Centro Hosts Second Mayoral Debate (With Video)

For the second time this election season, welcomed a set of mayoral candidates to a Saturday afternoon debate.

Three of the six candidates—City Councilors Michael Buscetto III and Rob Pero as well as attorney Daryl Finizio—. The field has since grown to include independent candidates Andrew Lockwood, Lori Hopkins-Cavanagh, and Martin Olsen.

Buscetto, who was in July but , gave the first opening statement. He asked that his write-in candidacy be given the same respect as the other five candidates, who will all appear on the ballot, and cautioned that politicians sometimes overpromise and underperform.

“When tough decisions have to be made, who’s going to make them?” he asked.

Hopkins-Cavanagh, a real estate broker and owner of , said she has been to all areas of the city in her business. She said her platform includes a number of practical solutions for the city.

“We cannot have the issues we’ve had with crime and poverty and succeed as a community,” she said.

Finizio, the Democratic nominee, said the selection of a strong mayor is a critical decision for New London. He said that while he respects his opponents, he feels he is the best person to bring new ideas and reinvigorate the city.

“I do not doubt for a moment the sincerity of anyone who sits on this stage,” he said.

Pero, the Republican candidate, spoke of his 16 years of experience on the City Council and his recent support for public safety initiatives such as hiring a crime analyst. He said the city must be affordable, that taxes would not increase for his first two years in office, and that he has worked with Councilor Adam Sprecace to increase the number of owner-occupied residences in the city.

“I ask that you look at the candidates across the board, not just one issue,” he said.

Olsen, who currently holds the ceremonial title of mayor on the City Council, named education as the number one issue facing the community. He said he is running as an independent candidate because he did not think the election should be compromised by political bickering.

“It should not be partisan,” he said. “Partisan politics have kind of brought this city to its knees.”

Lockwood, a realtor, said his sales experience would be a benefit in the mayor’s office. He said his goals include retaining residents, making better use of the waterfront, and reaching out to the business community.

“We need to sell ourselves back to New England, to the state, to the whole United States,” he said.

Candidates were given three minutes to answer questions raised by a moderator, as well as an additional one-minute rebuttal after each candidate had spoken. The following is a summary of the questions asked and each candidate’s response, as well as their closing statements. Excerpts from the closing statements can be seen in the accompanying video.

How will you bring economic development to New London and hold the line on taxes?

Hopkins-Cavanagh said she plans to develop a set of “International Shops” by the time of ’s visit in July to celebrate the city’s diversity and bring additional business to the city. She said she also plans to be fiscally conservative, not firing any city employees but making no new hires either.

“I want to implement changes within our government to make it more efficient,” she said.

Finizio said economic difficulties at the state and federal level affect municipalities as well, and that he would support a legislative lobbyist and grants coordinator to bring additional funds to the city. He said he would also look to consolidate the city and school financial departments, reduce overtime, and encourage small business growth.

“Job growth is the central component to economic growth in our city,” he said.

Pero said that Gov. Dannel Malloy has promised not to cut municipal aid, and that as such he can guarantee no tax increases for two years through money-saving incentives such as early retirement and a wellness program. He said he also supported the development of Fort Trumbull, marketing the city, and more city events; he said he opposed a lobbyist position, and that he would personally lobby for the city as mayor.

“Councilor [Adam] Sprecace and I have said we want a reinvestment in the buildings downtown,” he added.

Olsen said a sustained effort is needed for economic development, and that he feels the is understaffed. He said improvement to the schools is the first step in encouraging growth of the city’s Grand List, and that he also supported the idea of a business recruiter to actively fill empty storefronts.

“This is not going to be a silver bullet solution which, in my humble opinion, New London is famous for,” he said.

Lockwood said he is looking to team up with surrounding communities to purchase the HMS Bounty, which has appeared in movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean II, and dock it in New London as a tourist attraction. He also proposed bringing outlet stores into downtown, establishing a new grocery store at the former Huey’s site, and building a hotel at Fort Trumbull.

“These ideas will help expand our Grand List and lower our taxes, and create sustainable jobs here,” he said.

