Erin Stewart

Stewart's political career began as a campaign staffer for former Congresswoman Nancy Johnson.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-02 |title=Former Congresswoman Nancy Johnson Backs Erin Stewart for Governor |url=https://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-nancy-johnson-erin-stewart-20180502-story.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Hartford Courant |language=en-US}} She focused on municipal political strategy and candidate outreach in Connecticut. She also interned for Governor Jodi Rell's administration, gaining experience in legislative affairs and policy management. Stewart interned for Governor Jodi Rell's Administration in the Office of Policy and Management, then in the Legislative Affairs Office.{{Cite web |title=Honorable Erin E. Stewart - City of New Britain |url=https://www.newbritainct.gov/gov/mayors-office/stewarthtm |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.newbritainct.gov |language=en-US}} Before becoming mayor, Stewart worked as a legislative aide in the Connecticut General Assembly.{{cite news |author=Don Stacom |title=In New Britain, a rookie mayor makes her mark |url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-new-britain-rookie-mayor-erin-stewart-0901-20140906-story.html |work=Hartford Courant |date=September 6, 2014 |accessdate=2018-01-06 |archive-date=2018-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107063712/http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-new-britain-rookie-mayor-erin-stewart-0901-20140906-story.html |url-status=dead }} Stewart was responsible for working on constituent problems for Kevin C. Kelly's state senate district of 100,000 residents and providing research to the senator on state laws. While working at the Connecticut General Assembly, she was elected member of the city's Board of Education.{{cite news|url=http://www.centralctcommunications.com/newbritainherald/news/article_3baf120a-60bb-5c6e-ad4b-d8f066c31a45.html|work=New Britain Herald|title=Stewart to kick off New Britain mayoral campaign|publisher=Central CT Communications}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Stewart served as vice chairperson on the planning and budgeting subcommittee of New Britain's Commission on Community and Neighbourhood Development. She is also a Justice of the Peace. Stewart has raised awareness about breast cancer due to the death of an aunt who died from the disease in 1998 at the age of 51.{{cite web|url=http://www.centralctcommunications.com/newbritainherald/article_57dfa5b0-f225-11e5-a8c8-335babff5582.html|title=Annual race has special meaning for city mayor|access-date=2016-04-22|archive-date=2017-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014528/http://www.centralctcommunications.com/newbritainherald/article_57dfa5b0-f225-11e5-a8c8-335babff5582.html|url-status=dead}} For the past several years, Stewart has served with Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman as the honorary co-chair of the Connecticut Race in the Park, a race held to raise funds and awareness for the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctbhi.org/ |title=Connecticut Breast Health Initiative}}

Elected to the Board of Education in November 2011, Stewart advocated for a return to neighborhood schools, greater parental engagement, and enhanced accountability measurements for teachers and administrators while keeping costs low.{{cite web|url=http://www.csdnb.org/#home|title=Welcome to the Consolidated School District of New Britain}} While Stewart served on the Board, the Board expanded Pre-K to all day programming. At that time, the Board of Education also decided to outfit the classrooms with SMART Board technology. After less than two years, Erin Stewart stepped down from the Board of Education to campaign for mayor.

On June 6, 2013, Stewart announced her intent to run for mayor.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArJLZQjYRtE|title=Erin Stewart for Mayor Announcement|last=Erin Stewart|date=21 June 2013|via=YouTube}} She was unopposed in the Republican primary. Stewart ran on a platform of government transparency and accountability while promising to restore financial health to the city in the face of a potential State takeover. On election day, Stewart beat the Democratic incumbent, Tim O'Brien, 56-44%.{{cite web|publisher=Connecticut Secretary of the State|url=http://www.portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/ElectionServices/ElectionResults/2013/NewBritainpdf.pdf?la=en }}

