Meriden Election 2025: Steven Cardillo Running For City Council

MERIDEN, CT — The 2025 municipal election is heating up in Meriden with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 election for the position of mayor, along with seats on the City Council and Board of Education.

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

Steven Cardillo is running for election to the Meriden City Council as a Republican.

What office are you seeking?
City Councilor Area 2

Campaign Website

https://www.meridenrepublicans...

Occupation:

Commercial Printing 35 years

Family:
I have one younger sister, Cathy who is an RN. My dad, Sal, who passed away this month at 85 years old worked for collection agencies and also was a restaurant supervisor. And of course my rescue dog Kenny.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
No

Why are you seeking this office?
First off to obviously lower the Mill Rate and make taxes more affordable. I want to work to bring in more, bigger businesses, promising jobs and help the City grow. I've lived in this City for 48 years, am a homeowner 28 years, past President of the North End Neighborhood Association and I have listened to and felt the issues brought up by my fellow Citizens that need to be addressed.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The single most pressing issue for my constituents and the whole City is increasing taxes.
I feel that we need to do two things, suspend the subsidized housing which is almost 20% and focus on business growth.

I will work to look for ways to cut spending in both City Hall and other areas that need to become more responsible and find cost saving means. I will also work to help model a plan that will make us more attractive to businesses with incentives and find ways to cut through the red tape that seems to be turning people away. We need to streamline a plan to bring major, job providing businesses to our area. There are several sites on Research Parkway as well as empty business locations that could be a great starting point.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Question 14:
I have lived in Meriden for 28 years and been actively involved in the Community having been the President of the Northend Neighborhood Association until recently. I have listened to my neighbors and tried to craft my meetings to bring in people who could address current concerns. I have attended City Council meetings regularly to gain incite into what people want fixed and being a homeowner, I understand how the high taxes and lack of business growth has effected all of us.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I feel that the City Charter needs to be addressed and updated. There are changes that can be made to help us reach solutions to some of the problems. This hasn’t been looked at since 1994 and needs fresh eyes and ideas to better the Community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have been on my Condo Board for 23 years and also have been the President of the Northend Neighborhood Association. I have been involved with planning and running our Meetings as well as Neighborhood Association functions. All of this takes planning and staying within time constraints to get the jobs done. I am sensitive to what is needed in any situation and make an effort to react with the best interests of the project or the people involved.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Don’t give up and stay the course, no matter how difficult it seems.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I’m a very determined problem solver by doing my research and trying to arrive at the best solution in a time sensitive manner.

My position is to listen to the Community, understand their problems, concerns and needs and seek the best possible decisions to bring a higher quality of life to the residents of Meriden.