HARTFORD, Conn. — Municipal election day is coming up Nov. 7. Here's a look at the Hartford mayoral race:
In November 2022, current Mayor Luke Bronin, a Democrat, announced he would not seek a third term in office.
The announcement was made on social media, with Bronin sharing his thanks to the Hartford community in a video. Bronin, 43, was sworn in as the 67th mayor of the City of Hartford on January 1, 2016, after he beat incumbent Pedro Segarra in the 2015 race.
Now, six candidates are vying for the mayorship.
Arunan Arulampalam
Arulampalam won the Democratic primary in September as the party-endorsed candidate at the time. He is the CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, a non-profit organization that identifies and acquires vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, and/or distressed properties in the city. The organization then rehabilitates the property. On his website, Arulampalam states three main priorities, including investing in Hartford neighborhoods by supporting smaller businesses. He also believes in empowering city residents and cleaning up trash on streets, taking care of dangerous intersections, and going after out-of-state slumlords that profit off of inhabitable housing for residents. Arulampalam stated that investing in Hartford schools will help the city's children. He said that his administration would rebuild sports and recreation programs and invest in music, arts, and mental health support. Learn more about Arulampalam's campaign here.
Michael McGarry
Michael McGarry, a Republican who served on the city's council from 1993 to 1999, told the Hartford Courant in August, "I’ve been very disappointed with the Democratic forums. The idea that in two minutes, you can tell people how you’re going to fix Hartford is just not realistic. Secondly, no one has been critical of the current administration.”
In the interview with the Courant, McGarry went on to state that the city "lost its sense of order" and wants to draw attention to public safety. He said that the city's police roster of 350 officers is not "sufficient for the size of the city" and would like to see an increase to 475 to 500 officers. McGarry also stated that he's concerned about the decrease in property assessments and that while there is no magic answer to the city's plights, he said a good start would be adding staff to the city's development department. You can read the full interview with McGarry in the Hartford Courant here.
Four candidates are unaffiliated or independent on the ballot as well. Those candidates are Mark Stewart Greenstein, Giselle Gigi Jacobs, Nick Lebron, and J. Stan McCauley.
Mark Stewart Greenstein
Greenstein stated on his website that his vision for the city includes developing jobs, climate-friendly action, education reform, and improving civility. Greenstein said he has been a private business owner for over 20 years and is an entrepreneur by trade, and his goal is to bring more jobs, industries, and businesses back to the state. He also stated that he's been in the field of education for more than 20 years, and his goal is to see all children achieving their potential and "be better prepared for an ever-changing future." Greenstein also highlighted his support for everyone's freedom and civil rights "regardless of race, gender or age." You can learn more about Greenstein's campaign on his website.
Giselle Gigi Jacobs
Jacobs is a U.S. Army veteran who has worked with the state as a lead inspector, has her own business, and recently became a licensed real estate agent. Jacobs stated on her website that "the streets of Hartford are paved with broken promises" and wants residents to be educated and "empowered about the misconduct" that takes place in the city. On education, Jacobs advocates for vibrant and just school systems that will tackle the school-to-prison pipeline, insufficient lunch portions, year-round substitute teaching, and non-transparent school budgets. Jacobs said when it comes to housing, the focus will be on affordable housing and homeownership goals.
She also advocates for paid apprenticeship programs year-round where individuals can earn while they learn. Regarding public safety in Hartford, Jacobs said that more civilian oversight, policies, and procedures are needed to prevent discrimination and abuse. Learn more about Jacobs and her campaign on her website.
Nick Lebron
Lebron currently serves as a Democrat on Hartford's City Council. On the issues, Lebron cites economic investment and public safety while uniting Hartford. Lebron said that the "cycle of poverty has plagued Hartford for too long" and wants to invest in the citizens by increasing home ownership, incentivizing employers to hire locals, and creating apprenticeship programs. Lebron said to address public safety concerns, that he wants to create school-based youth apprenticeship programs and incentivize residents to join the police force. Lebron also advocates for investigating Hartford's infrastructure and launching a fare-free shuttle. Learn more about Lebron's goals for Hartford on his website.
J. Stan McCauley
McCauley said that the city had been stuck in a rut and he has a five-point plan addressing key issues like education, public safety, and economic development. His website details plans to reform education, which calls for expanding support for teachers, appointing an education chief, and addressing remediation, among other goals. When addressing public safety, McCauley said that he wants to coordinate a citywide public safety roundtable initiative, invest in local organizations that train non-traditional leaders in the community to serve as outreach workers, and re-establish neighborhood block watches. Learn more about McCauley and his goals for Hartford on his website.
Click here for more information on what you need to know before heading to the polls.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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