Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who in his first four years in office spearheaded the push for a massive debt bailout from the state that has helped the city avoid bankruptcy, will officially kick off his second term as the Capital City’s chief executive on Monday evening.
The Democrat, along with a slate of other city officials who were reelected or elected in November, will take the oath of office at an inauguration ceremony in the atrium of city hall.
Incumbent officials being inaugurated include Treasurer Adam M. Cloud and councilpersons Wildaliz Bermudez, Thomas J. Clarke II, John Q. Gale and James B. Sanchez.
Newly elected council members include Nick LeBron, Joshua Michtom, Maly D. Rosado, Marilyn E. Rossetti and Shirley Surgeon.
Gone from the nine-member legislative body in the new term are recent president Glendowlyn Thames and Larry Deutsch, who did not run for reelection, and rJo Winch, who lost her reelection bid.
Bronin handily won re-election in November, besting a multi-candidate field that included former Mayor Eddie Perez, who left office in 2010 amid corruption charges that sparked a years-long legal saga,which eventually led to a guilty plea in 2017, for which he received probation.
Since taking office in 2016, Bronin:
- Helped convinced the legislature to pay off approximately $550 million worth of the city’s debt over the coming two decades. That deal has led to significant credit upgrades for the city, and has also placed it under the oversight of the Municipal Accountability Review Board, which keeps tabs on city contracts and other spending and expenses. Bronin has not proposed any increases to the city’s mill rate, which, at 74.29, remains the highest in the state, and he has won concessions in union negotiations.
- Flirted for about four months with a run for governor, but ended his exploratory committee in April 2018, facing a crowded Democratic field and criticism of the city’s bailout, which he has firmly defended.
- Secured $20 million and counting from Hartford’s major insurance employers to help bolster the city budget.
- Fired the former developer of Dunkin’ Donuts Park and won a series of legal victories against that developer, Centerplan, which are expected to pave the way for redevelopment of significant parcels of land around Downtown North.
- Has been a cheerleader and advocate for the city’s growing (and often state-backed) technology and innovation sector, including the opening of multiple accelerator and coworking programs downtown. Those include Nassau Re/Imagine, Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator, Upward Hartford, Hartford InsurTech Hub and Digital Health CT.
