CT Patch Candidate Profile: Roger V. Autuori For RTM

FAIRFIELD, CT — The 2025 election is heating up in Connecticut and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Connecticut Patch asked local candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Candidate's Name:
Roger V. Autuori

What office are you seeking?
Representative Town Meeting District Five (Warde H S)

What town do you live in?
Fairfield

Campaign Website
https://ww.fairfieldrtc.com/2025-candidates

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
Retired Newspaper Editor/Reporter

Family:
An older brother, an aunt and many cousins living in town.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No, they are all smarter than me.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
RTM 85-87, 91-93, L&A and Finance Committees; Former member/Vice Chairman WPCA; Elected to BAA 2007; Republican Registrar of Voters, 2007-2017; Elected Constable 2019-Current.

Why are you seeking this office?
The current RTM barely functions as envision when after World War Two Fairfield switched from Town meetings where any and every resident met and had a say in community matters to a group of elected residents who represented townspeople concerns.

I had the experience of first joining the RTM in the late 80's and early '90's. This was before the meetings were televised. The body had a strong Committee structure where the actual work took place. When the full RTM conducted its voting sessions there was serious discussion. There was also a rule that any resident could ask their representative to bring to the floor any item that had unanimous consent in committee and not subject to further discussion or public vote.

I am running for the Representative Town Meeting, District Five (Warde High School), because the RTM has become a rubber stamp for whoever is in the majority and residents' concerns are ignored nor wanted.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
"cost of living"

As a RTM member I cannot directly affect any residents' cost of living in Fairfield, Connecticut or the United States.

But as an RTM member I can make sure the services the town provides to its residents' - public safety, education, social services, recreation, public works, town administration - are done effectively both financially and managerially, thus leaving more of your money in your pockets.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have a plan on what I want to achieve and how I am going to accomplish it. Many on the RTM have been there for years and that is about all you can say about it.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Lack of transparency, mismanagement, and fiscal waste throughout local government. Effective Mental Health programs for all residents in need on the local level.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
During my first term on the RTM the town had previously bought property at the end of Hillandale Road for a new firehouse in Stratfield. The project never more forward and the Town became a rental landlord for the several homes that were taken. For the other homeowners on Hillandale the town was not a good neighbor and one of them approached me for help.

When the RTM made its annual review of town rental properties, I moved that the properties be sold. Apparently at the time the RTM never initiated anything before, but the short version was my motion was referred to the Board of Selectmen who eventually voted to sell the properties.

The effort was bipartisan in support of the sale and even had a Democrat Realtor, who happen to be attending an RTM committee meeting on another matter, offer to use her company listing for the sale after a town official said the town had no mechanism to sell the properties.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
"Trust but verify."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
73-year-old resident of Fairfield, Attended Stratfield Elementary and Fairfield Woods Jr High schools, graduated 1970 Andrew Warde High school. Graduated 1974 from University of New Haven. B.S. degree Criminal Justice Administration