Arunan Arulampalam
Mayor of Hartford
Assumed office
January 1, 2024
Preceded byLuke Bronin
Personal details
Born (1985-09-15) September 15, 1985
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLiza
Children5
EducationEmory University (BA)
Quinnipiac University (JD)

Arunan Arulampalam (born September 15, 1985) is an American politician who is the mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. A member of the Democratic Party, Arulampalam won the November 2023 election for mayor and was sworn in on January 1, 2024.

Early life and career

Arulampalam is from a Jaffna Tamil family. His parents fled Sri Lanka in July 1983, at the start of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[1][2] They moved to England, where they married, and settled in Zimbabwe. Arunan was born in Bulawayo in 1985.[1][3] The family relocated to California. Arulampalam earned his bachelor's degree from Emory University and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.[3]

In 2014, Arulampalam joined the law firm Updike, Kelly & Spellacy[4] and was an associate with the firm for five years.[3] Governor Ned Lamont appointed Arulampalam to be a deputy commissioner in the Department of Consumer Protection. In July 2021, he became the chief executive officer of the Hartford Land Bank, a non-profit aiming to reduce urban blight.[3][5]

Political career

In October 2017, Arulampalam announced that he was exploring a run for Connecticut State Treasurer, as long as the incumbent, Denise Nappier, opted not to run for reelection.[6] He received enough support at the Connecticut Democratic Party convention to qualify for the primary election ballot, but ended his campaign in May 2018, citing his desire to avoid a divisive campaign.[7][8]

In January 2023, Arulampalam announced his candidacy in the November election for mayor of Hartford.[9] He won the party's endorsement at their nominating convention.[10] Arulampalam defeated state senator John Fonfara and former state senator Eric Coleman in the Democratic Party primary election in September,[11] receiving 39.6% of the vote.[12] He won the November general election with 69% of the vote[13] and was sworn into office on January 1, 2024.[14]

Personal life

Arulampalam and his wife, Liza, have five children and live in a formerly blighted house in Hartford's Frog Hollow.[15][16] He is a naturalized U.S. citizen.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 https://ctmirror.org/2023/09/18/ct-south-asia-diaspora-resident-profiles/
  2. ↑ Stuart, Christine (October 31, 2017). "State Treasurer Candidates Tout Newcomer Status". CT News Junkie. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Arunan Arulampalam: From Zimbabwe to Hartford Dems' endorsed mayoral candidate". Hartford Courant. August 29, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Hartford Land Bank CEO Arulampalam wants to restore city's eyesore properties, boost homeownership". Hartford Business Journal. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Arunan Arulampalam announces run for Hartford mayor". CT Insider. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Arunan Arulampalam Exploring Run for State Treasurer". Hartford Courant. October 25, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Candidate Quits Treasurer's Race With Pointed Message On Diversity For Fellow Democrats". Hartford Courant. May 29, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Arulampalam ends treasurer bid to work on diversity in Democratic party".
  9. ↑ "Hartford Land Bank's Arunan Arulampalam announces his bid for mayor". Hartford Courant. January 6, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ Underwood, Stephen (August 17, 2023). "Three-way primary set for Hartford mayor race: Fonfara and Coleman qualify, Lebron out of primary contest". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Arunan Arulampalam defeats two challengers in Hartford mayoral primary". CT Insider. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  12. ↑ "How Arunan Arulampalam won in Hartford's mayoral primary".
  13. ↑ "Arunan Arulampalam scores big victory in Hartford mayoral race".
  14. ↑ https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/politics/newly-sworn-in-hartford-mayor-prepares-to-tackle-long-list-of-interconnected-issues/3182373/
  15. ↑ "How mayoral candidate Arunan Arulampalam found "home" in Hartford". CT Insider. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Arulampalam says homeownership, small business support, downtown amenities, and faster permitting could jump-start Hartford's growth". Hartford Business Journal.
  17. ↑ Staff Writer (July 13, 2023). "Sri Lankan American Arunan Arulampalam Takes Wide Lead in Campaign Donations in Hartford's Mayoral Race".
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