New London — The veteran lawmaker who preceded Ernest Hewett in the 39th District House seat is endorsing another Democrat, Chris Soto, not the incumbent, in an Aug. 9 primary that will likely decide the winner of the Nov. 8 race.

Wade A. Hyslop, a former New London mayor and City Council president who was the city's state representative in Hartford for 14 years prior to Ernest Hewett winning the seat in 2004, has endorsed Hewett's opponent, political newcomer Soto.

No Republican is running in the general election on Nov. 8, and according to a spokesman at the Secretary of the State's office, the deadline for major party candidates to get on the ballot has passed.

The race between Hewett, 60, and Soto, 35, has divided city Democrats. Hewett, who is seeking a seventh term, has been endorsed by city Mayor Michael Passero and New London Democratic Town Chairman Kevin Cavanagh. Hewett said Monday that he was not taken aback by Hyslop's lack of support for him. 

"He can endorse anyone he wants; I'm not surprised," said Hewett.

"The whole time Rep. Hyslop was in Hartford, I supported him every year he was there up until he was gone, every time he ran for election, and I don't regret it one bit," he said later.

Hewett suggested the lack of endorsement is because he beat Hyslop's preferred candidate in 2004, Lloyd Beachy.

"He was Lloyd Beachy's campaign manager when I went to Hartford. I won and the rest is history," said Hewett.

Hyslop, the pastor of the city's Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for the past 39 years, announced his support for Soto in a letter to the editor of The Day.

"As someone who served as state representative of the 39th District here in New London for 14 years, I know firsthand what the job entails and what skills would make for a great representative. It is because of my experience in Hartford that I strongly support Chris Soto to become our next representative," Hyslop wrote.

He continued by saying necessary characteristics for the job include persistence, an ability to compromise, and knowing when and how to be a champion for all people. While he wrote that Soto has those qualities, he called Hewett "mediocre at best."

In a telephone interview, Hyslop said he has confidence in Soto and believes he will do more for New London than the incumbent. Soto is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and earned his master's degree in public affairs from Brown University. He is the founder and director or Higher Edge, an organization that assists first-generation and low-income students to get into college and succeed.

Hewett beat Soto 22-18 at the city Democrats' nominating caucus in May.  

The city's current mayor, Passero, is strongly behind Hewett.

"Ernest Hewett is and will always be a New London Whaler. From his days being an organizer to eliminate drugs in his neighborhood to his 12 productive years as our state representative, Ernie is always there when our city and the residents need him," Passero said in a news release.

The mayor said that the city's magnet school district exists and will continue to grow because of Hewett's hard work and that the incumbent's efforts have increased Payment In Lieu of Taxes funding for the city.

"This included being a main thrust behind the $1 million of PILOT funds which we now receive for the Coast Guard property," said Passero. "He was able to recover over the last two years $5.2 million that was owed to our city for previous school construction."

The 39th state House District comprises New London's 1st and 2nd voting districts. The city's 3rd district, or south end, is part of the state House 41st District, which includes a swath of Groton.

The city's Green Party has taken the only other route to field a candidate in the Nov. 8 race, securing the necessary number of voter's names to run as a petitioning candidate. Ronna K. Stuller of the New London Greens obtained a petition last week and is gathering the required 34 signatures — 1 percent of the total votes cast in the same race two years ago — so she can be a candidate.

Primary Day polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can visit myvote.ct.gov to learn how to register, check their registration, find their polling locations and download absentee ballot applications.

a.baldelli@theday.com