Nora Grace-Flood
Santiago with retired New Haven Board of Alders President and mayoral Chief of Staff Tomas Reyes at Wednesday night's fundraiser.
Latino educators and activists gathered to support a quest to make history — by electing Connecticut’s first Latino secretary of the state.
The occasion Wednesday evening was a $50-per-ticket campaign fundraiser for secretary of the state candidate Hilda Santiago. Santiago addressed and mingled with three dozen supporters over pasta alla vodka and chicken breast at The Little Colombia Restaurant on Main Street.
Wednesday's spread.
The secretary of the state is Connecticut’s top elections official. Besides overseeing elections, the secretary of the state is in charge of business filings and maintaining the commercial registry.
The Democratic Party has never had a Latino or Latina candidate on the ballot for any of the statewide offices. Santiago and her supporters are emphasizing that point as she competes in a crowded field of potential Democratic primary candidates looking to succeed incumbent Denise Merrill, who is retiring after serving three terms.
Santiago, a five-term Meriden state representative, outlined policies she would pursue if elected, including establishing early and no-fault absentee ballot voting as well as beefed-up cybersecurity. (Read more about Santiago’s campaign here.)
“There are people who work two to three jobs, and we only have one day” to vote, Santiago said. “That means our community is losing those votes.”
“Connecticut is one of six states that doesn’t have early voting,” she pointed out. “It’s time we change the system. This is what we need to do so we don’t have voter suppression.”
Santiago added the secretary of the state job requires a strong communicator — a liaison between the state and local town clerks and registrars. As a 17-year member of the Meriden Democratic Town Committee who also served as a translator and advocate for Spanish-speaking parents and the Meriden school system, Santiago said, “I’ve got government experience, grassroots experience … and legislative experience” to ensure everyone feels that they have “a seat at the table.”
Maritza Rosa, Olga de la Victoria and Myrella Lara at the fundraiser.
Retired educators Maritza Rosa, Olga de la Victoria, and Myrella Lara, who have taught in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford, shared a table Wednesday night, sipping cocktails and talking about Santiago’s success as a community mobilizer.
“We need more women and Latina voices,” said Rosa.
“Her dedication to the community,” Rosa added, is clear. “Every time we call her, we know she’ll help us out,” she said.
Victoria, who lives in Hamden, argued that Santiago’s history as an educator is a plus for the job that requires rallying individuals from all walks of life to enact voting laws focused on equity, accessibility and inclusion.
Heriberto Cajigas: The community's behind you.
“You will move forward because you have the community behind you,” said Heriberto Cajigas, a Meriden resident who came out Wednesday to voice support for his representative.
Miguel Castro: This is historic.
Hispanic Democratic Caucus Chairman Miguel Castro said he believed Santiago will be the next Secretary of the State.
“I believe we’ve paved the way to this point,” he said. “The supporters are there. We have to focus on raising dollars.”
“This is historic,” he said. “This is a turning point.”
Watch Santiago’s Wednesday speech — and listen to testaments by her supporters — below.
Congrats on your successful fund raiser and we look forward to your election as the first Latinx for state office based on your dedication to the community, an Educator, and the professionalism you display! Some of us in New Haven and throughout the state will certainly support your efforts in this endeavor. Best wishes!