State Treasurer Shawn Wooden Says He Won't Seek Re-Election

State treasurer Shawn Wooden said he will not be seeking re-election.

Wooden said in a statement that he will be putting his own ambitions aside and putting his children first.

“As a father, I’ve sacrificed countless hours, missing everything from basketball games and track meets to family dinners. With one of my sons going to college soon and the other right behind him, I’ve decided not to seek re-election as Treasurer,” Wooden said in a statement. (See Wooden's full statement below.)

Gov. Ned Lamont called Wooden a great partner to his administration and wished the state treasurer and his family the best.

“I appreciate his partnership in righting our fiscal ship, and I wish him and his family nothing but the best in their next endeavors,” part of the statement from Lamont said. (See the governor’s full statement below.)  

Full statement from state treasurer Shawn Wooden

“For the past 10 years, I’ve been honored to serve my city, as Hartford City Council President and, my state, as Treasurer. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to improve the lives of Connecticut families. During my time as Treasurer, we’ve divested from civilian gun manufacturers, restructured the teachers’ pension fund to ensure long-term sustainability, secured major credit rating upgrades for the first time in over two decades, paid down our pension fund liabilities on an accelerated basis, saved taxpayers millions of dollars through bond refundings and passed the first in the nation Baby Bonds program to lift children out of poverty. I’m honored that my colleagues across the country have elected me to serve as President of the bi-partisan National Association of State Treasurers and that I recently led a bi-partisan coalition of 38 state treasurers to support divestment of securities of Russian companies. These and other accomplishments have only strengthened my love of public service as well as my appreciation of the impact we can have by being in the public arena.

“But, as every public servant knows, service often comes with a price. As a father, I’ve sacrificed countless hours, missing everything from basketball games and track meets to family dinners. With one of my sons going to college soon and the other right behind him, I’ve decided not to seek re-election as Treasurer. Like other working families, mine too faces the day-to-day pressures of family life. Things like juggling financial resources to pay for college or making the time needed to teach children life’s most important lessons aren’t always easy in public life. As the proud father of you two young Black boys, I know that, today, the best thing I can do is put my own ambitions aside and put them first.

“For the remainder of my time in office, I intend to continue to focus on the important work of this office with the same passion I had when I took the oath of office. While I won’t be on the ballot this fall, my hope is to continue my public service in the future. In the meantime, I will keep looking for ways to help the state and the people who have given me so much.  I offer my sincere thanks to the people of Connecticut who have given me the honor of a lifetime to serve as your 83rd State Treasurer,” Wooden’s statement said.

Full statement from Gov. Ned Lamont

“Treasurer Wooden has been a great partner to my administration in helping get Connecticut’s fiscal house in order, stabilizing our financial future, borrowing in a responsible manner that reduces spending, and making consistent payments to decrease our state’s long-term fiscal obligations. Together, we’ve helped bring a financial turnaround in Connecticut that has resulted in multiple credit rating agency upgrades. I appreciate his partnership in righting our fiscal ship, and I wish him and his family nothing but the best in their next endeavors,” Lamont said in a statement.