2025 Patch Candidate Profiles: Jay Moran, Mayoral Incumbent

MANCHESTER, CT — Jay Moran is the incumbent 2025 mayoral candidate in Manchester.

Candidate's Name:
Jay Moran

What office are you seeking?
Mayor

What town do you live in?
Manchester

Campaign Website
https://manchesterctdems.info

Party Affiliation:
Democrat

Occupation:
Vice President of Athletics, Recreation, and Student Life at the University of Bridgeport

Family:
My wife is Patty Gronda Moran. She is life long resident and we have been married 36 years. She is a 3rd grade teacher at St. James school. My daughters Kristen and Elizabeth as well as my son Jamie are all Manchester High graduates. Our pride and joy of the family, who calls me “Poppi” is my grandson Jack. And in my heart everyday is my angel, my hero, my daughter, the late Julia Jean Moran.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Yes.

Manchester Board of Education member, 2007-2009.

Manchester Board of Directors, 2009-present.

Deputy Mayor, 2/12 years

Mayor, 11 1/2 years
April 2014-present.

Why are you seeking this office?
I’m running for re-election because I believe I have the experience and passion to continue as a leader in our community. I believe in leadership that involves, kindness, compassion, empathy and respect towards everyone. I feel the best days of Manchester are still ahead of us where everyone has a chance to succeed in life.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
balancing increasing service needs for a growing community with the ability for the community to pay for it. In others words having the programs and services necessary for our town without putting the burden on the tax payers. Our town administration is focused on addressing this my implementing multi-year forecasting and scenario planing; pursue targeted economic development incentives to retain and attract businesses, and expanding grant-writing capacity and regional collaborations to leverage outside funding as well as state and federal assistance.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I believe my experience as a mayor who has helped guide a growing community through a recession, a world wide pandemic and inflationary times is the major difference. We have repurposed all off our elementary schools, improved Charter Oak and Center Springs Parks, added a turf field and skate park and bike track at the Oak, built 2 new softball fields, the all purpose field at the high school and construction is under way for our new library. These are just a few great projects during my tenure as Mayor. I have made it a “full time”, part time job.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
We are listening to our seniors about the need for a new senior center. That’s why a senior center task force has just been established. We always hear concerns about safety. So we will continue to support our fire and police departments through increased budgets. And we will work with the board of education to make sure every student receives a quality education.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As stated previously, we have repurposed all of our elementary schools, improved Charter Oak and Center Springs Parks, added a turf field and skate park and bike track at the Oak, built 2 new softball fields, the all purpose field at the high school and construction is under way for our new library. These are just a few great projects.

We have adopted budgets to support our departments and the services they provide with an average mill rate increase of 1.6 % increase over the last 10 years. That includes 3 budgets with no increases in the mill rate.

As Mayor I attend and support so many great town wide, civic, school, business, church and individual events throughout the year.
And I make sure every event is the best event for those involved.

I also partner well with state and federal leaders to support Manchester.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
That being a kind and compassionate leader is a strength, not a weakness.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I love being the Mayor of Manchester and I would be honored to continue as Mayor of our great town. That together, we will keep moving our town forward and it will always be a great place to live, work, play and pray.