The Candidates make final pitch

Voters go to the polls Tuesday to determine who will lead the city for the next two years in both the mayor’s office and City Council. The Nov. 2 election will see incumbent mayor Nancy Rossi look for her third term as chief executive. She is opposed by Republican candidate Barry Lee Cohen.

Both candidates were asked to make a final pitch to voters, answering a set of questions posed by the Voice editor. The following two statements are answers to those questions.

Remain on course we’ve charted

With the campaign drawing to a close, what is your final message to the voters? Has that message changed, been modified or altered because of what you’ve learned in the last several weeks? 

The message is clear – Let’s keep the momentum and let’s keep moving West Haven forward. West Haven has made great progress over the last four years. We have rescued our city, reduced our debt, addressed deferred maintenance issues, put an aggressive paving and sidewalk repair program in place, renovated parks and playgrounds across the city, are near completion of the new high school on schedule and under budget, initiated the replacement of Washington Elementary School. We have seen more investment and proposed economic development in the last two years than the city has seen in decades. We have assembled a great team of elected officials and appointed officials, who really care about the city and now we are getting things done and the city has not looked this good in a very long time.

What issues particularly showed themselves during the campaign, and did those issues surprise you in any way?

The reception from our residents has been very positive. Generally, people are happy with the recovery of the city and the efforts to maintain and upgrade our city owned assets. The last several weeks have been the most stressful after I reviewed and then found the possible fraudulent activity with the CARES Act funding and reported it. Although disappointing, the FBI immediately investigated the issue and made an arrest. I believe there will be additional arrests and I want all those individuals involved to be held responsible to the fullest extent of the law and punished. Although I do not take responsibility for the criminal activity of the individuals involved, I am accountable to the taxpayers to ensure that this never happens again. In that effort, our residents should know I have made it a priority to address and add the additional fiscal controls necessary to prevent a future issue.

What do you see as the most pressing issue to be addressed in the first 100 days of your administration?

Once re-elected, myself, and the Rossi team will continue the progress of the last 4 years. The most pressing issue will be to finalize the city’s plan and budget for the $29 million of federal American Recovery Act funds. We have an online form where we are collecting ideas from residents, then we will hold at least three public hearings across the city. The plan is due January 31, 2022. Once our recommended plan is complete, it will be forwarded to the City Council for additional public input and formal approval, before the plan is submitted to the federal government. This funding will give the city a great opportunity to make investments in our community that will pay dividends to future generations.

What is your biggest asset in looking to lead the city over the next two years? Why should voters pick you?

My biggest assets are my business background, experience, and my work ethic and that of the members of my administration. The voters should pick me because I have delivered on my campaign promises and I am the only candidate in this race with proven results and a real plan. When re-elected, we will continue the good work we have started, and West Haven will continue to benefit! The City will build on the solid foundation that we have laid over the past 4-years.

Final statement

Let’s keep the Momentum! Let’s keep moving West Haven forward!

Unlocking city’s full potential

With the campaign drawing to a close, what is your final message to the voters? Has that message changed, been modified or altered because of what you’ve learned in the last several weeks?

West Haven is a city of unrealized potential. These next two years will be critical for our city to rein in taxes and implement stringent financial controls. As further magnified by the ongoing state and FBI investigations and the subsequent arrest of a city employee, my administration will re-establish ethics, integrity, accountability, and transparency to restore the public’s trust which has been shattered.

My team will also plan and execute true economic development, along with repairing our damaged reputation with developers, federal and state agencies, and other investors. This essential work will allow us to begin improving our quality of life that has been in steep decline over the last four years. Rampant blight and deteriorating infrastructure throughout our city will be addressed.

To meet these daunting challenges, it all starts with the leadership of a full-time, fully engaged mayor that understands that fiscal responsibility goes well beyond balancing the books. Not a mayor that has been missing in action during some of the most difficult times in our city’s history.

Should it be hurricanes and falling trees, flooding and property damage, or public housing support, I will continue to be present and hands-on, with an open mind and open heart.

We all pray that we will never experience the likes again of the pandemic. However, you can be assured that no matter the emergency, I will be there to lead, listen, and clearly communicate. There will be no “radio silence,” but action.

As mayor I will offer leadership without excuses. I will be accessible, forthright, and accountable. The days of finger-pointing at prior administrations will stop. Transparency will be practiced, not preached.

What issues particularly showed themselves during the campaign, and did those issues surprise you in any way?

Changing the Culture of City Hall — The third floor of city hall is renowned for its lack of communication and follow-up to constituents’ requests. After the long delayed The Haven, the most often registered complaint by the hundreds of voters I’ve spoken with over the last six months is this administration’s non-responsive or sometimes terse responses to infrastructure, blight, and safety requests. Some of the most straight forward questions often involve several circular calls or go unanswered.

Be assured my team will offer respect and gratitude—and work to keep you updated on requests. This will include optimized, expert use of digital technologies, including website and social media. Communications will also include a point person and advocate to assist our seniors, veterans, and special need residents. We will never forget that we work for you!

Fiscal Mismanagement — As a former global director of a $1 billion corporation and now a business owner, I am keenly aware that being mayor is more than balancing a budget that has been largely dependent on using state and federal funds. Fiscal stability and growing the grand list also include negotiating in good faith and eliminating ill-conceived budgetary practices. As our next mayor I will demand that standard operating procedures be established and firmly adhered to. No longer will invoices will be approved with scant information for services supposedly rendered.

