New Haven health director officially joins Sec. of the State race
NEW HAVEN — The city’s general public overall health director has verified her upcoming bid for Secretary of the State immediately after months of unofficial campaigning.
Maritza Bond, a Democrat, formally declared her candidacy Sunday early morning on WTNH’s Capitol Report section, adding that she had gained statewide support due to the fact launching an exploratory campaign previous September.
That preliminary foray lifted $30,000 by January, Bond’s campaign claimed.
“I’m genuinely humbled that people see me as a clean experience and that I have a unique vision that delivers in the federal government administration govt expertise that is completely important to be in that purpose,” Bond advised WTNH on Sunday.
She joins a number of other Democrats vying for the workplace, vacant after incumbent Democrat Denise Merrill introduced in June 2021 that she would be retiring following 3 terms.
Bond is the 1st Hispanic health director in the condition and, if elected, would be the 1st Hispanic Secretary of the Point out. She also is a initial-generation faculty scholar, according to a marketing campaign press release.
“Since announcing my exploratory marketing campaign months ago, it has been created obvious to me that I am the underdog,” Bond reported in the release. “Luckily, this is a situation I am really relaxed with.”
Bond has cited her 22 many years of practical experience in the public wellbeing sector as a useful precursor to the statewide bid. Bond used 4 several years as the wellbeing and social products and services director for Bridgeport ahead of she turned New Haven’s wellness director and worked in the decreased Naugatuck Valley just before that.
She mentioned her campaign will concentrate on expanding access to voting, like absentee ballots and early voting, as well as earning the office more obtainable and group-oriented.
Bond graduated from Southern Connecticut Point out University and the College of Connecticut, holding a master’s in community overall health from the latter.
She could facial area at minimum a single other New Haven Democrat in the race. Previous Democratic chairwoman and city formal Jackie James has stated she would make a perform for the open up seat.
Other Democrats who are considering runs contain Hamden point out Rep. Joshua Elliott, Middletown condition Sen. Matt Lesser and Meriden point out Rep. Hilda Santiago, New Haven Democratic Town Chairman Vincent Mauro has reported.
Prior reporting by Ben Lambert and Mark Zaretsky contributed to this report