Buscetto said his work as a developer makes him qualified to encourage a business environment in New London. He said he would support incubator programs to retain professionals such as recently laid off Pfizer scientists and that he would look to city programs to eliminate unproductive ones. Buscetto also accused his fellow candidates of being non-specific in their proposals.

“Economic development is not talking, it’s doing,” he said.

How would you treat the role of the mayor as the “face of the city,” and are you open to regionalization efforts?

Finizio said there are effective ways to regionalize social services, transportation, economic development, and other areas. He said the mayor will have to present a positive image of the city to encourage visitors, and said a legislative lobbyist will help to bring awareness of New London to a wider audience.

“It will be a lot easier to do that if we have better representation in Hartford,” he said.

Pero said the city has regionalized water services with East Lyme during his time on the council, and that he supports a regional dog pound and dispatch center. After the issue of homelessness was raised later in the debate, he said a regional approach is needed to connect chronic homeless people with appropriate services. Pero said he has also been active on the regional Council of Governments.

“Overall you need to develop those relationships…You need one voice to say what New London needs,” he said.

Olsen said he has been advocating for the city as ceremonial mayor, including a trip to Washington, D.C. for OpSail 2012 planning. He said he has also been active with the Council of Government and supportive of multi-state regionalization efforts such as a central rail corridor from New London to Brattleboro, Vt. Olsen also opposed a legislative lobbyist position, saying the state representatives are meant to advocate for their districts.

“To pay someone to go up there to look over [New London State Rep.] Ernie [Hewett]’s shoulder, I don’t know how he feels about it,” he said.

Lockwood said there are good efforts to end homelessness in New London, and also opposed a legislative lobbyist. He said he has taken a regional approach in his discussions regarding the Bounty, and that the mayor will have to be complemented by the City Council and Board of Education in promoting the city’s image.

“You need serious people to support the mayor,” he said.

Buscetto said there is regular regional cooperation to stop crime, especially drug trafficking, but that the mayor must also be dedicated to addressing an increase in violent crime and homelessness. He said one available program, “Ready Willing and Able,” would get homeless people involved in the community.

“I think New London has to get serious with its problems,” he said.

Hopkins-Cavanagh said the mayor should promote the city’s diversity, and that she has worked to understand homelessness by means such as attending a church breakfast for the hungry. She said the mayor should also work to increase owner-occupied housing to stabilize neighborhood and address the problem of school violence.

“We need to focus on stabilizing our city, and crime will go away,” she said.

What can the mayor do as an ex-officio member of the Board of Education, and how can the mayor work to improve the ?

Pero said he feels there is a need for more interaction among parents and people in the schools, that teachers in particular have been neglected in the development of policy and curriculum. He said he supports addressing at the , but opposes the building of a new school. Pero also said the mayor should be a strong voice for what is needed in the district and why, as well as where money is being spent.

“I believe it’s about leadership and helping them create better policy,” he said.

Olsen said the mayor has a “bully pulpit” to help influence policy, and said he has personally taught college classes and served as a mentor at . He said he supports “outside the box thinking” for school improvement, such as the Harlem Children’s Zone. Olsen said he was particularly concerned about the possibility of a state takeover of the district.

“That state of Connecticut is looking at our school board and our schools, and they’re not very pleased with what they’re seeing,” he said.

Lockwood said there should be more parental involvement in the schools, along with support for early education and better communication with parents who dropped out of school. He said he did not think Superintendent Nicholas Fischer should have received a raise this year, and that he would work toward removing Fischer if the district’s academic performance does not improve.

Buscetto said there should be a special focus on early childhood development, as well as a job skills program for students who don’t wish to go to college and a “College Visions” support network for students who do go to postsecondary education. Buscetto again accused his opponents of being vague in their statements.

“Raise the expectations of your candidate as well…We have to have solutions, and I’m not hearing that today,” he told the audience.

Hopkins-Cavanagh said she would support connections between the schools and businesses to offer students job training, and that she would start a 10-member advisory committee in office to stay apprised of education and other issues. She said she opposed idea of , and cited a low owner-occupancy rate as a core problem affecting the schools.

