Hartford’s two-term mayor Luke Bronin announced on Tuesday that he won’t be seeking a third term next year.
Bronin made the announcement in a video posted to social media.
“This has not been an easy decision but it’s the right one,” he said to the camera. “We’ve got so much important work underway and it’s going to be hard to step away from that but the truth is that will always be true because the work is never done. The most that any of us can hope for is to do the work well and then pass the baton.”
In a press conference Tuesday morning, Bronin touted his successes over his seven years in office, particularly the economic successes for the city.
“Some of the most important battles we fought were not the ones we wanted to fight but that we had to fight,” he told the assembled reporters.
“If you asked me seven years ago if I thought that seven years on we would be financially stable with ratings upgrade after ratings upgrade, with surpluses each year that we’ve reinvested in our community and built up our rainy day fund without borrowing a single dollar or issuing a single bond,” he continued. “We’ve been able to reduce the mill rate by 7.2%. I’m not sure I would have believed you.”
“Luke Bronin has been one of Hartford’s most vocal advocates and a dedicated supporter of the revitalization of the city and its growth,” said Gov. Ned Lamont in a statement following the announcement. “He has been an important collaborator with our administration, including on issues concerning housing, public health, increased access to quality education, and public safety. Hartford has benefitted from his public service as mayor and I wish him and his family the best in their next endeavors.”
Bronin thanked Hartford residents for giving him a chance to serve two terms for the city and thanked his family in an emotional statement.
“I will be forever grateful that you gave me this chance to do this work for the last seven years,” he said.
Bronin said he hasn’t decided what comes next but “I’ve got a year to figure it out.”
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