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