Former Hartford Mayor Perez Announces Election Bid

HARTFORD, CT — Former Hartford mayor Eddie Perez announced that he will be running for mayor again. He previously pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion charges that occurred when he was in office.

He said he was sorry for his past transgressions and that he made mistakes, according to NBC Connecticut.

Perez was mayor from 2001 to 2010 and resigned after being convicted on felony corruption charges by a jury. A Superior Court judge recently revoked his nearly $28,000 yearly pension due to his corrupt conduct while mayor, according to the Courant.

He was accused of taking bribes in the form of home renovations and trying to export a developer. The felony conviction was overturned on appeal and Perez pleaded guilty to lesser charges which didn't carry prison time.

If re-elected Perez would join Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim in a political comeback following a corruption conviction.