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Bridgeport: Joe Ganim
Getting Back
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Business New Haven
7/14/97
By: BNH
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Three-term Bridgeport Mayor Joseph I. Ganim left a thriving family law practice to run for mayor because, he says, “The city was in deep trouble and I saw a need for new leadership.”
And how. When first elected in 1991, the Park City was bankrupt and had a $20 million deficit, crime was out of control, businesses were closing or leaving, jobs were being lost and, in general, things looked grim, Ganim recounts.
Now, preparing to run for a fourth term, Ganim says he's proud of what he and his administration have accomplished and the overall direction of the city.
“I feel a very strong sense of accomplishment about what we've already done and am excited about Bridgeport's future,” he says.
He sees rescuing the city from bankruptcy as his major accomplishment. “We balanced six budgets, cut taxes the last two years, and even have a surplus,” Ganim says. “The city is vibrant today and there's much to look forward to.”
Economically the city is growing, with projects like a new $14 million minor league ballpark in the city's South End; a $100 million waterfront development project in the works; and an influx of new businesses and company expansions which has created hundreds of jobs.
“Over the last two years, our population has stabilized, property values have increased, our schools have received two national and several state recognition awards, and crime is at its lowest level in two decades,” the Democratic CEO says. “Today, we have some of the best and most affordable housing stock in the country.”
Ganim also cites the installation of computers in every classroom through sixth grade; a continuing beautification program that targets streets and parks citywide; and the development of a comprehensive marketing program to entice people and businesses to the city as additional forward-looking trends.
“There are a lot of positive things going on in Bridgeport that many people don't know about, and some of our biggest activities draw thousands of people to Bridgeport,” Ganim says. “More than 100,000 people recently came to the Barnum Festival parade and music festivals with major performers will begin soon at beautiful Seaside Park,” Ganim says.
Before being elected mayor, Ganim's only previous political experience was an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the state House.
The 37-year-old mayor lives in the city with his wife and two children. He says they've been “extremely supportive” since he first ran in 1991.
“I like the job because I believe I can make a difference in the lives of so many people,” Ganim says. “There's a lot we've started that I'd like to continue working on and see completed. I want to see Bridgeport grow even more than it already has - and I want to be a part of it.”
Meriden: Joseph Marinan Jr.
Many Hats
Being mayor of the city of Meriden is supposed to be a part-time job, but ask Democratic Mayor Joseph Marinan Jr. about it and he chuckles just a bit as he describes the juggling act he performs handling his responsibilities to the city with a full-time sales job and duties of a New Haven County sheriff.
Despite his oft-chaotic schedule, the 49-year-old Meriden native recently announced he will seek a third term as the Silver City's chief executive.
“When we started we faced a $3.2 million deficit, but managed to turn it around. The current fiscal budget includes a $6.7 million surplus,” Marinan says, “and we've frozen taxes three years in a row.”
Marinan says that was accomplished by cutting the number of city employees by 12 percent, self-insuring the municipal workforce, which saved $800,000 annually, and privatizing 83 services, including waste collection and street sweeping.
“Before, city officials were reacting to problems, running around in circles putting out the fires,” explains Marinan. “Now, we have a proactive approach that seems to be working.”
According to Marinan, by the end of this fiscal year the city will have completed $56 million in school improvements, including the construction of a new middle school.
“We've increased school spending over the last four years by 28 percent,” he says. “Test scores are improving and we've spent more than $1 million for new computers.”
The city's business climate has also improved with new companies and expansions that have generated more than 1,500 new jobs, Marinan says.
Spending $23 million on renovating downtown has also revitalized Meriden's once-haggard central business district, bringing new businesses downtown. As well, $13 million in road improvements citywide have helped revitalize other areas, according to Marinan.
“Our Green Line initiative - demolishing and renovating blighted housing in the city's oldest neighborhoods - has created a renaissance of sorts,” Marinan says. “And we won an award as one of the top ten cities with less than 50,000 residents from the National League of Cities for this program.”
The introduction of 'community service'
policing and the hiring of an additional 30 police officers have helped to reduce crime in the city. “We developed 25 neighborhood associations, and 20 of the new officers work directly with them,” explains the mayor. “In one of our worst neighborhoods this project helped reduce calls by 80 percent.”
Meriden will also soon be home to one of the first new hospitals to be built in Connecticut in more than a quarter-century, according to Marinan, and the city's annual report was named one of the top three for cities with fewer than 50,000 residents by the UConn School of Public Service.
Marinan says he's similarly excited by the proposed new arts center, a brand-new YMCA, the planned renovation of city recreational facilities, a proposed new teen center, and the variety of activities at Hubbard Park.
“In April, more than 100,000 people attended the Daffodil Festival at the park, we have concerts there from spring until fall, and during the Christmas Festival of Lights more than 150,000 cars drive through the park,” Marinan says.
In all, “We've had our problems, but we've stabilized taxes, created jobs, turned the deficit around, and addressed crime and housing,” he says.
