Hartford moves ahead on charter reform

Process begins with revision commission appointments

HARTFORD — The Hartford city council has selected 14 people, including one of its own, to take part in the charter reform process, residents’ once-in-a-decade opportunity to make significant changes to city government.

John Gale, a second-term city councilor who represents the minority Hartford Party, was appointed to the Charter Revision Commission during a special meeting Monday. The council unanimously approved all the appointments to the group, which will propose amendments to the charter that would then be voted on by Hartford residents.

Gale, an attorney, did not recuse himself from the vote. Councilman Josh Michtom was absent.

Former city councilors Alex Aponte, Raul De Jesus Jr. and Kenneth Kennedy were also appointed to the commission.

The city charter adopted in 2002 created an automatic review process every decade.

Residents last voted on charter reforms in 2013, approving a proposal to rid the city of partisan registrars of voters. That change could not take place without enabling legislation, which the General Assembly never passed.

In the same election, residents rejected a dozen smaller recommendations, from raises for the mayor and treasurer to a proposal that would have allowed for the public financing of campaigns.

The new commission will hold at least two public hearings, one this month and another at the end of the process.

The final charter report will likely be submitted to city council for review around May 2022, at which time it would become public. The amendments would then be placed up for vote as one or more referendum questions in a general or special election in November 2022.

Any changes would go into effect the next month.

The members of the commission are: John Gale, an attorney with a law practice in the city, was elected to city council as a Democrat in 2015 and reelected as a candidate of the Hartford Party — his own creation — in 2019. He is a former director of Immanuel House, a low-income, elderly complex in Hartford, and New Horizons, a nonprofit housing organization in Farmington, Woodbury and Canton.

Kenneth Kennedy, an assistant attorney general in the workers’ compensation department, and chairman of the CENCAP Federal Credit Union. He is a former city councilman from 2002 to 2015, and past commissioner of the Hartford Economic Development Commission and Hartford

Redevelopment Agency.

Raul De Jesus Jr., a Democrat and real estate agent. Former city councilman from 2012 to 2015 and member of Mayor Luke Bronin’s transition team. Former president of the board of Charter Oak Boxing Academy.

Alex Aponte, a Democrat and attorney with a law practice in Hartford. Former city councilman from 2010 to 2015.

Arunan Arulampalam, a Democrat and deputy commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protection. Member of the boards of directors for the Hartford Public Library, Hartford Land Bank, Forge City Works.

Steve Bonafonte, a Republican and a partner at DCB Law Group in Connecticut and Washington, D.C. Chairman of the Hartford Redevelopment Agency.

Vicki Gallon-Clark, a Democrat and executive director of the Blue Hills Civic Association and a member since 2004. Board member of Metro-Hartford Alliance. Former co-chair of the Weaver Steering Committee.

Kamora Herrington, a Working Families Party member and owner and operator of Kamora’s Cultural Corner in Hartford. Previously ran a mentoring program for queer youth in out-of-home care for True Colors. Member and former chair of Hartford’s Commission on LGBT Issues.

Kathleen Kowalyshyn, a Democrat and attorney with a general law practice in

Hartford. She previously worked with John Gale at Gale & Kowalyshyn, LLC.

Melvin Medina, a national campaign strategist for American Civil Liberties Union in New York since January, previously worked for the organization out of Hartford. He is not affiliated with a political party.

Yadira Rivera, a Democrat and recent social work graduate of Springfield College and East Hartford Public Schools career navigator as part of East Hartford CONNects. Former youth development adviser with Compass Peacebuilders in Hartford.

Bruce Rubenstein, a partner at Rubenstein and Sendy law group in Hartford and a member of Hartford’s Internal Audit commission since 2013. He is the former finance chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee and is not affiliated with a political party.

Eon R. Smith, a criminal and civil attorney in Brooklyn. He is a former assistant district attorney in NewYork and is not affiliated with a political party.

James Woulfe, a Democrat and director of government affairs for The Connecticut Group, a financial planning firm in Farmington. He is a board member of the Hartford Housing Authority and Metropolitan District Commission.