Hartford Mayor Ann Uccello: A Connecticut Trailblazer

By: Paul Pirrotta

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Synopsis: In 1967, Antonina "Ann" Uccello became the first woman elected as mayor in Hartford and the state. One of five sisters and the child of Italian immigrants, her journey toward the American dream advanced innovative solutions for the economic and social problems of the city. Faced with poverty, unrest and a shrinking tax base, Ann was a dynamic leader who dealt with the city's issues directly and pragmatically. She championed better housing and job training and even went into the heart of riots to calm the crowds. She was reelected mayor in 1969, lost an extremely close election for Congress in 1970 and in 1971 joined the Nixon administration as consumer affairs director at the Department of Transportation. Working closely with Mayor Ann Uccello, author Paul Pirrotta looks back on her life and remarkable legacy.