As a new challenger enters the race for Hartford mayor, incumbent Pedro Segarra has fired his second campaign manager in just over a week.
The Hartford mayor sacked J.R. Romano last week after mistakes stemming from incorrect fundraising emails about his opponent, Luke Bronin.
The latest manager saw his exit after tweets from six years ago surfaced, where Michael Beckendorf allegedly posted about getting drunk and using mushrooms and Oxycotin.
"We are putting together a campaign team that can adequately convey the accomplishments we've made since I've been mayor," Segarra said in a statement.
The latest issue for Segarra comes as a new adversary announces his candidacy. Attorney John Gale grew up in the North End of Hartford and described the time under Segarra as being one "marred by mismanagement."
Gale joins Democrat Luke Bronin and unaffiliated Joel Cruz in their bids for mayor. Bronin is the former legal adviser to Gov. Dannel Malloy, and Cruz is a current member of the Hartford City Council.
Gale says one of his top priorities is to "bring back the city's neighborhoods" by working to identify and improve or raze some buildings.
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“We started a couple of years ago with an anti-blight program that came out with great fanfare. This is necessary," said Gale. "Our neighborhoods need this attention, and yet that program has kind of fizzled and died. I believe when I last heard they started with four or five employees focused on it. They’re down to one.”
Gale added that schools will need more attention over the next several years.
The Democrat says the time has come for fresh leadership and that he can bring it, as Segarra shows vulnerabilities in the early stages of the campaign.
“Hartford needs somebody to lead, to inspire and to innovate" Galse said.
