Mary Glassman - Biography

Biography

Mary Glassman is a lifelong Connecticut resident. One of four children born to Frances and Angelo Messina, Ms. Glassman and her three brothers grew up in New Britain, CT. She went to Roosevelt Junior High School in New Britain and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School at the top of her class. Ms. Glassman worked her way through the University of Connecticut with a degree in Journalism. Afterward she attended University of Connecticut School of Law.

Glassman was elected first selectman of Simsbury, Connecticut in 1991 – the first Democratic leader elected there in nearly 40 years. She was elected to four terms before stepping down. Two of her most notable achievements as First Selectman, during those eight years, were her commissioning of the International Skating Center of Connecticut, built during her term, which has become a magnet for professional skaters and making Simsbury the summer home of the Hartford Symphony.

Glassman has also served in the State Capitol – where she worked with Speaker of the House of Representatives Moira K. Lyons and Senate President Kevin B. Sullivan. She then served as Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor Kevin B. Sullivan following the resignation of Governor John Rowland. Ms. Glassman clerked for the judges of the Superior Court and as an advocate for CT Voices for Children.

In 2006, Mary Glassman was selected as the running mate for Stamford mayor Dan Malloy's campaign for governor. During the primary election, Malloy lost his bid, but Glassman secured the slot for the Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate, beating West Hartford, Connecticut mayor Scott Slifka 57 percent to 43 percent. According to Connecticut state primary rules, the ticket for Lieutenant Governor and Governor may be split, allowing voters to simultaneously vote for opposing Democratic candidates on the ballot. In 2006 Mary Glassman ran with New Haven mayor John DeStefano on the Democratic Ticket, losing to Republican governor Jodi Rell in the general election.

In 2007, Ms. Glassman returned to Simsbury as First Selectman and was re-elected by a wide margin in November 2009. Under her watch, Simsbury was recently ranked among the Top 100 Best Places To Live in America by Money Magazine. She also organized a charrette (community design session) on how to improve Simsbury’s downtown area. The result was 800 people participating over five days during September 2009 and coming up with a mixed-use plan for the center of town.

Glassman currently serves as Treasurer of the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) and as an executive board member of the Connecticut Council of Municipalities (CCM).

In January 2010, Glassman formed an exploratory committee to run for state office in Connecticut.

In January 2010, Glassman launched a website for her campaign located at www.MaryForCT.com.

In the August 10, 2010 state Democratic primary, Glassman was defeated for lieutenant governor by State Comptroller Nancy Wyman.