Patch Candidate Profile: Bob Mezzo For Naugatuck Board Of Education

NAUGATUCK, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:

Bob Mezzo

What office are you seeking?

Board of Education

What town do you live in?

Naugatuck, CT

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Occupation:

Commercial Real Estate Lender, 9+ years in commercial lending

Family:

Wife Eileen (Sorcinelli) Mezzo (35+ year Naugatuck educator), Daughter Ally (27), Sons Jay (23) and Jack (13)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Wife is an school administrator and daughter a history teacher.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Mayor and Board of Education Member, Borough of Naugatuck, 2009 - 2015; Burgess, Borough of Naugatuck, 1999 - 2003 (Deputy Mayor 2001 - 2003); Naugatuck Board of Education (2023 - present)

Why are you seeking this office?

Providing our children with an exceptional education establishes the foundation for a lifetime of happiness and success. As a community, we must remain laser-focused on providing our students and families with the best educational experience possible and the social and emotional support that will allow our students to thrive inside and outside the classroom. I enjoy working collaboratively with others to assess challenges, implement solutions and to empower educators and support staff in our school buildings.

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

Providing our students and families with a first-class, educational experience while operating within the constraints of economic challenges, limited resources and laws and mandates often outside local control. Faced with making difficult choices on an annual basis during budget season, I prioritize strengthening math and literacy instruction, creating a safe and orderly school climate, providing behavioral and emotional health to those in need, and ensuring that we focus on core subject matter. I will also investigation all partnerships with the municipal government which will improve efficiencies and lower costs for the board of education and the town.

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

All who choose to serve in local government bring their own respective skill sets, life experiences and hopes and dreams to make a difference in their community. Rather than focus on our differences, I choose to learn, listen and ultimately collaborate with my colleagues to bring positive change. Sometimes that involves a leadership role while other times it means being a supportive teammate to accomplish a goal or task.

While I have a long history of involvement in local government, I am constantly amazed by the insight and knowledge that so many candidates and public servants bring forth that often offer a perspective I had not considered.

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

Our school buidings in Naugatuck are showing their age, with many coming to end of being functional educational facilities. Deferred maintenance and capital repairs only increase costs when forced to address problems with our facilities. The recent partnership with the municipal government will offer improvement in this area, but we need to revisit our Long Term School Facilities Committee and proactively plan our future in this area. The exciting and multi-dimensional economic development initiatives being implemented by Mayor Hess offer great promise for a transforming Naugatuck into all we hoped it would be. Our school facilities must reflect this image of a new and improved Naugatuck.

All meetings of our board of educational are open to the public but for some very limited subjects permitted under the Freedom of Information Act. That being said, we have not always succeeded in keeping our constituents aware of all that is happening in our district and some of the difficult decisions on the horizon. This creates the perception of a lack of transparency. We live in an age where communication with stakeholders is easier than it has ever been. I will encourage reform to our practices and communication strategies that will allow everyone's voice to be heard and ensure that community members are aware of all that is happening in our district.

Most importantly, our district is in the process of choosing its next educational leader. Now more than ever we need a dynamic, wise superintendent who also has a strong moral compass and embraces the concept of a servant leader. I am committed to reflecting on the feedback we have received from stakeholders, analyzing the unique skill sets of our applicants and choosing the best candidate to lead our district to a bright future.

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

Any positive change that I have accomplished has always been in collaboration with others. Local government is a team sport that requires well intentioned people from various backgrounds to work together for the common good.

The best example of that was the passage of the referendum to renovate Naugatuck High School in 2011. Naugatuck had not approved a major school building project since 1990, but the flagship school in our district was in serious need of repair. I led a coalition of local officials from both parties to articulate a vision to make an $81 million dollar investment in our future. I can honestly say I have never worked so hard to provide all the information needed for voters and taxpayers to embrace a transformative improvement to our school infrastructure. I learned so much during this process about the importance of transparency, coalition building and answering every question across a wide array of communication platforms. Words do not do justice to the feeling of community pride and accomplishment that I felt when the project was approved overwhelmingly.

Serving three terms as mayor of this great Borough gives me a unique perspective on all aspects of our local government. I will use all the lessons I have learned during that time and my most recent, first term back on the Board of Ed to work tirelessly in collaboration with stakeholders to improve our district.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Always live your Faith, stay humble and embrace the more difficult times of life with the same determination and commitment that you demonstrate during the best of days.

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

I have lived my entire life in this wonderful community. Naugatuck and its incredible people have been a constant, positive presence in my life from an early age. As the years pass and the faces change, I am remain eternally optimistic that the best days of this Borough are ahead of us. If re-elected, I look forward to the opportunity to serve Naugatuck and our school district and make it all we hoped it could be.