CONTRIBUTED
Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto.
I was the first of my eight siblings to be born in Derby after my parents immigrated here from Italy. My father worked in the fabric dying room of Derby’s Hull Dye; my mother spent most of her time raising me and my siblings, while doing her best to stretch my father’s paycheck as far as she could.
It wasn’t easy. But growing up in that environment taught me the value of sacrifice, hard work, and determination.
After I graduated from Derby High School, I attended Mattatuck Community College and then transferred to Eastern Connecticut State University where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in early education. In order to pay for college, I worked at Burger King and on the assembly line at Connecticut Aerosol.
Following college, I took a job at Derby Dental Lab. While there, I learned all I could about the dental industry and how to run a small business. It was there I discovered my desire to become a dentist. So, I returned to school at the age of 40, living in a local YMCA and working odd jobs to afford my education.
Eventually, I was able to realize my dream of becoming a dentist and opened Sunflower Dental Care on Elizabeth Street, which I still own today.
Looking out my window on Elizabeth Street over the years, I saw countless empty storefronts and fading facades. Yet, I saw tremendous potential.
From my experience, I knew the city needed to make some changes in order for growth to happen. It needed to modernize the way it did business and how it interacted with its residents and the broader community. It needed to set priorities reflective of the growth its residents envisioned.
My desire to lead this change is what motivated me to run for office.
Since taking office, I can confidently say that the changes being implemented are paying dividends. New businesses are coming in, the development community is attentive, and young people are once again coming home to Derby. Without a doubt, people feel the shift in momentum.
To keep this progress going, I humbly ask for your vote on September 12.
The writer is the mayor of Derby.
Views expressed in guest columns (aka ‘letters to the editor’) and press releases do not necessarily reflect the views of ValleyIndy.org. Due to limited resources, The Valley Indy has a 550-word limit on guest columns.
