Toni Harp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toni Harp
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| 50th Mayor of New Haven | |
| In office January 1, 2014 – January 1, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | John DeStefano Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Justin Elicker |
| Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 10th district |
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| In office January 1993 – January 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Charles H. Allen III |
| Succeeded by | Gary Winfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 6, 1947 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Working Families |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Roosevelt University Yale University (M.E.D.) |
Toni Nathaniel Harp (born August 6, 1947) is an American politician. She served as the 50th Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut. Before becoming mayor, Harp was a state senator in Connecticut. She was a senator from 1993 to 2013.
Harp is a member of the Democratic Party. She lived in New Haven and represented parts of the city. She also represented part of West Haven during her time in the Connecticut Senate.
Contents
Early Life and Public Service
Toni Harp was born in San Francisco. She went to Roosevelt University for her college degree. Later, she earned a Master of Environmental Design from Yale University.
Before she became mayor, Harp served in other important roles. She was a State Senator and a New Haven Alderman. In 1992, she won the Democratic nomination for state senator. She defeated the person who held the position before her, Charles H. Allen III.
Important Bills and Ideas
In 2007, Harp suggested a bill to help families. This bill would have made the state pay for free diapers for mothers who needed help.
After the sad event at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, Senator Harp introduced another bill. This bill suggested that all Connecticut school children should have mental health screenings.
Mayor of New Haven
In the spring of 2013, Toni Harp announced her plan to run for mayor. The position of Mayor of New Haven had been held for a long time by John DeStefano, Jr..
Harp won the election against her opponent, Justin Elicker. She received 10,602 votes, which was 54.46 percent of the total. Elicker received 8,865 votes.
Re-election and Historic Wins
She was reelected in 2015. She won with a large majority of 88.83 percent of the votes. She ran against three independent candidates that year.
Harp was elected for a third term in 2017. She won with 77.61 percent of the vote. She ran against an independent candidate and a Working Families Party candidate.
Toni Harp made history as Mayor of New Haven. She is the first woman to serve as mayor of the city. She is also the second African American person to hold the position. The first was John C. Daniels.
Later Elections
In April 2019, Harp announced that she wanted to run for a fourth two-year term. However, Justin Elicker, who she had beaten in 2013, won the Democratic primary election against her. Elicker received 58.8% of the votes, while Harp received 41.5%.
Harp then ran in the general election under the Working Families Party label. On November 5, she was defeated by Justin Elicker. He won with 70% of the votes, and Harp received 30%.
See also
- Connecticut Senate