During her 2015 campaign, Stewart received endorsements from the city's police and fire unions, along with Local 1186 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a union consisting of more than 300 city employees.{{cite web|url=http://www.centralctcommunications.com/newbritainherald/article_5ad99eca-72e0-11e5-a3a5-03459f95c193.html|title=AFSCME local backs Stewart|publisher=Central CT Communications|work=New Britain Herald}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Stewart was elected to a second term on November 3, 2015, after beating both Democratic candidate John McNamara and petitioning candidate Alfred Mayo, garnering more than sixty-six percent of the vote.{{cite web |publisher=Connecticut Secretary of the State |url=http://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/ElectionServices/ElectionResults/2015/Nov/NewHavenpdf.pdf?la=en }} She became the first female elected New Britain mayor twice.{{cite news |url=http://www.centralctcommunications.com/newbritainherald/article_08c6b7e6-82a1-11e5-9aa7-27b185e35d78.html |title=Republican Mayor Erin Stewart wins an unprecedented victory |publisher=Central CT Communications |work=New Britain Herald }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Stewart's ticket, which was a "fusion ticket", consisted of registered Republicans, Democrats and Independents.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} For the first time in 44 years, the Common Council had a Republican majority, accounting for twelve of the fifteen seats on the Council.{{cite news |url=http://www.centralctcommunications.com/newbritainherald/article_a73857a0-8368-11e5-be72-b7d2cf50db07.html |title=New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, GOP riding high after election |publisher=Central CT Communications |work=New Britain Herald }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On January 19, 2017, Stewart announced that she was seeking a third term.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stewartfornb.com/text-mayor-stewarts-election-kickoff-speech/|title=Text of Mayor Stewart's Election Kickoff Speech -|date=24 January 2017}} In her re-election campaign, Stewart stressed the importance of economic development and committed to completing the "Complete Streets Master Plan".{{cite web|url=http://greenregionct.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/131209-CRCOG-Transp-MTG-MEM.pdf|title=Complete Streets Master Plan|accessdate=13 February 2018|archive-date=21 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121104217/http://greenregionct.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/131209-CRCOG-Transp-MTG-MEM.pdf|url-status=dead}} Stewart was re-elected on November 7, 2017, by defeating Board of Education member Merrill Gay 57.5% - 42.5%,{{cite web|url=http://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Election-Results/Election-Results|title=Election Results|website=portal.ct.gov|accessdate=13 February 2018}} becoming the first female mayor of the city to win a third term.

On April 14, 2019, Mayor Stewart announced that she was seeking a fourth term.{{Cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/community/new-britain/hc-newsnew-britain-mayor-pre-announce-20190414-hd6uvzpvhjaztgfcgfmuury6qu-story.html|title = New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart to announce reelection bid Monday| date=14 April 2019 }} On November 5, 2019, she defeated Chris Porcher and secured another term.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newbritainherald.com/NBH-New+Britain+News/361198/the-votes-are-in-new-britains-election-by-the-numbers|title=New Britain Herald - the votes are in: New Britain's election by the numbers|access-date=2021-03-14|archive-date=2021-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031164543/http://www.newbritainherald.com/NBH-New+Britain+News/361198/the-votes-are-in-new-britains-election-by-the-numbers|url-status=dead}}

On January 26, 2021, Mayor Stewart announced that she will seek a fifth term. On March 14, 2021 after much speculation she announced that she will not be a candidate for Governor in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox61.com/article/news/politics/elections/new-britain-mayor-erin-stewart-says-she-will-not-run-for-governor/520-bef99d1c-6466-423f-a624-4fd20bd702ff|title = New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart says she will not run for governor|date = 14 March 2021}} On November 2, 2021, Mayor Stewart won a historic fifth term to become the city's longest-serving Republican Mayor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/new-britain-mayor-erin-stewart-claims-victory-in-re-election-bid/2634171/|title = New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart Claims Victory in Re-Election Bid| date=3 November 2021 }}{{Cite web |last=Fontaine |first=Jessica |date=2023-11-07 |title=Erin Stewart wins re election, defeating Chris Anderson in New Britain mayoral race |url=https://www.newbritainherald.com/news/erin-stewart-wins-re-election-defeating-chris-anderson-in-new-britain-mayoral-race/article_9f5c12ca-7ddc-11ee-ad04-abcef46d9b3e.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=New Britain Herald |language=en}}

