Maritza Bond Hopes to Be First Latina to Hold Statewide Office

Democratic candidate for Secretary of the State Maritza Bond continues to pick up key endorsements for the August 9, 2022 statewide Democratic primary.

“I am grateful to have earned the endorsement and the support of labor organizations, party
leaders and activists, and individuals who know my track-record and commitment to public service and as a catalyst for opportunity,” said Maritza Bond. “I launched this campaign to be for the people and by the people, and as Democratic voters consider the choice ahead, their support
speaks volumes.”

Unions endorsing Maritza Bond include the Connecticut AFL-CIO, Connecticut Employees Union Independent, UAW Region 9A, A&R Employees Union and UNITE HERE Local 34.

Legislators supporting Bond’s candidacy include State Senate President Martin Looney (New Haven), along with State Senator Rick Lopes (New Britain), State Representative Edwin Vargas (Hartford), State Representative Manny Sanchez (New Britain), State Representative Bobby Sanchez (New Britain) and State Representative Joe de la Cruz (Groton).

Current and former elected officials who have endorsed Maritza Bond also include: Mayor Justin
Elicker (New Haven), First Selectman Matt Hoey (Guilford), City Councilman Nick Lebron
(Hartford), City Councilman James Sanchez (Hartford) and Former New Haven Mayor and State
Senator Toni Harp.

"I have walked the streets of New Haven with her,” said Mayor Eliker. “I’ve seen first-hand how
she engages with people, how she listens to them, how she cares about them, and her leadership
in helping them to do what is necessary to protect the health of their families. Maritza has the
leadership qualities we all need in our state."

Added Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey: “In my time getting to know Maritza, I have been incredibly impressed by her passion, energy, and ideas for the future of the Secretary of the State office."

Democratic party officials and organizations endorsing the Bond candidacy also include: Vinnie Mauro, Chair, New Haven Democratic Town Committee; Anthony Paoletto, Vice Chair, Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee; Steve Ivain, Chair, Torrington Democratic Town Committee and the Middlefield Democratic Town Committee. Mauro said “she is the candidate in this race with the fresh perspective and energy to really make change once elected"; with Paoletto adding that “having worked with Maritza in the past, I know she has the leadership, passion and the ability to bring a much-needed change to Hartford."

Rob Simmelkjaer, Chair of the Connecticut Lottery Board of Directors and a former candidate for
Secretary of the State, has also endorsed Maritza Bond: “During my time exploring a run for Secretary of the State, I got to know my fellow candidates well, and Maritza always stood out as the one with the best experience, energy, and vision for the job."

She has also been endorsed by Pastor Kelcy G.L. Steele; Bishop Theordore L. Brooks, Senior and Lee Cruz of New Haven.

Maritza Bond has been on the frontlines advocating for working people in Connecticut for
decades, most recently serving as Director of Health for the City of New Haven, and previously as
Director of Health and Social Services for the City of Bridgeport.

She began her career in the Naugatuck Valley Health District, where she coordinated several grant project initiatives, and as Executive Director of the Eastern Area Health Education Center, Inc. in Eastern Connecticut. Bond has worked with community leaders regionally and statewide to ensure health care access to the underserved and to enhance the workforce in Connecticut, exhibiting leadership on critical and timely issues.

“Passing meaningful gun reforms and protecting women’s reproductive rights start with defending our right to vote,” Bond says in a video currently airing on televisions stations across Connecticut. “In these challenging times,” she says to prospective voters, “you deserve a real Democrat who will show up and put you first.”

Bond is the only candidate in the Secretary of the State’s race with the executive experience to lead the office from day one, protect our right to vote and work with local officials to make it easier to cast ballots in Connecticut. And she is the only candidate who knows first-hand what the office can do to help our small business economy grow and create good-paying jobs, pointing out that “75% of all registered business entities in Connecticut have less than 10 employees, so small business is BIG business in Connecticut.”

To find out more about Maritza's historic campaign for Secretary of the State, volunteer to help or
host an event, please visit www.maritzabond.com.

The Democratic primary for the Secretary of the State nomination will take place Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Polls are open 6AM to 8PM, and applications for absentee ballots are now
available from local Town Clerk offices.