Tuesday’s election is historic in many ways
Tuesday is Election Day throughout the State of Connecticut. Here in West Haven, we have the odd-year decision of whom will sit in the third-floor desk in City Hall for the next term. In many ways it is an historic election.
For the record, incumbent Mayor Nancy Rossi is challenged by Republican candidate Michele Gregorio for the top spot. The usual under-ticket of council seats, some Board of Education spots, and other administrative positions are on the ballot as well. As we said, this is an historic election:
~~ For those who care about such trivial things, this is the first time two women are vying for the mayoralty. We think it silly to bring these matters up, but some people see it as important;
~~ It is the first election taking place following the empaneling of the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB). The committee was put together in the waning days of the O’Brien administration due to the decision to bond to pay off the city’s recurring $16 million deficit;
~~ It is the first to take place under the five-year plan instituted at the dir4ection of the MARB, which mandates incremental tax increases over the term of the plan up to 40 mills. Tax increases are usually a hot-button issue, but the mandate might mute the usual anger, or might exacerbate it;
~~ This may be the last election taking place under the current city charter. The current charter was instituted for the most part when the city was incorporated, and changed from a Selectman form of government to a Mayor-Council form. Under the recently approved charter revisions that will go before the voters in 2020, the council will again become the paramount legislative body, with the mayor reduced to a member of the council. Additionally, the day-to-day responsibilities of running the city will fall on a city manager, a paid professional.
Aside from the possible historic nature of the election, we have seen the city’s Republican Party put up a dogged fight for the first time in quite a while. Two years ago, the GOP ran a fine campaign in the heavily Democratic city, but this time the minority party upped its game. We shall see if anything transpires. Having a vibrant two-party system is necessary to maintain political equilibrium.
As far as the two candidates, Mayor Rossi has run a campaign that can best be described as “Stay the Course.” Working with MARB, she believes that her implementation of budget cuts and the five-year plan have put the city on the right path toward future solvency.
Michele Gregorio has run her campaign focusing on what she believes are mistakes made by the Rossi administration and paths that should be taken by the city toward future prosperity. If Rossi’s mantra is “Stay the Course,” Gregorio’s is “It’s Time for a Change of Direction.”
The voters of West Haven will decide beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.