With a longstanding commitment to public service, Councilman Hernan LaFontaine was elected to the Hartford City Council in November 2001. Currently, he is chairman of the Council's Operations, Management and Budget Committee and a member of three other committees: the Education Committee, the Housing Committee, and the Planning, Economic Development and Zoning Committee.

Councilman LaFontaine has lived in Hartford with his wife, Evelyn, for the past 24 years and his two daughters, Alicia and Marissa, were born and raised in Hartford. Both daughters attended Webster Elementary School, Quirk Middle School and Hartford Public High School and are now completing their college studies.

Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents and raised in Spanish Harlem, Councilman LaFontaine went on to a significant career in education in the New York City public schools in which he rose through the ranks from teacher to assistant superintendent. His pioneering work in bilingual education and urban education earned him national and international recognition as an innovative educational leader. In 1979, Councilman LaFontaine was appointed Superintendent of Schools in Hartford  becoming the first individual of Puerto Rican ancestry to be appointed school superintendent in the mainland United States. He continued in that position until his retirement in 1991, the longest tenure of any Superintendent in the history of the Hartford Public Schools. Under his leadership, considerable progress was made in improving student achievement, revising and standardizing the total academic curriculum, developing a broad based computer education program and initiating many other innovative and successful educational reforms.

Upon retirement Councilman LaFontaine was invited to join the faculty of Southern Connecticut State University where he served as   Professor of Educational Leadership  in the Graduate School of Education guiding experienced school administrators preparing to become school superintendents. Upon completion of this service in 1999, he was elected Professor Emeritus for his outstanding contributions to the profession and the university.

Elected to the Hartford City Council in 2001 as part of the election team of Mayor Eddie Perez, Councilman LaFontaine continues to believe that the quality of life in Hartford can be improved by concentrating on the improvement of education, providing adequate employment, strengthening efforts in economic development, increasing home ownership, expanding affordable housing, and providing much needed public transportation. He also has great concern for the safety of citizens throughout the city and for the revitalization of our after-work hours. He strongly believes that success in these areas can once again make Hartford an attractive and vibrant place to live. This, in effect, is his mission.

Email: Hernan LaFontaine