Setaro Touts Hispanic Endorsement in Danbury Mayoral Race

DANBURY, CT- Democratic mayoral candidate Chris Setaro accepted the endorsement from the Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Caucus alongside community leaders in a presentation at Kennedy Park on Thursday.

"Our diversity is our strength, and we should embrace it," Setaro said. "We have to bring more people to the table and create an inclusive process that works for everyone. Take a walk down Main Street - you’ll find that many of the businesses there are owned by members of the Hispanic community and we need to recognize that."

Kennedy Park was the site where 11 Ecuadoran day laborers were rounded up by the Danbury Police Department, working in concert with federal immigration authorities, triggering a civil rights suit. At a recent debate, Boughton said that the city's strategic partnership with federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement had been focused on criminal activity, including a serial drunk driver and a pedophile.

"What I’m not going to do as mayor is target our Latino community," Setaro said. "We want everyone in our community and in our police department to be partners in public safety, and we want Danbury to be inclusive. No one should live in fear."

Setaro, the former president of the City Council, is running against Republican incumbent Mark Boughton. He lost in a Danbury mayoral race versus Boughton in 2001.