park is on schedule for re-opening in the fall of 2026.
Members of the School Building Committee toured the school construction site on August 20th and heard from Construction Manager Kamil Musical of Newfield Construction that more than half of the rebuilding and expansion of the K-5, 460-pupil school is complete.
The project adds a courtyard linking the original structure and a new, two-story wing. Spaces for individualized learning and soundproof classrooms are part of the enhancements at the school constructed in 1956. The re-design will allow school busses to enter and exit from Stanley Street instead of using adjacent residential streets for traffic flow.
Newfield Construction reports that New Britain residents comprise 14 percent of project employees and 51% are from minority groups. Building trades union members make up the work force under prevailing wage agreements.
Ninety-five (95) percent of the costs for Holmes are being met by state school construction bonds. As work continues toward completion at the end of this school year, the city has received $9,858.059 in reimbursements thus far.
Through the efforts of the city’s legislative delegation, including State Rep. Robert “Bobby” Sanchez (D-25), a former Chair and current member of the Legislature’s Education Committee, state support for school construction in New Britain has exceeded 90 percent for the Holmes, Chamberlain and Smalley school renovations in recent years. State bonds for school construction generally meet up to 80 percent of capital costs in most cities and towns.
The John Paul II School on Farmington Avenue (formerly Holy Cross School) is housing Holmes’ staff and teachers through the end of the 2025-2026 School year. JPII School has been the temporary location for schools’ undergoing construction in recent years, including the Smalley and Chamberlain elementary schools in lease agreements with Holy Cross Church and the Archdiocese of Hartford.
The School Building Committee (SBC) meets Wednesdays on a monthly basis “to oversee school building projects authorized through bond funding as approved by the New Britain Common Council.” The SBC is a key decision maker in terms of capital expenditures in city government. Once plans are approved by the Common Council and Board of Education, the SBC “engages, selects, and enters into or continues all necessary contracts with contractors, architects, landscape architects, or engineers, and within the limits of the appropriations made by the council. ” Angelo D’Alfonso is the current chairperson and Attorney Michael Carrier is Vice Chair.
This update provided by Alderman John McNamara
(Ward 4 Alderman and Common Council Majority Leader John McNamara is a Council Liaison to the School Building Committee)
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 