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John DeStefano, Jr. (born May 11, 1955) is the current mayor of New Haven, Connecticut. He was the Democratic candidate in 2006 for Governor of Connecticut, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell.

A high-level aide under mayor Biagio DiLieto, DeStefano first ran for the mayor's office in 1989, after DiLieto announced he would not seek re-election. DeStefano won the endorsement of the New Haven Democratic Party, but was defeated in a Democratic primary by John Daniels. DeStefano ran again, successfully, in 1993. He has served seven consecutive terms, (posting his eighth mayoral election victory in November 2007) during which his efforts have included a massive overhaul of New Haven's public schools, based principally on the magnet school model, and New Haven's selection as a federal "Empowerment Zone". DeStefano is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition^[1], an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino. Recently, he has had to deal with public perceptions that violent crime is on the rise in New Haven.^[2]

On August 8, 2006 John DeStefano and defeated Mayor Dannel Malloy (D-Stamford) in the Connecticut Democratic Primary for Governor, becoming the Democratic Party's official candidate. DeStefano was defeated by the very popular Rell in the general election by one of the largest pluralities in state history ^[3] and conceded that night ^[4]. His goal was to prevent the people of Connecticut from paying for Wal-Mart healthcare, and his line was "If Wal-Mart won't cover their employee's healthcare coverage, we will. And, we'll send Wal-Mart the bill."

Following his defeat by Rell, DeStefano focused his attention on a controversial plan to issue official city ID cards to city residents, including illegal immigrants. Proponents called the cards a way for undocumented residents to gain access to city services and bank accounts (reducing illegal immigrants' potential to avoid bank fees and interest), while critics considered the cards an encouragement to illegal immigration.^[5] The city began issuing the cards on 24 July 2007.^[6]

• Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2006

• "This is a tragedy that no family should ever have to endure. This war has taken the lives of thousands of young people who are real heroes. I will keep Andre, his family and the thousands of other men and women serving in Iraq in my prayers as I urge the community to do the same."[1]

1. ^ Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members. Retrieved on June 19, 2007
2. ^ New Haven Independent.
3. ^ http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006//pages/results/states/CT/index.html
4. ^ http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-destefanohq1108.artnov08,0,426811.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
5. ^ "Residents can apply July 24 for Elm City ID" Mary E. O'Leary, New Haven Register, 5 July 2007
6. ^ "City ID program draws protests, illegal immigrants" Mary E. O'Leary, New Haven Register, 25 July 2007

• New Haven Mayor's Office
• John DeStefano for Connecticut - official campaign website
• Mayors Against Illegal Guns homepage