Hartford state Rep. and Assistant Majority Whip Julio Concepcion has endorsed Arunan Arulampalam in the race for city mayor for his “track record and strategy for economic development through a focus on Hartford’s neighborhoods,” according to a press release Tuesday.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Arunan in a number of different roles over the years, and I’ve seen his unwavering dedication to the people of Hartford every step of the way,” Concepcion said of the Hartford Land Bank CEO.
“Arunan has shown an ability to lift people up, work with local businesses to create jobs, and to understand what makes each Hartford neighborhood unique,” Concepcion said. “We need a mayor who will bring our city together, someone who has credibility with the business community, state leaders, but also neighborhood residents across this city. Arunan is that candidate and I’m excited to support his campaign.”
Mark Mirko / Hartford Courant
Arunan Arulampalam (right) hugs his wife Liza outside the capitol after a press conference in 2018. The Hartford Land Bank CEO is running for Hartford mayor.
The endorsement marks the first legislative endorsement in the race.
Concepcion is currently in his third term as a state representative and serves as House chair of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and as a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding and Transportation Committees.
Arulampalam serves as the CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, which works to acquire and restore vacant and distressed city properties. He was previously deputy commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection under Gov. Ned Lamont.
“Julio Concepcion is a tireless public servant – he is someone I am proud to call both a colleague and a friend,” Arulampalam said. “I am honored to have Julio supporting my campaign, and I look forward to working in partnership with him, his fellow delegation members to the state legislature, and with community leaders from throughout Hartford as we work to build a more vibrant and equitable city in the years ahead.”
Arulampalam announced his candidacy in January and in the first fundraising quarter has raised nearly $225,000, second only to state Sen. John Fonfara, who reported raising $340,223. Retire judge and former state Sen. Eric Coleman reported $101,761 raised, according to the city clerks office.
Concepcion’s endorsement follows an announcement from Coleman’s campaign that he had received the first official endorsement from a political group in the city with the backing of the Greater Hartford Progressive Democratic Women’s Club back in April.
Along with Arulampalam, Coleman, and Fonfara, Nick Lebron, Tracy Funnye, Giselle Jacobs, and J. Stan McCauley have all filed paperwork in the race. Mayor Luke Bronin is not seeking re-election.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
