The urban advantage of state treasurer hopeful Shawn Wooden got another boost from a big city mayor Thursday, with Hartford’s Luke Bronin endorsing the former city council president.
Wooden has already nabbed the endorsements of Toni Harp and Neil O’Leary, the mayors of New Haven and Waterbury.
The trio of cities accounts for 232 of the 1,927 delegates to Democratic nominating convention, which is just three weeks away and will be held on Wooden’s home turf in Hartford.
"We need a Treasurer who has the professional experience the role demands and who has the values Connecticut needs, and Shawn Wooden has both,” Bronin said in a statement Thursday. “I’ve known Shawn for many years, and I know that he will make an outstanding treasurer, who will always remember his obligation to working families in our state. Shawn’s longstanding commitment to public service coupled with his extensive private sector experience will position him to be the treasurer Connecticut needs, and I’m proud to support him."
There was a time when Wooden and Bronin might have appeared on the same ticket, but the Hartford mayor last week ruled out a run for governor.
“I am honored to receive Mayor Bronin’s endorsement,” Wooden said. "As treasurer, I’ll continue fighting for the best interest of working families in every community within our state.”
Wooden’s campaign underscored that it has broad support beyond the cities, including endorsements from suburban and rural Democrats.
Hartford lawyer Arunan Arulampalam is competing against Wooden for the Democratic nomination.
So is a pair of Greenwich Democrats — John Blankley, a former energy and shipping executive who served on the town’s finance board, and Dita Bhargava, a one-time Wall Street portfolio manager and former state party vice chairwoman.
By Neil Vigdor
April 26, 2018
http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-wooden-bronin-endorsement-20180426-story.html