Luke Bronin, who until recently was Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s general counsel, announced Wednesday that he is running for mayor of Hartford.
Bronin seeks to challenge Mayor Pedro E. Segarra, a fellow Democrat who announced last week that he would seek another term.
An employee in the city clerk’s office said just after 2 p.m. that she expected to see Bronin’s application to form an exploratory committee before the close of business hours.
Bronin, who recently took a job as partner at Hinckley Allen, launched a campaign website on Monday. On Tuesday, his campaign Twitter account tweeted out its first message and sent out a press release.
Bronin has previously worked for the U.S. Treasury Department and The Hartford.
His website says Hartford has seen gains — Front Street, UConn’s downtown campus, and an influx of residential housing — but faces challenges.
He criticized Segarra (though not by name) for ignoring some of the city’s corridors, such as Albany Avenue and Park Street, and said taxes have climbed too high.
Bronin also said the city’s government hasn’t done enough to engage major companies headquartered here, and that many residents can’t find a job that pays a living wage.
He said he would advocate for businesses seeking Small Business Express Program funding, promote the use of local labor and minority contractors, and expedite infrastructure and façade improvement projects and support entrepreneurial incubator programs.
“What we need is a mayor who gets down into the messy details of governing day after day, who constantly demands the best from the team at City Hall, and who holds people accountable,” the website says.
Segarra’s campaign responded just before 4 p.m. The mayor said in the statement that he is proud of his record and that he has helped Hartford become a place where people want to be mayor.
“That’s a reflection of the transformation of the city, and what we have achieved during the past five years,” Segarra said. “But the bottom line is each candidate will have to answer to the voters and make the case for what they have done for the city, what they have committed to the city over the years, and how they have participated.”
