New Haven Health Director Makes Secretary Of State Bid Official

NEW HAVEN, CT — It's official. New Haven’s Director of Public Health Maritza Bond, a Democrat, is running for Connecticut Secretary of State.

With 22 years in the public health sector, Bond has "used her extensive executive experience to make a case for a political outsider to fill the open seat," a news release announcing her candidacy reads.

“People want a Secretary of the State who’s going to fight for them, and they want someone who has experience running large organizations and being responsible with taxpayer dollars," Bond said. "That’s me.”

After an exploratory campaign, Bond decided to throw her hat in the ring in what is a wide open race.

"Since announcing my exploratory campaign months ago, it has been made clear to me that I am
the underdog," Bond is quoted as saying. "Luckily, this is a position I am very comfortable with. From being the first person in my family to attend college, to becoming the first Hispanic health director in the state, to leading the city of New Haven through the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been overcoming obstacles my entire life. Now, I’m excited to pursue a new first: becoming the first Hispanic Secretary of the State.”

Bond’s campaign platform focuses on establishing no-excuse absentee ballot voting, early
voting, and making the office more business friendly, she noted.

She believes her executive experience as the public health director for the city of Bridgeport and now New Haven, where she managed hundreds of employees and multi-million dollar budgets, helps differentiate her from the crowded field, per the news release.

“Expanding access to voting through no excuse absentee ballots and early voting, making the
office more accessible and community oriented, and being a better partner to small businesses
in a time where they need it most are all top priorities for our campaign," Bond is quoted as saying. "I believe my background in public health is my biggest asset. Throughout my career, I have thrived on finding ways to improve people’s lives by making government work for them. And I’ve done this not from sitting behind a desk, but from learning from and listening to the very people I am tasked to serve every day.”

Bond's background

Before joining the City of New Haven, Bond was Director of Health and Social Services for the
City of Bridgeport for four years. During her nearly two decades in the public health sector, Bond
has also worked in rural settings. Before arriving in Bridgeport, she was the Executive Director
of the Eastern Area Health Education Center, Inc. In that role, she "worked 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."

Bond earned a Master's Degree in Public Health, with an MPA certificate in nonprofit
management, from the University of Connecticut. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Public
Health from Southern Connecticut State University, specializing in health promotion.