Specifically, my administration will be vigilant in the approval of vendors. Unlike the complete lack of oversight by my opponent that resulted in fraudulent payments totaling $636,000 to an outside shell company, checks and balances will be put in place. I will demand transparency and accountability for every dollar spent.

My opponent, a certified public accountant (CPA), cannot run away from the fact that after the city council voted to approve her and two other city employees as designees to oversee and distribute Covid funds in December 2020, this outside company was hired only weeks later. To not know that the LLC was owned by two city hall workers is not in line with the training of a financial professional. Any other CEO in the same position would have resigned.

Economic Neglect — My opponent has abandoned the essential responsibility of engaging businesses and developers to others. This economic neglect must be remedied quickly.

Be assured, I will provide work tirelessly to earn the trust and confidence of key stakeholders that are now questioning doing business with our city. Their skepticism has grown more pronounced due these last few weeks.

Unlike my opponent who cannot name one project that she initiated herself from start to finish, I am ready to hit the ground running on Day 1 to Win for West Haven. I will surround myself with professionals that realize that opening a 7-11 is not economic development, nor is a supporting hundreds of apartments that will strain our city services.

While other local municipalities bring in new business, we continue to lack the leadership that competes and wins for West Haven. The result has been higher taxes, reduced services, and a lower quality of life. This will not stand.

Improve Infrastructure and Eliminate Blight — Cracked sidewalks, potholes, blighted properties, and an unkept shorefront continue to plague our city. Enforcing the ordinances on the books, in concert with consistent action and communication—not delay and silence—will be a mandate, not an optional exercise.

Let’s be real, there are areas of our city that look like a dump—some of which are used as a dump. From Spring St. to Front Avenue, from The Haven and beyond, you have my promise that action and communication —not delay and silence—will be a mandate, not an optional exercise.

What do you see as the most pressing issue to be addressed in the first 100 days of your administration?

In addition to regaining the public’s trust, it’s economic development. We must capitalize on our strategic location to major roadways, coupled with a train station and two outstanding universities. We should be the envy of other municipalities. Instead, we’ve become the bridesmaid that drops their bouquets.

For far too long West Haven has been coined the “City of Missed Opportunities.” Time and again, it’s the same drum beat: ‘West Haven is hard to do business with. We don’t pick up the phone. We don’t return emails. We don’t engage.’ This is completely unacceptable. And if this does not change, it’s the residents’ who will continue to bare too high a tax burden and our quality of life will continue to decline.

We must showcase our city, so we are top-of-mind to businesses and developers to build and grow in West Haven. Robust economic development will provide long overdue tax relief to our residents.

In terms of specific projects, I will be re-engaging with the developers of The Haven. The time to act is now. A neighborhood needs answers, not the vandalism and unsavory activities that occurred under this administration’s watch.

Furthermore, I am excited to explore and provide new opportunities to revitalize our dormant downtown, which starts with the deteriorating building directly across from City Hall. It’s also time we stopped talking about an arts center which is an essential component to any thriving downtown, and focusing on moving it forward.

My longtime advocacy for a technology corridor spanning from Frontage Road / Railroad Avenue to the train station is unwavering . Tapping state and federal programs and officials, in conjunction with private investors and leading organizations, such a venture will be vigorously pursued.

My team will focus on revitalizing the Boston Post Road through a renewal plan to best optimize the geographic challenges of this area. I will be collaborating closely with developers and businesses to fill vacancies that will enable subsequent phases of development at this high-profile entrance to our city.

Our shoreline should be the envy of Connecticut, not a series of scars on our shorefront. From working on the successful redevelopment of the Savin Rock Conference Center site, to engaging new commercial interest from Captain Thomas Blvd to Beach Street, strategic planning and execution of our cherished shorefront will include collaboration with residents and small businesses alike.

As I’ve stated from the start of this campaign, it will take me more than two years to get much of this done. However, you will see progress on each of these vital programs.

What is your biggest asset in looking to lead the city over the next two years? Why should voters pick you?

Unlike my opponent, I am a lifelong Westie and know what West Haven was and what it once again can be —and much more. I am also not a politician, but a community servant. For well over 35 years, I’ve proven my leadership, financial discipline, and executive management acumen in both the private and public sectors.

As a leader, I take responsibility for mistakes. Success is due to teamwork and collaboration. It’s not about “I” but, “we.”

With in-depth experience in strategic planning, business, marketing, and communications, as mayor I will also serve as our city’s Chief Marketing Officer. It will take more than two years, however, have no doubt that I have the passion and energy to move West Haven forward.

5. Final statement.

Now more than ever, it’s time to put party labels aside. Serving the public should never be about R, D, I, U—because it’s about us! Together, we can do more united versus the lack of accountability, accessibility, and transparency that has divided and disillusioned us for far too long.

A Cohen administration will not be led by one party or one faction. I will not be a West Shore mayor. I will be West Haven’s mayor. West Haven is a city with untapped and unlimited potential. You can be assured I will be on a mission that we meet and exceed our potential.

This is our moment to move ahead. And it’s not the “momentum” of monumental mistakes, fiscal mismanagement, and moving backwards. It’s time for West Haven to shine —and not fall behind.

Together, we will once again make West Haven a place where families, veterans, and senior citizens can work, live, and thrive. Together, we will become ONE WEST HAVEN.