A Historic First for Bloomfield Leadership
Darrell Goodwin has made history as the first openly Black queer man to serve on the Town Council of Bloomfield, Connecticut. He was appointed to fill a vacancy for six weeks leading up to the November election, officially taking his oath at Town Hall.
Goodwin, who is also the Executive Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ, is now running as an endorsed Democratic candidate to secure a full two-year term on the council.
“Yesterday evening I was humbled to be appointed to serve on the Bloomfield Town Council, and today I had the privilege of being sworn in at Town Hall,” Goodwin said after the ceremony. “As far as I know, I am the first openly LGBTQ+ Black man to serve in this role in our town’s history. I carry that reality with both gratitude and deep responsibility.”
A Campaign Centered on Civility and Community
Goodwin’s decision to run for office grew from a simple but powerful concern: the lack of civility in local government. He observed how town council members struggled to have productive conversations.
“In my particular town, we really struggle around civility, the councilors’ ability to talk with each other,” he explained. “I wondered if someone could offer a new way to work together.”
For Goodwin, public service is a natural extension of his faith and leadership. He believes the call to ministry goes beyond the church walls and into neighborhoods, schools, and local government. “Serving on Town Council is another way of living into my baptismal vow to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God,” he said.
From Faith to Public Service
Goodwin’s appointment was not just a political move—it was a reflection of years spent building bridges in his community. As a faith leader, he has seen how local action can bring people together during times of division.
His leadership on the council is focused on strengthening community engagement and creating space for respectful dialogue. That commitment aligns with his wider ministry work, which emphasizes justice, equity, and inclusion.
Goodwin joins a growing number of clergy across the country who are stepping into political spaces to make change at the local level.
Family Support and Personal Motivation
Behind Goodwin’s campaign is a deep sense of personal motivation. His 89-year-old grandmother, who lives with him, has been one of his strongest supporters. She joined him during early voting to encourage civic participation.
“I’m running to be her town councilor,” Goodwin shared. “She gets to have everything. I get to be her conference minister, her town councilor, and her grandson. You have it all.”
His husband has also been active on the campaign trail, joining him for door-to-door canvassing to connect with neighbors and share their vision for Bloomfield.
A Broader Movement of Clergy in Politics
Goodwin’s run for office reflects a larger movement among clergy who feel called to step into political roles. Across the country, pastors and faith leaders are seeking to bring compassion, civility, and justice into government.
Like Jonathan Bradner in Ohio and Anthony Williams in Illinois, Goodwin sees civic leadership as a way to meet the needs of communities beyond the pulpit. It is a response to national unrest, division, and the urgent demand for more empathetic leadership at every level of government.
With his historic appointment and campaign underway, Goodwin is charting a new path that blends faith, identity, and public service.