“Our future looks bright if we continue on the track we've chosen,” Marinan says. “With the help of businesses, churches and the people who live in our community, we've come a long way.”
He should know. Marinan was born and raised in the city and currently lives there with his wife Donna and their daughter.
He says he originally ran for the city's top post because he “saw things slipping.” He plans to run again to finish what he started. “I want to see things through to the end,” Marinan says.
New Haven:
John DeStefano Jr.
A Rising Tide
Facing a likely cakewalk in his run for his third two-year term, Democratic New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. is enthusiastic about where both the city and region are headed.
“We know the areas where we can best compete successfully and we know how much work still needs to be done,” DeStefano says.
“In a general sense, there is real growth in both New Haven and the region,” says DeStefano, a committed regionalist and property tax-reform advocate who has crafted a reputation as something of an urban-policy expert. “After trailing the country for so long, we see real, positive progress in a lot of areas.”
He says building permits in the city are up dramatically; small business lending and school reading scores are up; truancy rates are down; 11 school buildings are either being worked on or in the design phase; office space utilization has increased; and the Elm City has more new and expanding businesses than within recent
memory.
“We've got the Omni Hotel opening soon, the former SNET building at 300 George Street, the old United Illuminating offices on Temple Street being renovated for office and residential uses, and the new [Williams Specialty] steel mill coming,” DeStefano says. “And the State Street, Broadway and Westville Village areas have new businesses and beautification projects underway.”
The 42-year-old chief executive says he's looking forward to maximizing the positive trends he sees happening in the areas of home buying, business expansion, arts and entertainment, sports and community activities.
“We're a small American city with one of the largest amounts of free museum space in the Northeast,” DeStefano proclaims. “We have very livable neighborhoods, a world-class university, great teaching and research hospitals, and a strong transportation system,” he says of the city he served for more than a decade in a variety of administrative positions before being elected mayor in 1993.
“We also have activities like the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and HarborFest, the Shubert and Long Wharf theaters, and the [Pilot Pen International] tennis tournament that draw people to the city,” he says.
DeStefano says he wants to work toward building stronger partnerships with the business community, establish more far-reaching housing initiatives that address blighted and abandoned housing, see the Quinnipiac River Bridge and Long Wharf renovation projects get off the ground, and upgrade the city's school buildings.
And, now that revaluation has been finally phased in, he says taxes and property values should stabilize to allow even more business and residential growth.
“A lot is happening,” DeStefano says. “I think there is a clearer sense of direction in the city and the region and I believe people feel more hope because of the progress we've made and the plans for the future.”
DeStefano says his wife, Kathy, a kindergarten teacher in West Haven, and his two children are very supportive of his decision to run again.
His personal feeling about the job?
“It's too much fun to give up.”
Chances are he won't - at least not this year.
Waterbury:
Philip Giordano
Brass Tacks
When asked on July 1 if he would run for a second term as Waterbury's chief executive, Republican Mayor Philip Giordano said “Probably,” though he wasn't ready to make a formal announcement.
“A lot of good things have happened in Waterbury,” Giordano told BNH. “When I took over we had a $55-million deficit. We cut the budget by $26 million and my first budget should show a $2 million to $3 million surplus.”
Waterbury has also opened two new police precincts and three others should be opened over the next six months throughout the city, Giordano says.
One of the projects that has had a big impact on the city is the new 1.2 million-square-foot Brass Mills Center mall currently under construction, the credit for which belongs to his predecessor, Democrat Edward D. Bergin, Giordano says.
“What we did was take that project and use it to develop a marketing strategy that would attract people and businesses to the city,” Giordano explains.
The results, according to Giordano, have been impressive: In 1996 the city's grand list increased by $43 million; more than 700 new jobs were created; crime fell by ten percent; and residential home sales increased by 24 percent.
“Waterbury has become more attractive as a place to live, work, and raise a family,” he says.
Giordano never expected to be involved in politics, never mind throw his hat into the ring for a citywide mayoral contest.
After graduating from law school in 1990 he was hired as Waterbury's assistant corporation counsel. When a new administration was installed in 1992, he established his own practice before being elected to the state House of Representatives from the 71st District.
In 1995, while practicing law with three partners and representing his district in Hartford, he was asked to run for mayor. Since he says being mayor is a “28-hour-a-day” job, he hasn't practiced law since he assumed office.
He says his main philosophy is to run the city the way he ran his business. “By staying focused on the problems brought to our attention and handling them as they arise, we've been able to respond a lot quicker and see changes made a lot quicker,” he says.
One example he offers is the 70 blighted houses throughout the city that were torn down in only nine months.
Another is tackling the city's annual $1.2 million insurance bill. By sending it out to bid, the city was able to purchase identical coverage for only $600,000.
“By giving the city and its taxpayers more bang for their buck, we've been able to turn things around,” says Giordano.
His wife Dawn and their two children have been very supportive, says the 34-year-old city head.
“I live in Waterbury,” Giordano says, “and when I go home I'm still Phil: husband, father, homeowner. What I do in my capacity as mayor affects me and my family, too.”
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