Promising to keep Derby government “efficient, productive and low cost,” three-term incumbent Anthony Staffieri accepted the Republican endorsement for mayor Wednesday during a nominating convention in the Veterans Memorial Building on Atwater Avenue.
Staffieri said Derby has made great strides during his nearly six years in City Hall.
“We now have a real developer with real money — his money, not the city’s money — ready to turn our downtown into a thriving commercial center,” Staffieri told supporters. “We have a brand new middle school. We have had two bond upgrades, and our financial stability is compared to towns the likes of Shelton.”
Click the videos to see Staffieri’s complete speech after being nominated.
If re-elected, Staffieri said he’ll continue to make economic development — that is, jobs and business that generate tax revenue — a priority in the city.
In addition to downtown development, Staffieri said the city will see a new road and a business center in the area behind BJ’s off Division Street.
“Our journey is not complete,” the mayor said.
Staffieri said his background as a small business owner makes him better suited to run the government than his opponent, Dan Foley, Jr., a retired educator.
“I appreciate my opponent’s years of service as a school teacher and a president of the teacher’s union,” Staffieri said. “I believe my opponent’s experience and my experience will make for a very interesting campaign.”
State Rep. Themis Klarides spoke on Staffieri’s behalf, saying Staffieri has stabilized Derby.
“We need to continue that common sense leadership,” she said.
Alderman Joe Bomba said Staffieri is honest, has integrity and an uncanny ability to motivate others.
“I’m a better person for knowing him,” Bomba said.
The mood among the Republicans was relaxed — even jovial. The full slate features a slew of Republican incumbents:
Mayor
Anthony Staffieri (incumbent)
Treasurer
Keith McLiverty
Constable
Peter Duhaime
1st Ward Alderman
Bev Moran (incumbent)
John Bartone
Tony Szewczyk
2nd Ward Alderman
Jay Benanto (incumbent)
Joe DiMartino (incumbent)
Dave Lenart (incumbent)
3rd Ward Alderman
Ken Hughes (incumbent)
Joe Bomba (incumbent)
Scott Boulton (incumbent)
Board of Apportionment and Taxation
Carolyn Duhaime (incumbent)
Mark Nichols (incumbent)
Nelson Cummings (incumbent)
Jeremy Bell (incumbent)
Richard Dziekan
Judy Szewczyk (incumbent)
Board of Education
Rebecca O’Hara (incumbent)
Casey Picheco (incumbent)
Laura Harris (incumbent)
Mary Porter
Jim Gildea
Denise Bottone
Run it like a Business…Heck No!
It has been said that the City of Derby should be run like a business. While accepting his party’s nomination, our mayor stated, “…a city is a business and must be run that way.”
It’s a popular notion…a government running along on all cylinders like a finely tuned, well-oiled machine. Unfortunately, it’s just that…a notion.
When a candidate states that his business experience makes him better suited to lead than the background of an educator, we have a problem. The last time I checked, educators were charged with teaching basic skills, right from wrong, tolerance of different points of views, religions, and races.
Educators tend to be able to grasp abstract concepts, think critically and independently, communicate effectively, and value differing opinions.
In fact, business is so messed up that educators had to come to the rescue and create a course of study called Business Ethics so that business people could learn how to act among themselves (in theory, of course).
While business may have taught our mayor how to stretch a dollar and meet a payroll (education teaches these responsibilities as well), the running of a business does not give our mayor or anybody else the exclusive right to claim business experience is any better than an educator’s experience.
It could be argued that running a city like a business is one of the least attractive options available to politicians. What happens in the family business? Employee A is a great employee and does a good job, but as soon as someone from the owner’s inner circle needs a job, promotion, reference or money, employee A is pushed to the back of the line.
Run it like a business? Business has nepotism and the old boy network. Business has kickbacks, payouts, consultants, conceptual designs, preferred contracts and developers, lawyers, and most importantly lawsuits. Business has tons of lawsuits and this business of Derby has had its share of lawsuits in recent years.
Good people, idealistic people have been relieved of duty because of a difference of opinion. Political hacks and loudmouths keep their positions because they are part of the team…the inner circle.
There have been instances where the mayor has not acted in the business model in which he likes to cloak himself. City employees are still on the payroll despite bringing shame and embarrassment to the city. In the business world, if you embarrass the boss or the company, you are fired…it’s that simple.
In conclusion, a city should not be run like a business. A city should be run by the people and for the people…any educator could tell you that’s how government was envisioned by our forefathers.
Art, Your theories are very idealistic, have you ever heard the expression those that can’t teach? A teacher or professor cloaks themselves in theories with no practical application in how they work. They will say this is how something should work and when it doesn’t they blame everyone but the theory. If you had a great idea to run a company would you put a teacher in charge or a business man. I am not giving Tony a pass your 100% right about people in City hall getting fired. And your mention of business ethics is laughable considering there are probably more honest businessmen then politicians.