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.
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.
Four ways to help…….
Contact voters by canvassing or by phone
Reach out to your family, friends and neighbors to vote by November 4th
Put up a sign for Row A candidates
Make a donation to help get out the vote
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.
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.
Endorsed Democrats – Row A
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
Democratic Alderman John McNamara (D-4), seeking a second, two-year term on the New Britain Common Council, says key priorities for city government over the next two years include affordable housing and fair taxes, neighborhood flood relief, equitable funding for schools and safer streets.
2025 Municipal Campaign
“Council Democrats have sought to restore checks and balances to City Hall with more transparency in budgeting and to make municipal government more responsive to neighborhood needs during this term,” said McNamara. “More progress can be made by electing a Democratic Mayor and a stronger Democratic majority on the Council and Board of Education this year. “
Key Issues
Housing And Taxes: Services for unhoused individuals and families have been stretched to the limit in New Britain. The executive director of the Friendship Service Center records increasing numbers of residents displaced because of higher rents. While the current city administration touts luxury units with 26-year tax breaks coming on the market, affordable housing is hard to find even for those with vouchers (Section 8). The Council needs to address the housing crisis by encouraging and approving affordable developments, making the fair rent commission ordinance stronger (to include tenant unions at large, multi unit apartments) and beefing up code enforcement. Additional options need to be considered for property tax relief for seniors, veterans & limited income individuals based on ability to pay.
Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara
Neighborhood Flood Relief. Addressing stormwater/sewage problems caused by a dilapidated infrastructure is a priority in my ward and throughout the city. Heavy rains have repeatedly caused flooding, public health risks and damages to certain neighborhoods over the last three years, including mine. For years City Hall turned a deaf ear to neighborhoods hit by damage to property and public health, but some progress has been made. Stormwater upgrades need to be at top of the capital improvement list along with advancing green infrastructure. Over the last two years funds have been secured to address the issue in the Overlook-McKinley neighborhood and efforts are accelerating to raise remaining funds in the Allen Street-Belvidere nieghborhood through the efforts of the city’s legislative delegation.
Public School Funding. At $16,814 per pupil New Britain ranks 160th in CT in local aid, below the state median of $21,676. Over 12 years local school aid has been flat funded in the current Mayor’s budgets. Education needs to be a greater priority in future budgets. The push for educational cost sharing and tax reform that will make funding for schools equitable regardless of zip code must continue. Over-reliance on property taxes must end.
Traffic Safety Action Plan (Vision Zero) The Common Council took the first step of the Vision Zero initiative last December by adopting a Council resolution, introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3), that accepted a federal transportation grant and established the task force “to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan to identify projects and strategies that will reduce fatalities and serious injuries at high crash locations in New Britain.” On June 11th the Common Council adopted a new ordinance to allow the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices (ATESD) under a state law enabling communities to use the video technology as part of safety action plans. Democrats look forward to implementation of traffic calming measures to curb speeding and dangerous driving and reach the Vision Zero goals.
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.
The McNamara 4 Council Committee is sponsoring the event for Alderman John McNamara, the Council Majority Leader, who has been endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee and is seeking a second, two-year term.
A complimentary assortment of Roma pizzas and wings will be served. Updates on issues of importance to Ward 4 will be shared including stormwater/sewage improvements, the traffic safety action plan and education funding.
Ward 4 Democrats’ Pizza on the Patio, at the Roma, Monday July 28th, 6-8 p.m.
In accepting the Democratic Party’s endorsement and thanking the membership McNamara said, “Council Democrats have sought to restore checks and balances to City Hall with more transparency in budgeting and to be more responsive to neighborhood needs that include safety on our streets, addressing critical infrastructure improvements and reducing regressive taxes.”
“Democrats this year supported a mill rate decrease after two years of record tax increases,” McNamara said. “But our efforts to reduce City Hall administrative costs, increase a fund for services to prevent evictions, give the public schools more in direct operating support and provide additional funds for the public library were vetoed. The work is far from over. I am confident more progress can be made by electing a Democratic Mayor and a strong Democratic majority on the Council.” Donations of $25 will be appreciated at the Pizza on the Patio event. The maximum individual contribution is $250. To volunteer or for more information call: 860-416-0665 Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com.
Paid for by McNamara 4 Council Committee. Michael McNamara, Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 