New Britain Sending 35 Delegates To State Convention
Democratic candidates for Secretary of the State (SOTS) and Treasurer shared their qualifications and views at a Democratic Town Committee pre-convention forum held at the New Britain Public Library on Saturday, one week before the state convention.
On the Democratic side the SOTS contest involves four legislators and a New Haven public health official all of whom support expanding voter access and early voting.
Participating were New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond, State Senator Matt Lesser (Middletown) and State Representatives Josh Elliott (Hamden), Hilda Santiago (Meriden) and Stephanie Thomas (Norwalk).
Three candidates have emerged to run for State Treasurer following Incumbent Shawn Wooden’s sudden withdrawal from running this year and two of the candidates appeared at the New Britain forum, Dita Bhargava (Greenwich) and Karen Dubois-Walton (New Haven). Bhargava, CEO of a Stamford investment firm and a former vice chair of the Democratic State Central Committee, ran for Treasurer in 2018 losing to Wooden in a primary that year. Dubois-Walton is executive director of the New Haven Housing Authority and a longtime municipal official in New Haven. Attorney Erick Russell (New Haven) is also seeking the Democratic endorsement to succeed Wooden. He practices law at Pullman & Comley.
State Rep. Sean Scanlon (Guilford), Co-Chair of the Legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, also spoke to the New Britain Forum. He is running unopposed for the endorsement for the open seat. Former Comptroller Kevin Lembo left office last December for health reasons and incumbent Natalie Braswell is not seeking election.
The Democratic State Convention will be held Friday, May 6th and Saturday May 7th at Xfinity Theater in Hartford. New Britain is sending 35 delegates to the convention to endorse Governor Lamont and Lt Governor Bysiewicz for a second term and all state constitutional officers. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal is slated for endorsement to a new six-year term.
Local conventions for Democrats will be held the week of May 9th to endorse U.S. Rep Jahana Hayes (D-5), State Senate, State Representative and Judge of Probate candidates.
