West Haven Election 2025: Meli Garthwait Running For City Council

WEST HAVEN, CT — The 2025 municipal election is heating up in West Haven 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, Board of Education and more.

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

Meli Garthwait is running for re-election to the West Haven City Council as a Republican.

What office are you seeking?
Council At-Large

Campaign Website

https://facebook.com/meligarth...

Occupation:

Interior Design 20+ years & Realty 5 years

Family:
Tommy (45), stepsons Liam (12) & Caleb (14), my pup Maia (8) & foster puppy Alfie (6 months)

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Councilwoman R-2 (2021-2023) & Council At-Large (2023-2025)

Why are you seeking this office?
As West Haven’s City Council At-Large this past term, I have been again conquering blight, fighting illegal dumping, beautifying our shoreline, working to make our streets safer & collaborating with businesses to help them flourish. I pinpointed 25+ budget lines that need to be minimized & brought them forward. I will continue proactively seeking these issues out and work on them throughout city. I also obtained a grant for our police department to use for our Officers to work overtime policing our shoreline. I have truly enjoyed being able to work with our residents one on one helping them resolve a variety of issues as easy as repairing a pothole to the more difficult dilemmas to resolve, which are helping with neighbor to neighbor issues. If re-elected again, I will continue doing all of these things & focus on getting more grants for West Haven. As the first Republican to serve the 2nd district in 38 years & your current Council At-Large, one of my goals is always to be of good service. So it is again my pledge to be attentive, approachable, accountable & expeditious to residents.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Quality of life issues. Both as District 2 Councilwoman & At-Large Council I have been completely decimating blight, fighting illegal dumping, beautifying our shoreline, working to make our streets
safer & rectifying various residents’ issues. I have a process that I follow in order to remedy these issues with ease.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Experience as District 2 & At-Large Council. I’m boots on the ground & actively engaging with residents in order to serve.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
In addition to everything I currently do, I will focus on getting more grants for West Haven.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I am known by our residents for being an individual who gets the job done. I believe in having strong integrity to always do the right thing even if it goes against the tide. Residents know I hold others accountable & am responsible to take action. I always work diligently to get answers, share information, answer requests & accomplish tasks for our residents. All of that will continue & will get even more refined.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
“Be good”. My grandfather gave me all kinds of advice. He was the only one I would ever bring my issues to as he was great at solving them and his solutions were always spot on. These two simple words - “be good” - what he used to say to me instead of saying “goodbye” have had the most profound affect on my life. I would say they are the foundation of who I am today.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am so grateful to have had the privilege to serve West Haven as Council At-Large these past two years & as the District 2 Councilwoman the previous term. I am hopeful to continue this journey as your Council At-Large & ask for your support. I promise to work just as diligently as I have these past four years once again for West Haven. I am ready to get back to work for all of us!