HARTFORD, Conn. -- The man who would be Hartford's first openly gay mayor announced his candidacy on Wednesday.

Hartford Rep. Art Feltman, D-District 6, has served in the Legislature for 10 years. He chairs the House Planning and Development Committee in addition to sitting on the House Appropriations and Education committees.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Jamie Roth reported Feltman describes himself as a "sincere leader whose heart aches for people struggling against long odds."

Feltman said he has plenty of ideas for helping the city overcome the odds and, he claims, his ideas aren't the only ones that count.

"When I'm mayor, we'll get things done at City Hall," he said. "It's time to crank up in Hartford and send energy to every corner of this town."

Feltman didn't grow up in Hartford, but he spent his adult life here, once serving on the City Council. He has promised to be a mayor with an open mind and an open door.

"We're going to bring down the curtain on the solo act long played at 550 Main," he said.

In Feltman's opinion, the city budget needs better oversight.

"Since the last election, the mayor's budget has grown at twice the rate of inflation," Feltman said. "Someone needs to look at the books at City Hall. I will."

Feltman said he thinks Hartford has to become a safer city and would support enforcement of a teen curfew that's already on the books.

"Get the youth out of the street at night and get ex-offenders back to productive work," Feltman said.

Feltman cited a $1 billion Metropolitan District Commission construction project and told supporters he would ensure that ex-offenders got some of the construction jobs.

Feltman made history when he became one of the first couples to be united in a civil union ceremony in 2005 on the first day that the state's law took effect. Feltman is also among the first openly gay lawmakers in the country.

Democrats I. Charles Mathews announced his candidacy last week and Frank Barrows declared his candidacy last December.

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Eddie Perez has yet to announce his re-election candidacy, but is widely anticipated to do so.

So far, no Republican candidate has announced a candidacy.

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