During Stewart's tenure, the city restored a structurally-balanced budget. A $30 million deficit was corrected with $16 million in spending cuts, cuts of 30 full-time jobs, and an 11 percent increase in taxes, while adding $14.9 million to the rainy day fund.{{cite web|url=http://fox61.com/2015/01/20/credit-rating-agency-gives-new-britain-a-huge-financial-boost-of-confidence/|title=Credit rating agency gives New Britain a huge financial boost of confidence|date=21 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newbritainct.gov/index.php/119-government/mayoroffice/budget-proposal/407-mayor-s-fy2017-budget.html|title=City of New Britain - Mayor's FY2017 Budget|first=Adam|last=Pokorski|access-date=2016-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427170529/http://www.newbritainct.gov/index.php/119-government/mayoroffice/budget-proposal/407-mayor-s-fy2017-budget.html|archive-date=2016-04-27|url-status=dead}} The fiscal policy resulted in 4 bond-rating upgrades from Standard & Poor's, three in January 2015, and one in January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.stewartfornb.com/sps-upgrades-city-bond-rating-to-a/|title=S&P's Upgrades City Bond Rating to A+ - Erin Stewart|date=12 January 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bondbuyer.com/news/regionalnews/youthful-mayor-steers-new-britain-turnaround-1096082-1.html|title=Youthful Mayor Steers New Britain Turnaround|date=9 February 2016}}

Costco was added to the city's list of top ten taxpayers in the fall of 2015. Business interest has been sparked by the opening of CTfastrak, New England's first bus rapid transit system directly connects downtown New Britain with Connecticut's capital city of Hartford. The city and the state are spending millions on transit-oriented development and seven phases of streetscape improvements, bringing increased commercial and residential development to New Britain. Stewart secured over $12 million in state and federal grants to help pay for the Complete Streetscape Master Plan.

New Britain has had a professional baseball team since 1983. In June 2014, the city's longtime baseball team, the New Britain Rock Cats announced that they were moving to Hartford.{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Bittersweet-Day-in-New-Britain-for-Last-Rock-Cats-Home-Game-323372951.html |title=Rock Cats win last home game in New Britain |publisher=NBC Connecticut}} After the announcement former Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch connected Stewart with Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, the owners of the Bridgeport Bluefish. After months of negotiations, Stewart received a commitment from the league to bring what would become the New Britain Bees to the city. Due to a lapse in contracts, New Britain was without baseball for one day.{{cite web|url=https://ballparkbiz.wordpress.com/2015/11/05/its-the-new-britain-bees/|title=It's the 'New Britain Bees'|date=5 November 2015}}

Stewart invested resources into helping New Britain's homeless population through her creation of the Building Hope Together Task Force: New Britain's Permanent Workplan to End Homelessness.{{cite web|url=http://www.stewartfornb.com/making-an-impact-nb-sees-drop-in-homelessness-nbherald/|title=Making an Impact: New Britain Sees Drop in Homelessness (NBHerald) - Erin Stewart|date=3 February 2016}} Stewart secured $2.145 million to fund the construction of more than ten units of permanent supportive housing; connecting individuals to the services needed to get back on their feet. Veterans' homelessness is another issue which Stewart made a focal point of her tenure, providing access to services, supportive housing and critical care needed by veterans. Working closely with Veterans Inc., the City committed $205,000 to bring 18 units of veterans' housing to New Britain.

Stewart committed to making New Britain a "green" community. Through her "Smart City Initiative," Stewart spearheaded the largest solarization project in New Britain's history, including a solar array at Shuttle Meadow Reservoir, as well as rooftop solar arrays on most school buildings.{{cite web|url=http://www.stewartfornb.com/stewart-unveils-smart-city-plan/|title=SMART City Initiative - Erin Stewart for Mayor|date=23 October 2013}} She is also taking steps to increase the use of LED technology in all City buildings and streetlights to further reduce the City's energy consumption and is embarking on building the city's first fuel cell. Stewart founded an Energy and Innovation Committee to oversee this initiative.

Stewart has a monthly television show called Around New Britain with Mayor Stewart that airs on Nutmeg Television. It is also available on YouTube.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/stewartfornb|title=Erin Stewart|website=YouTube}} In 2016, Stewart presented the first ever digital State of the City{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDervecok_4|title=2016 State of the City|last=Erin Stewart|date=9 March 2016|via=YouTube}} as way of transforming City Hall.

