Democrat Merrill Gay Announces City Elections Exploratory Committee

Press Pool Story

Democratic Board of Education member and longtime activist, Merrill Gay, has announced that he has formed an exploratory committee to begin raising funds to run for office in November’s city election.  “All around us we see the need to make change happen ourselves when we don’t like what we see. I am taking the first steps now to bring about real change for New Britain’s families, seniors and businesses,” Gay said.

Gay, who currently serves as the executive director of the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, has been a city taxpayer since 1989. He filled a vacancy on the Board of Education in 2014 and was elected to a four year term in 2015.

Gay is well known as an education advocate at both the state and local levels. He has been an advocate for work to improve early reading success, reduce childhood obesity and to improve school attendance. He is the father of two grown children. Many city residents know Gay as the driver of the eye-catching yellow Velomobile he pedals around the city emblazoned with the words, “We Vote For Kids.”

An exploratory committee allows a potential candidate for office to explore a candidacy, before they decide whether to run or even which office they would pursue. Potential candidates may raise money and build an organization as part of the exploratory committee process. However, behind the scenes, many Democratic activists have been discussing the well-liked Merrill Gay as a strong potential candidate for Mayor.

Gay says that he will make a formal announcement of his intentions in the next few weeks.