Convicted Hartford mayor steps down

After a week of uncertainty about when Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez would resign following his conviction on corruption charges, the transition occurred Friday in the span of a minute.

Pledging to change the way city government is run, Pedro Ernesto Segarra, the city council president, was sworn in as Hartford's 66th mayor at 5:01 p.m. Perez's resignation took effect at 5 p.m.

"This is a very difficult period of time for our city, but we need to join efforts . . . to overcome the difficulties we are having," Segarra told a crowd of city employees, residents and council members at city hall Friday evening. "It's important that we start to deal with all these issues quickly and effectively."

Segarra's eyes welled with tears after taking the oath of office, and he apologized to the clients of his Hartford law firm, which he has begun to close as he takes on the duties of the city's top executive. He has said he never planned to be mayor.

"I believe that God puts us at different places at different times . . . and I trust that my interest at this point is to stay focused, be reasoned and be reasonable," he said.

Perez's chief of staff, Susan McMullen, submitted a letter of resignation from Perez to John Bazzano, the town and city clerk, earlier Friday. Perez, who was convicted of five felony corruption charges June 18, did not make a public appearance

In a written statement, he thanked voters for their confidence in him and apologized.

"Over the past nine years, it has been my honor and privilege to serve the residents of Hartford. I have done my best to improve their neighborhoods, schools and public safety," Perez said in the statement. "I am truly sorry for the mistakes I made that have harmed the reputation of the city I love."

Segarra said Friday that he has requested letters of resignation from all of the city's department heads and from Corporation Counsel John Rose. He said that he would review the letters and make prompt decisions about staffing.

"There will be changes; changes must come from this," he said.

Segarra promised to "solve problems" and "rebuild bridges" during the more than a year left in Perez's term. He thanked residents for their patience and hope.

Perez was convicted of five felony charges, including bribery and extortion. He had been charged with receiving a bribe, fabricating evidence, accessory to the fabrication of evidence, conspiracy to fabricate evidence, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny by extortion and criminal attempt to commit first-degree larceny by extortion. A jury found him guilty on all counts except a charge of fabricating evidence.

Perez has said he plans to appeal.