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Cloud Wins Treasurer Endorsement

By Jenna Carlesso

July 22, 2011

Adam Cloud, who replaced Kathleen Palm Devine as city treasurer in February, was endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee at its convention last night.

Cloud beat out state Rep. Kelvin Roldan, D-Hartford, Lawrence Davis, a member of the city's internal audit commission and city Tax Collector Marc Nelson.

The town committee's six endorsed candidates for city council broke the party's tradition of endorsing two African-Americans, two Latinos and two white members for the panel. Instead, the party endorsed three African-Americans, two Latinos and one white candidate.

Endorsed candidates include Kenneth Kennedy, who is on the council now; Kyle Anderson, an employee in the state Department of Consumer Protection; Alex Aponte, who also serves on the council; Raul DeJesus, who ran against former Mayor Eddie Perez in 2007; David MacDonald, chairman of the city's Board of Education; and Shawn Wooden, a city attorney.

Some criticized the town committee for not including women in its endorsed slate.

"I think it's unfortunate and it directly ties in with the way the Democratic Town Committee deals with stuff," said city Councilman Luis Cotto, a member of the Working Families Party. "They're looking amongst their own to maintain the status quo they've enjoyed these past decades.

"There's no reason women shouldn't be on that slate. They don't put in place any processes to try to nurture the next female leaders."

John Kennelly, a member of the town committee, agreed.

"I am very disappointed that the Hartford Democratic Town Committee nominated a slate that does not include a woman," Kennelly said. "Having been raised by Eleanor Kennelly and Barbara Kennelly I understand the importance of a woman's vote during a decision making time."

Added Julio Concepcion, another town committee member: "I think the glaring weakness of the slate is the fact that we don't have any women. I don't think any of us could look at ourselves in the mirror and think we have a fair, representative slate."