Health director raises $30K for campaign

NEW HAVEN — City Health Director Maritza Bond hit her quarterly fundraising goal of $30,000 as she explores running to become Connecticut’s Secretary of the State, her campaign announced Monday.

Denise Merrill, the current Secretary of the State, said in June she would not seek a fourth term in the position.

Bond, who launched her prospective candidacy for the position in September, offered her thanks to donors and volunteers in the announcement, praising their efforts to help build “a grassroots coalition of people ready to challenge the status quo and buck traditional thinking.”

“During my time working in public health, I’ve seen government work for people and I have seen it fail,” said Bond in the announcement. “And when I speak with residents of this state about the stagnation surrounding early voting, no-excuse absentee ballots, and more, I see an opportunity to bring to this office what I have brought to New Haven and Bridgeport as the Director of Public Health: an approach to government that prioritizes listening to the people it serves and giving a voice to those too often ignored. That’s how you make government work.”

Bond’s platform “includes establishing early voting and no-excuse absentee ballot voting, making the office more community-oriented, forward facing, and proactive, and being a better partner for small businesses looking to open in Connecticut, and for those that are already here,” her campaign said.

Prior to her time in New Haven, Bond worked as the director of health and social services in Bridgeport and served as executive director of the Eastern Area Health Education Center, striving, in that role, “to bring educators, health care professionals, and the community together, better coordinate the regional and state public health workforce, and ensure health care access to the underserved.”

She holds a a master's degree in public health, with an MPA certificate in nonprofit management, from the University of Connecticut, according to her campaign, and earned her bachelor's degree in public health from Southern Connecticut State University, specializing in health promotion.

The campaign now has $35,500 in its coffers, officials said.

State Rep. Stephanie Thomas, D-Norwalk, filed the paperwork to officially seek the Democratic nomination for the Secretary of the State position on Nov. 30, according to the Connecticut Mirror.

Dominic A. Rapini and Brock L. Weber, both Republicans, have formed campaign committees as they consider the role, according to the Mirror.

Other Democratic suitors for the role include state

Rep. Hilda Santiago, DMeriden, state Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, state Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, and Rob Simmelkjaer, head of the Connecticut Lottery, according to the Mirror.

Alder Darryl Brackeen, D-26, and city official Jackie James have also announced plans to potentially seek the office.