Patch Candidate Profile: Scott Derby For Derby Mayor

DERBY, 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:

Scott Derby

What office are you seeking?

Mayor

What town do you live in?

Derby

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:

Republican

Occupation:

Senior Career Coach

Family:

Wife- Isa

Children- Yssa and Aiden

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

None.

Why are you seeking this office?

I’m seeking this office because I believe Derby deserves leadership that helps our community reach its full potential. In my work as a career coach with Goodwill, I’ve dedicated myself to helping people overcome challenges, find opportunity, and build better lives. That’s the same approach I want to bring to city government, helping Derby grow more prosperous and more accountable to the people it serves.

Our city has incredible potential, but too often it’s held back by mismanagement, high taxes, and a lack of direction. I’m running to restore transparency in our City’s government, make Derby more affordable, and ensure our government makes our taxpayers lives easier, not more difficult.

Leadership means listening, and taking action which is exactly what I intend to do for Derby.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the burden of high taxes caused by years of fiscal mismanagement and delayed property revaluations both during the current administration. Families are being stretched to their limits because the city government has failed to plan responsibly or control spending.

As mayor, I’ll make fiscal responsibility my top priority. That means completing the long-overdue revaluation process so taxpayers are treated fairly, conducting a full audit of city finances, and holding every department accountable for how tax dollars are spent. I will present a balanced budget that focuses on essential services while eliminating waste and inefficiency.

Derby residents deserve a government that manages money wisely and respects the people who pay the bills and I intend to deliver exactly that.

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

The major difference between my opponent and I is accountability over appeasement. While my opponent has taken credit for delaying revaluation and passing a bandaid budget, the underlying problems remain unaddressed, and those will be my focus.

Here’s where we diverge sharply:

My opponent worked with state legislators to delay Derby’s revaluation by one year, conveniently just after this coming election in which he is running. This short sided move was a bandaid solution at best as, it doesn’t fix the structural imbalances in the tax base, nor the spending priorities. I will push for a revaluation that is fair, transparent, and accompanied by rigorous oversight so that no future delay becomes a loophole for mismanagement.

The currently administration’s 2025–26 budget kept the mill rate the same; but this came at the expense of shifting costs (like switching health insurance plans) and delaying capital investments. It’s not enough to freeze taxes for one year; you must build sustainable, balanced finances over time. I will produce multi-year financial plans that don’t kick hard decisions down the road.

Under my opponent, Derby’s fund balance was depleted due to prior poor forecasts, which the administration itself admits forced higher taxes. I won’t just blame old mistakes I’ll conduct a full audit, expose inefficiencies, and reset the budget process with transparency, transparent oversight,

I bring a different leadership model; one forged by helping individuals reach their potential as a career coach. I believe in listening first, evaluating data, and making decisions grounded in what’s best for residents. The current administration has shown too much deference to short-term optics and too little courage to confront entrenched problems. My leadership will be about accountability, not just popularity.

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

1. Public Safety

Our police, fire, and EMS personnel deserve the staffing, equipment, and support they need to keep our city safe. I’ll prioritize funding for essential services, restore morale by improving communication between City Hall and our departments, and ensure accountability and transparency in how public safety decisions are made.

2. Infrastructure and Blight

Derby’s roads, and infrastructure have suffered from years of deferred maintenance. I’ll pursue state and federal grants to repair critical infrastructure, modernize city buildings, and take a more proactive approach to blight and property upkeep. A clean, safe city attracts investment and boosts property values; that’s how we strengthen neighborhoods.

3. Economic Growth and Revitalization

Derby has tremendous potential for downtown redevelopment and job growth, but that requires leadership that works with, not against, our business community. I’ll streamline permitting, create clear economic development goals, and encourage responsible growth that expands our tax base without overburdening residents.

Ultimately, my campaign is about reawakening Derby, restoring pride, rebuilding trust in local government, and ensuring our city works for every resident, not just a select few.

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

I’ve spent my career helping people overcome barriers and reach their full potential, and that’s exactly the kind of leadership I’ll bring to Derby. As a Senior Career Coach with Goodwill, I’ve worked hands-on with individuals facing unemployment and re-entry challenges. I’ve helped them build stability and purpose in their lives. That experience taught me how to solve problems with compassion, creativity, and accountability, the same qualities our city needs in its next mayor.

Before my work at Goodwill, I served as a Legislative Attorney with the New Hampshire Office of Legislative Services and later as General Counsel for SDS Capital Partners and AVP of Global Policies and Compliance at Barclays Investment Bank. Those roles gave me deep experience in law, budgeting, and policy; skills that directly translate to managing a city government effectively and responsibly.

Through my volunteer service with the Bridgeport Reentry Roundtable, I’ve also worked to reform laws and expand opportunity for those rebuilding their lives. That commitment to second chances drives my belief that Derby, too, deserves a fresh start, one built on sound finances, honest leadership, and opportunity for all.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice anyone ever gave me was: “Measure success by the people you help, not the titles you hold.”

That lesson has guided my entire career from coaching individuals toward meaningful employment to working on policy that gives people a second chance. It reminds me that leadership is about service, not status, which is the mindset I’ll bring to City Hall.

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

I also want voters to know I’m bringing concrete, affordable plans to support the people who make Derby strong:

Firefighters & EMS: I will implement the maximum property-tax abatement under state law and create an expanded stipend program for active volunteer firefighters and EMTs, improve access to training reimbursements, and pursue grants for safety equipment these will offer our local heroes real support, not higher taxes.

Veterans: I’ll launch a citywide outreach initiative to help more veterans claim the state and federal benefits they’ve earned. By partnering with the veterans liaison and local posts, we’ll host one-stop assistance events so no one misses out on the relief they deserve.

Seniors: I’ll expand local participation in existing senior tax-relief programs, simplify applications, and enhance services like transportation, energy assistance, and senior-center activities, all funded through better budgeting and grants, not tax hikes.

These are practical, fiscally responsible solutions that put people first and there’s more to come. I have additional initiatives in development focused on improving city services, revitalizing downtown, and making Derby a place where families, businesses, and community volunteers all thrive.