Foster Names Education Advocate Campaign Manager

Former State Rep. Jason Bartlett has been named campaign manager by Democratic mayoral candidate Mary-Jane Foster. From Foster:

Bridgeport businesswoman and social action advocate Mary-Jane Foster, who is running for mayor, is pleased to announce that Jason W. Bartlett has joined the Foster for Bridgeport team as campaign manager. A skilled public policy and legislative leader and successful entrepreneur, Bartlett brings more than 20 years of campaign and fundraising expertise to the Foster campaign.

“I am thrilled that Jason has joined our team,” Foster said. “He is well respected and has broad experience in both the public and private sectors. His deep commitment to education reform and statewide network of resources are invaluable.”

Bartlett is a former two-term State Representative from Danbury, who has demonstrated his concern for children by being an advocate for education reform statewide. He is an African American best known for leading the Black and Latino Caucus in the Connecticut legislature and worked tirelessly to implement reforms to close the State’s achievement gap. Locally, Bartlett may be remembered for leading a 2009 tour of Harding High School that put the statewide spotlight on education inequalities in our city. He introduced the “parent trigger” concept in Connecticut, which empowers parents to make decisions in our schools and that led to Bridgeport instituting the newly formed school governance councils.

Bartlett ran Gerry Garcia’s historic campaign for Secretary of the State and partnered with the Latino community to insure a Latino was included on the Democratic statewide ticket, which was a first in Connecticut. In addition, he has run campaigns throughout the state, including State Senate Majority Leader Marty Looney’s bid for mayor of New Haven.

“Mary-Jane Foster is well positioned to become the next mayor of Bridgeport,” stated Bartlett. “I am excited to be working for a visionary who is responsible for bringing the Bluefish and Arena at Harbor Yard to Bridgeport. Mary-Jane is a person with the know-how to create jobs, reform education, ensure public safety, and do it with integrity. Together our team will work hard to make sure that all of Bridgeport knows that she is a special person who can make a positive difference in this city.”