The race for governor has shrunk by one. Newington Mayor Jeffrey Wright has dropped his bid for the Republican nomination for governor. Instead, he will run for state treasurer, he announced on Tuesday.
The race for governor is a big one this year. There are now seven Republican candidates: Financial analyst C. Duffy Acevedo, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Former U.S. Congressman Lawrence DeNardis, Greater Hartford businessman Oz Griebel, Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, Former Ambassador Tom Foley and Chester First Selectman Tom March.
The Democratic candidates include former state legislator Juan Figueroa, who has taken a leave from his role as president of Universal Health Care Foundation, Simsbury First Selectwoman Mary Glassman, Former U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont, Former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi and Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura.
That crowded field is one reason Wright cited for switching races, as well as his business experience in finance. Besides being a mayor, Wright is a certified financial planner.
Wright says he's concerned about how Connecticut's state employee pension fund is underfunded. Also, he says the investment returns on the pension plan aren't keeping up with other funds.
Wright, the first Republican to officially announce his plans to run for treasurer, says he will close down his campaign committee for governor and open one for the treasurer's race in the coming days.
