Patch Candidate Profile, Carmine Riccitelli, East Haven Town Council

EAST HAVEN, CT —The 2023 municipal election is heating up in East Haven and there are plenty of local races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

East Haven Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Unaffiliated with East Haven Republican Town Committee endorsement, Carmine Riccitelli, 65, is seeking election to the Town Council, District 2.

Education.

High School Diploma and two years of vocational training post high school

What is your occupation?

10 years on Metro North Railroad and over 30 years with the East Haven Fire Department as a Firefighter/ Emergency Medical Technician

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Wife of 35 years Patricia Riccitelli recently retired from Yale New Haven Health.She has a graduate degree from The University of New Haven. Daughter Caitlin 29 years old who is working on her graduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University. And my daughter Tierney who has a graduate degree from Florida International University. She is currently working for an international advertising firm.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I’ve always been involved in volunteering locally and internationally and now feel it’s time to help step into the arena with my local government.
Want to improve our community, educate and fiscal sustainability.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Crime. Support new and creative ways to reduce crime and improve relationships between the public and police officers.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I think that the other candidates and myself share the same concerns. Hopefully I would be under different leadership.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I don’t have any opinions on the matter.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Quality of life in our community. Tweed New Haven Airport

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Volunteering in different parts of the world, it has me aware of different cultures. With a diverse community as our I am open to different cultures influences.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

No two life’s are the same.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Just that, if elected I hope to support what is good for the majority of the citizens.