Shawn Wooden (politician)

Shawn T. Wooden is an American attorney and politician who served as the state treasurer of Connecticut between January 2019 and January 2023. Wooden previously served as a member of the Hartford City Council.[1]

Shawn Wooden
83rd Treasurer of Connecticut
In office
January 9, 2019 – January 4, 2023
GovernorNed Lamont
Preceded byDenise Nappier
Succeeded byErick Russell
Personal details
Born1969 or 1970 (age 54–55)
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationTrinity College, Connecticut (BA)
New York University (JD)

Early life and career

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Wooden attended Trinity College on a scholarship.[2] He earned his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. After graduating from college and prior to attending law school, he worked for Hartford Mayor Carrie Saxon Perry.[3] He also served as Connecticut State Director for Project VOTE and worked for the AFL-CIO's Office of Investment in Washington, D.C.

Wooden was elected to the Hartford City Council in 2011. With a one vote margin, his colleagues chose him to be City Council President in January 2012 and unanimously reelected him to the post in January 2014. While on the City Council, Wooden advocated for fiscal stability, economic development, local resident hiring, anti-violence initiatives and youth services programs. He ran for the second district seat in the Connecticut Senate in the 2014 elections,[1] but narrowly lost to long-term incumbent Eric D. Coleman.[4] Wooden opted not to seek reelection in 2015.[5] He was a partner at the law firm of Day Pitney where he worked for 21 years as an investment lawyer and led the firm's public pension fund investment practice.[6]

State treasurer

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In the 2018 elections, Wooden ran for Connecticut State Treasurer. He won the Democratic Party nomination,[7] and the general election, defeating Republican Thad Gray.[8] As state treasurer, Wooden developed a plan to divest $30 million in state funds from companies that make ammunition.[9]

Wooden announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2022 Connecticut State Treasurer election.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Eric Coleman And Shawn Wooden Squareoff In CT 2nd District Primary - Hartford Courant". Courant.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  2. ^ Munson, By Emilie (May 20, 2018). "Hartford's Shawn Wooden wins dem state treasurer endorsement". New Haven Register.
  3. ^ "City Loses Its Hold On A Rising Star - Hartford Courant". Courant.com. April 23, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Coleman Wins In 2nd Senate District Democratic Primary - Hartford Courant". Courant.com. August 12, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "Wooden Says He Won't Seek Re-Election - Courant Community". Courant.com. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "Hartford's Shawn Wooden Enters Treasurer's Race - Hartford Courant". Courant.com. January 11, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  7. ^ Rabe, Jacqueline (August 14, 2018). "No surprises in races for attorney general, comptroller, treasurer - The CT MirrorThe CT Mirror". Ctmirror.org. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Tong Gets Victory In Attorney General Race; Wooden Wins For Treasurer, Lembo And Merrill Re-Elected - Hartford Courant". Courant.com. November 2, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  9. ^ "Connecticut to divest $30M in gun stocks in effort to shape gun control debate". December 3, 2019.
  10. ^ Pazniokas, Mark (April 7, 2022). "Treasurer Shawn Wooden is not running for reelection". CT Mirror. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Connecticut State Treasurer
2018
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Connecticut
2019–2023
Succeeded by