Saying the city has moved forward and needs to “keep up the momentum,” Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced her plans for a third term in front of a crowd of supporters at the newly constructed Allingtown Green.
Democratic Town Chairman and City Treasurer Michael Last introduced Mayor Rossi at the event, thanking her administration for the good progress made in West Haven over the last four years.
“Four years ago, we inherited a city that was broken and on the verge of bankruptcy, and, through the leadership of Mayor Nancy Rossi and our city council and board of education, we have made great strides”, Last said.
Mayor Rossi thanked residents for their support and recounted why she believes she deserves another term.
“I am proud that the City of West Haven, four years later, is on fiscally solid ground with three consecutive budget surpluses and a fund balance or rainy-day fund for the first time in over a decade. Our rainy-day fund is more than $3.5 million and growing. The Allingtown Fire District is running surpluses and has a positive fund balance of $1.6 million. West Haven’s 2020 audit was on time for the first time in over 15 years. We are seeing our property and home values increase sharply, and as a result, we can lower our mill rate and hold our taxes fairly constant,” she said.
Pointing to recent upgrades in the city’s infrastructure, she vowed to continue to update roads and maintain assets.
“We have begun making the long overdue investments and are addressing the deferred maintenance in our infrastructure across the city. We are paving roads that needed to be paved 10 years ago,” she said. “We are replacing sidewalks that have been damaged by city trees or present a safety issue on public property. This effort will continue, and we will maintain these improvements.”
She touted the completion of the West Haven High School project, the tidal gates at the Cove River as well as other projects, including the renovation of Washington School, built in 1909, and needing an upgrade. She pointed to economic development plans under her administration as well.
“Economic development continues to gain the trust and confidence of developers and investors as we demonstrate that we are serious about long-term financial responsibility and stabilizing our tax rate,” she said.
She thanked the residents and her supporters for four years of changes that have allowed her administration to move on various projects.
“I want to thank you, our residents, and stakeholders, for partnering with me over the last four years to turn West Haven in the right direction. We are on the right path, but there is much more work to be done. As we celebrate our centennial this year, let’s make a commitment together to keep working hard and make West Haven the best it can be, “she said. “West Haven has come a long way in a short time—let’s keep the momentum.”
The announcement makes official a three-way race for City Hall by Democratic candidates. Earlier this spring John Lewis announced his intentions to seek the nod, while former Mayor Edward O’Brien is making a second attempt to regain the mayoralty lost to Rossi in 2017.