Last week, former Mayor Edward M. O’Brien announced that he will forgo the primary, and instead will run for mayor of West Haven in the general election, Nov. 2.
“After months of speaking with city residents and more importantly, listening, it has become crystal clear that residents of West Haven have grown tired of the political climate and would rather vote for government officials on their ability and record of accomplishments than political affiliation,” said Ed O’Brien.
“Countless residents have told me that they do not like what politics has done to our city and would rather vote for a team of people that only have West Haven’s best interest at heart. I have formed a team of great civic minded people that only want what’s best for West Haven that are members of the Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties. Running in the primary makes it impossible to run as a team. However, the general election will afford all groups a seat at the table and for the first time, in West Haven’s 100-year history, give us the possibility to collaborate together regardless of political affiliation.
Ed O’Brien, a Democrat, was Mayor from 2013-2017. and is credited with bringing economic development, both large and small, to West Haven. As a former small business owner, he believes West Haven needs to create a business-friendly environment to retain and attract new businesses. His priorities would be attracting large and small-scale economic development as a way to lower taxes, increase safety, and improve education and the quality of life for all residents regardless of which, if any, political party they align with.