Judge Eric Coleman running for Hartford mayor as Luke Bronin won’t seek reelection

At 71, Eric Coleman has already lived a full life.

After graduating from Columbia University and serving for 34 years in the Connecticut state legislature, Coleman rose to the top of the legal profession by becoming a Superior Court judge.

Now, at an age when many of his colleagues have retired, Coleman wants to become Hartford’s next mayor.

Coleman made his announcement Wednesday at the Artists Collective on Albany Avenue in the city’s North End in front of more than 125 supporters who cheered and gave him a standing ovation.

“Some have suggested that I have already enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public service, and at this stage of my life, I should rest on my laurels, just relax, take it easy, play elder statesman and perhaps travel with Mrs. Coleman,’' he told the crowd of supporters. “I guess I’m just different, particularly when out-of-control gun violence and other challenges are confronting Hartford. I am neither content nor comfortable with merely spectating.’'

The three biggest obstacles facing Coleman’s quest for the mayor’s office seem to have been resolved.

First, he was a Bloomfield resident for decades. He has since moved to Hartford in recent months and will be voting at the former Hartford Seminary site in the West End.

Second, he held an influential position as a Superior Court judge with a salary of nearly $190,000 per year. Only hours before his announcement, he submitted his resignation from the bench, where he was working on a per diem basis as a trial referee after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Third, he would have faced a formidable political challenge from Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, a well-known, two-term incumbent Democrat who had already defeated one-time mayors Pedro Segarra in 2015 and Eddie Perez in a primary in September 2019. But Bronin announced this week that he is not running for re-election.

With those obstacles removed, Coleman is now running hard to grab the top spot in the capital city.

“While I do not bedgrudge anyone the opportunity to pursue their ambitions, Hartford is in need of a mayor who is going to focus all of his time, energy, effort, and attention on on being the mayor of Hartford,’' Coleman said. “I submit to you that I am that guy.’'

Coleman added, “At my stage of the game, I have no aspirations for any other office. The mayor of Hartford is not a steppingstone for me. I have no interest in being a congressperson. I do not want to go to the U.S. Senate. And I’m sure there are plenty of others who may want to be governor, but not me. I just want to be the mayor of Hartford, Connecticut.’'

Known for his low-key, thoughtful demeanor and even-handed manner, Coleman rose in the legislature to become the first African American to serve as co-chairman of the powerful judiciary committee.

Hartford Democratic activist Bruce Rubenstein, a personal and political ally of Coleman for the past 40 years, says his friend can be a coalition builder.

“He’s soft-spoken and a very nice man with a lot of friends on both sides of the aisle,’' Rubenstein said. “With him, it really is the case that both sides of the aisle like him. They may not like his issues and policies, but a lot of Republicans like him as a person.’'

During their decades of friendship, Rubenstein said, “Every so often, now and then, he would always tell me he would love to be mayor. He worked with various mayors in the years he was a state representative or senator. He represented a good piece of Hartford at all times. He always wanted to be mayor, so this is his chance to be mayor and to make a difference.’'

The large crowd of supporters included former state treasurer Joe Suggs of Bloomfield, former Sen. Gary LeBeau of East Hartford, Sen. Marilyn Moore of Bridgeport, former state Rep. Kenneth Green, retired Probate Judge Robert Killian, and Juanita Giles, the widow of former Hartford Democratic powerhouse Abe Giles.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com