Arunan Arulampalam introduces himself to Hartford Democratic primary voters with video.

Arunan Arulampalam has released his first video ad and it provides a reminder that the Hartford Democrat running for mayor is having some trouble finding his lane. The production values in the one minute, 51 seconds advertisement are what you would expect from a well-financed campaign, though the interpreted bits of Arulampalam sitting while addressing the camera land like a series of stop signs on a short road.

The ad is lifted by a Arulampalam’s optimism but would have been sustained with some specifics. A candidate running as an outsider might have highlighted the outrageous failures of the MDC in Hartford’s North End neighborhood. The visuals would be striking, the testimonies moving. If a candidate is not running to fix that 19th century problem tormenting residents in the 21st century, he must be seeking the approval of the political establishment.

Arulampalam’s passion is education, so the former lobbyist must be saving some of those ideas for the next ad.

There’s no shame in using some voiceover talent for contrast.

Arulampalam faces state Senator John Fanfara, former state senator and retired judge Eric Coleman, and Councilman Nick Lebron in the contest for the Democratic Town Committee’s endorsement in July. Treachery will be in session that night. The candidates are expected to compete in a September primary that will determines who becomes the next mayor.

Published May 26, 2023.