SHELTON – Mayor Mark A. Lauretti, running for his 12th consecutive term, is in record territory, but David M. Gioiello Jr. a local businessman who is the local Democratic Town Committee chairman, wants to end the streak tonight when the polls close at 8.
“I think residents have gotten their money’s worth,” Lauretti, 59 said last week, stressing the relatively low tax rate that resulted in the “Best Affordable Suburb in CT” designation from Bloomberg Business that is touted on the city’s website.
“We’re heads and toes over everyone and it’s going to stay that way for a long way to come,” he said, adding that public enhancements such as open space development, the River Walk and new housing in the downtown area are signs of the city’s growth.
But Gioiello, 66, said the city’s money management is terrible and was illustrated by the alleged theft of $914,000 by former city Assistant Finance Director Sharon Scanlon.
“I’m sick and tired of the way the city is run,” he said. “I don’t think it’s run properly. Sharon Scanlon reported directly to the mayor. She was the person cutting the checks and reconciling the checkbook. I really want to turn the government over to local people and have a much more transparent operation. I think we’vre raised some good issues.”
Lauretti defeated Gioiello by 4,100 votes in 2007. This year it may be the 13,000 unaffiliated voters who are the difference in the election in a city that has about 6,300 Republicans and 5,300 registered Democrats.