DANBURY- State Rep. Mark Boughton on Wednesday became the latest entrant in the city’s mayoral contest, promising a systematic plan of orderly growth for Danbury. The 37-year-old second-term state lawmaker and high school history teacher is the third candidate, but first Republican, in the campaign, joining Thomas Arconti and Christopher Setaro, who are battling for the Democratic Party’s nod. The three candidates want to succeed Mayor Gene Eriquez, a Democrat, who opted not to run again after six successful campaigns.
Some 125 enthusiastic supporters attended the announcement at the Amerigo Vespucci Lodge, interrupting Boughton’s speech several times with applause. “I believe this city is in a state of transition, a transition from one administration to a new administration that must represent real change for the betterment of our city”, he said. “We must ask ourselves who is better prepared to lead this city in this time of transition and change. I stand before you because I believe I am the person that can lead Danbury in this new era,” Boughton said.
Boughton, who has represented the 138th District in the General Assembly for the past three years, promised to bring an ‘activist administration’, and a spirit of bipartisan cooperation to city government. “I have been successful in the Legislature because I have been able to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats on issues that are important to all of us. I will be successful in Danbury because I will bring the same bipartisan spirit to our government,” he said.
A fellow GOP lawmaker, 24th District state Sen. David Cappiello, spoke glowingly of Boughton’s accomplishments during his service in Hartford. “He accomplished a lot in three years,” Cappiello said, citing Boughton’s success in securing passage of bills banning felons from becoming teachers and mandating fire sprinklers in new school construction. Improvement of local education would be a focus of a Boughton administration, the candidate said. “I will be a leader in the city and an educational leader in our community. I will visit our schools, talk with students, staff and parents, to make sure the city is providing the Board of Education the tools to do the job. And tools doesn’t always mean more money”, Boughton said.
Boughton said he would work with local businesses to ensure the city grows in a orderly fashion, rather than managing development ‘by crisis.’ He also called for ‘state-of-the-art facilities’ that will enable the police and fire departments to do their jobs in the best possible manner.
Funny to think that so much can happen in just six years. Mayor Boughton has become a rising figure in Connecticut politics, and the Republican Party. He is also, overall, pretty well liked, and has won big victories in his second and third elections for mayor. It should be interesting what happens this year. We will wait and see.