“Our problems are very, very critical right now and patchwork programs aren’t going to fix them,” she said.

Finizio said he supports a bond to either fix ADA violations or build a new school. He said the mayor must get out into the community as well as the schools and Board of Education. Finizio said he also agreed with Olsen that the possible state takeover is a critical issue, and that there should be better dialogue between the Board of Education and City Council.

“The mayor should be a good personal go-between to bring these public servants together,” he said.

What is your stance on , and your plan for what to do in the event that it sells or does not sell to the ?

Olsen said he is opposed to the sale, saying the $2.9 million offered for nine acres of the park would not last long in the municipal budget. He said if the park is not sold, it should have increased signage as well as the addition of features such as a playscape, pavilion, skateboard park, or dog park.

“We cannot replace this park,” he said.

Lockwood said he has heard the argument that the academy is a “good neighbor,” and suggested that a resident would not give away part of their backyard just because they get along with their neighbor. He also proposed greater use of the park for summer concerts and other activities.

“You need park space and open space in any city you’re in,” he said.

Buscetto said the decision ultimately rests with the voters, but questioned where the city would receive a similar amount to that offered by the academy; he said a community discussion will have to determine the future of the site after the vote. Buscetto also said the academy has been essential in enhancing areas such as economic development, the arts, education, tourism, and volunteerism in New London.

“I will not be the mayor who gets the letter from the Coast Guard saying, ‘We’ve decided to relocate because we could not make things work here,’” he said.

Hopkins-Cavanagh said she is opposed to the sale, and has proposed tearing down the Thames River Apartments high-rises and having the academy build there and in the State Pier area. She said the park is the only open space available to the surrounding neighborhood.

“It’s so short-sighted to sell it,” she said.

Finizio said open space is essential in any urban development plan, and that the sale of the park in a city as small of New London would be ill-advised. He said there is a misperception of the park as a run-down site, and said it has been used for events and would figure strongly into efforts to connect northern New London to downtown.

“My advice to all of you would be to go to Riverside Park before you vote,” he said.

Pero said he did not support earlier requests by the academy to purchase the entire park or a larger portion of it, but felt that the nine-acre parcel is a “happy medium.” He said the money from the sale can be used to improve the remaining section of park as well as the surrounding neighborhood.

“I think it’s an important issue for the voters to decide,” he said.

Closing statements

Lockwood outlined a number of things he wouldn’t support. He said he feels the should be disbanded, that he does not support , and that he cannot support a failing school system and will seek the removal of the superintendent if he does not think the schools are improving.

“I will ask you to review everybody’s positions, and their stances, and I know the people of New London are intelligent and will make the right decision,” he said.

Buscetto said he has the financial management background to be mayor. He said the city’s future will have some difficult times, and asked voters to choose who they feel has the best qualifications.

“I ask you not to vote for the person who makes the best speech, or promises you the world,” he said. “We’ve been down that road already.”

Hopkins-Cavanagh said she sees city improvement as a challenge, but one she is capable of doing. She said she has successfully run businesses before and believes she can stabilize the city’s neighborhoods.

“We have some real serious problems and they’re all interrelated,” she said. “And they all come down to one problem, and that is our housing issues and our neighborhoods.”

Finizio said he supported the creation of a strong mayor’s position because he felt it was the best way to bring tangible change to the city. He said new ideas and an innovative approach are needed for the office to help New London.

“If it’s the same policies and the same priorities and the same methodologies, we are going to get the same result again and again and again,” he said.

Pero said he is prepared to address issues across the board if elected, and that he has learned about the operations of each municipal department in his time on the City Council. He said he has also had a strong connection to the community, including 18 years hosting a weekly public access television show.

“It’s the calm demeanor that I will bring to New London that will lead us for the next four years,” he said.

Olsen said graduated from high school and college in the city, and also ran a business and has spent several years in the Kiwanis Club here.

“So I’ve been working over a period of my entire adult life building a resume line by line that’s got value, and I’m proud of it,” he said. “Who do you know, and who do you trust?”