Mayor Erin Stewart is a moderate Republican;{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/connecticut-mayor-businessman-in-top-spots-in-governors-race-poll-shows-1525718459|title=Connecticut Mayor, Businessman in Top Spots in Governor's Race, Poll Shows|last=Avila|first=Joseph De|date=2018-05-07|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-07-07|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} she is a "self-described fiscal conservative who is moderate to liberal on social issues".{{Cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-erin-stewart-governor-new-britain-20180318-story.html|title=New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart Is All In For Governor|last=Blair|first=Russell|work=courant.com|access-date=2018-07-07|language=en-US}} During her tenure as mayor, she reduced the number of city employees and moderately raised taxes.{{Cite news|url=https://efficientgov.com/blog/2017/01/23/conn-mayor-saving-6m/|title=How a Conn. Mayor Turned Deficit to Surplus in 3 Years {{!}} EfficientGov|date=2017-01-23|work=EfficientGov|access-date=2018-07-07|language=en-US}} Stewart proposed a 2018 budget for New Britain that did not raise taxes and did not increase school spending.{{Cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/community/new-britain/hc-news-new-britain-budget-20180411-story.html|title=New Britain Mayor Pitches Budget With No Tax Hike, But Also No Increase In School Spending|last=Stacom|first=Don|work=Courant Community|access-date=2018-07-07|language=en-US}}

Stewart is pro-choice on the issue of abortion and supports gun ownership and is a gun owner herself.{{Cite web|url=http://centralrecorder.com/2018/02/07/mayor-erin-stewart-takes-on-the-gubernatorial-race/|title=Mayor Erin Stewart Takes On The Gubernatorial Race – The Recorder|website=centralrecorder.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-07}} She supports same-sex marriage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/nyregion/at-27-balancing-her-social-life-and-a-citys-budget.html|title=At 27, Balancing Her Social Life and a City's Budget|work=The New York Times |date=5 January 2015 |access-date=2018-07-07|language=en |last1=Hussey |first1=Kristin }}

Stewart has received awards for her political service:

• 2016: Central Connecticut State University – Women of Influence Award{{Cite web|url=http://www.stewartfornb.com/ccsu-honors-mayor-stewart-with-women-of-influence-award/|title=CCSU Honors Mayor Stewart with "Women of Influence" Award. -|date=March 2016}}
• 2015: Central Connecticut State University – Young Alumni Service Award{{cite web|url=http://www.ccsu.edu/alumni/topstories.html|title=Top Stories}}
• 2015: Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence honored her with "First 100 Plus"
• 2014: New Britain City Journal's "Person of the Year"{{cite web|url=http://nbcityjournal.com/archives/10580|title=Mayor Stewart Named Person of the Year}}
• 2014: Connecticut Magazine honorary, "Top 40 under 40"{{cite web|url=http://www.connecticutmag.com/bests-tops/under-class-of/article_6c31b959-728b-583c-a6e5-c5daf1d52ec2.html|title=40 Under 40: Class of 2014|date=February 2014 }}
• 2013: Women in Leadership award from the Connecticut Republican Party.
• 2007: Greater New Britain YWCA's Women in Leadership award for her work with the CT Breast Health Initiative.

Mayor Stewart has been the subject of in-depth profiles by national media outlets such as The New York Times.

Stewart was born May 4, 1987, in New Britain to Patricia (née Badolato) and Timothy Stewart. Her uncle, Dominic J. Badolato, was first elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1954 and served for 22 years, and her father, Mayor Timothy Stewart, served as mayor of New Britain from 2003–2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.newbritainct.gov/index.php/government/mayors-office/mayor-erin-stewart-s-welcome.html?id=249|title=City of New Britain - Honorable Erin E. Stewart|last=Administrator|access-date=2016-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427150823/http://www.newbritainct.gov/index.php/government/mayors-office/mayor-erin-stewart-s-welcome.html?id=249|archive-date=2016-04-27|url-status=dead}}

{{Reflist | refs =

{{cite news

| author = Kristin Hussey

| date = 4 January 2015

| title = At 27, Balancing Her Social Life and a City's Budget

| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/nyregion/at-27-balancing-her-social-life-and-a-citys-budget.html

| work =The New York Times

| accessdate = 2018-01-07

}}

}}

• [http://www.newbritainct.gov/gov/mayors_office/default.htm New Britain official government website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926205555/http://www.newbritainct.gov/gov/mayors_office/default.htm |date=2018-09-26 }}
• [http://www.stewartfornb.com/ Erin Stewart's official campaign website]

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Category:1987 births

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Connecticut

Category:Central Connecticut State University alumni

Category:Connecticut Republicans

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of New Britain, Connecticut

Category:Women mayors of places in Connecticut