Politics & Government

Mayor Candidate Profile: Rob Pero

Republican candidate looks to focus on public safety and affordability

City government has become something of a second home for . The Republican candidate for mayor was first elected to the City Council in 1995, when he was in his mid-20s. Now 42, Pero has kept the seat for the past 16 years. He said his association with administrators and employees of the city, as well as his cooperation with councils of varying political composition over the years, have left him well-prepared to handle the challenges facing the newly strengthened mayor’s office.

“It’s not going to be a learning curve,” he said. “I think I’m going to know from day one what the issues coming at New London are.”

Pero has maintained throughout his campaign. He has proposed increasing the number of officers in the from 96 to 115 over five years, hiring a grants writer to seek federal funds for the police and fire departments, forming a regional task force to limit the number of sex offenders in the city, and address quality of life issues through better programs for the city’s youth and blight reduction efforts. Pero said the public safety issues go hand in hand with making New London an affordable city and tourist destination.

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“All those people who come in and out for all those different activities need to feel safe,” he said.

As part of his effort to make the city more affordable, Pero said Gov. Dannel Malloy’s promise to not cut municipal aid for two years can be coupled with fiscal policy to keep taxes level for that period. He said these policies could include early retirement incentives, an emergency room co-pay if municipal employees use the ER for a primary care visit instead of an emergency, a wellness program, a reduction in debt service, and other initiatives to save the city about $2 million. Opponents have questioned how Pero can promise no new taxes while also pledging measures such as additional police officers, and he responded that his work on 16 municipal budgets has helped him find ways to fund such efforts.

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“I understand the budget of this city better than anyone,” he said. “My ability to piece together funding for new officers can come in many ways.”

Pero said he also has a number of policies and ideas for strengthening the city’s finances. These include reinvesting in downtown buildings with assistance from , testing a program allowing seniors to volunteer in exchange for a tax reduction, and continuing the New Home and New London program for two years to increase the number of owner-occupied neighborhoods. Pero also supports consolidating the financial and legal services to have them serve both and the city.

“I’ve advocated it for years,” he said. “It’s something that we really need to have happen.”

For bringing new visitors to New London, Pero said he would continue events on Parade Plaza, look to establish a Coast Guard museum in , invest in the waterfront, and work with the state, , and regional partners to address the problem of the “chronic” homeless and link them to available social services and housing. He also proposed holding a mayor’s ball each year to support the arts community, and ensure their incorporation into the business community.

Pero said there needs to be more interaction between teachers and parents to highlight areas within the that need to be addressed, and that the conversation needs to take place on an elementary school, middle school, and high school level. He said there should be a focus on mentoring, dropout prevention, and college and career preparation. Pero said he does not support building a new , but would like to address there. He said he thinks the Board of Education has been lacking in developing policy, and that his role as an ex-officio member on the board could help in that regard.

“I think the best thing that I can bring and that no other candidate can bring is the experience of implementing policy,” he said.

Whether or not voters decide to sell a portion of to the in November, Pero said he would support establishing a committee to determine the future of the park. He said if it sells, he would like to immediately work to see what can be done with the remaining property, establish the new layout of the park and recreational programs, and possibly create a trust toward its upkeep. He said if it does not sell, he would look to establish what the cost of maintaining the park will be and what it will be used for in the future.

Pero is the only remaining member of the City Council who was in favor of eminent domain at Fort Trumbull, a decision that remains an issue with some residents as redevelopment initiatives slowly get underway at the peninsula. Pero said he would not be in favor of doing away with the , saying it is healthy to have people advocating for the city in the organization even if they are not residents since it helps to promote the city in other areas. However, he said the city should also look to more localization of the future of Fort Trumbull.

“I understand people’s concerns and frustrations about what’s happened in the past, but I think having people who advocate for New London on a board is not detrimental to the city,” he said. “I think you could advocate for more NL people on that board.”

Proposals to abolish NLDC are more a political point than a healthy course of action, Pero said. He said a focus on removing the organization would take precedence over improvement at Fort Trumbull, and that the city has taken a stronger role there through actions such as being a signatory in .

“I believe NLDC from all of the agreements it would be very difficult for the state of Connecticut to say we want them out,” he said. “It would create a lot of animosity, it would create a lot of negative energy.” 

Pero works as a fraud investigator for the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and formerly taught at . He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and serves as a trustee at the . Pero said he grew up in New London, plans to stay in the city, and thinks he is the best person for understanding the city’s finances and policies.

“I would ask them to keep in mind the commitment I made to the city,” he said. “I made a commitment a long time ago to be at every meeting and advocate for the city in every way that I can.”

This series of profiles on candidates in the mayor's race will end at 3 p.m. Monday with an article on write-in candidate Michael Buscetto III.


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