John C. Daniels

John Daniels was a mayor of New Haven, Connecticut.

Daniels, a Democrat, served in the Connecticut state senate. In 1989, he challenged incumbent Democrat Biagio DiLieto in the Democratic primary. DeLieto chose not to run and, instead, supported his aide, John DeStefano, Jr. Daniels won the hotly contested primary which, in heavily Democratic New Haven, was tantamount to winning the general election. Daniels became the city's first and only African-American mayor. He was easily reelected in 1991, stepped down after two terms and was succeeded by DeStefano.

Among Daniels' triumphs as mayor was the introduction of community based policing to deal with the growing crime and drug problems in New Haven. Under his administration, the city became a model of community policing and pioneered many police strategies later adopted by larger cities.

Before he was elected mayor, Daniels served as State Senator representing Connecticut's Tenth Senatorial District which included parts of New Haven and West Haven. He also served on the New Haven Board of Aldermen in the 1970's.

Before being elected to the Senate, Daniels taught in the West Haven School System. In the years following his term as mayor, Daniels has returned to teaching in the Hamden and East Haven Schools systems.

Daniels is a deacon at the Dixwell Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in New Haven. In 2006 the John C. Daniels Elementary School opened in his honor.