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Endorsed Candidates Outline Their Plans

By Courant

October 26, 2007

Twenty-three candidates are competing for nine seats on the Hartford city council. The 12 endorsed Democrat and Republican candidates are presented today. Tomorrow, the Democratic challenge slate, third-party and petitioning candidates are featured. Some responses have been edited for length.

James M. Boucher, endorsed Democrat

Age: 50

Job: Director of Future Workforce Services, Capital Workforce Partners

Previous public offices held: Board of Trustees Overseeing Hartford Schools, 2000-02; Hartford City Council: 2004-present

Education: M.S.W., University of Connecticut School of Social Work; B.A., political science, College of the Holy Cross

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

Hartford leadership will need to unite behind the impending recommendations of the Hartford Property Tax Task Force, as appointed by the Hartford City Council. At the forefront of such consensus is the need for state enabling property tax reform, including fully funding the payment-in-lieu of tax program that could bring an additional $15 million into the city to ease the tax burden. A priority on aggressive grand list growth and economic development strategies needs to continue - with a focus on small business development and home ownership. Continuing to assure a fiscally responsible budget oversight is equally important.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

I will continue to build on the success of community policing and increasing police manpower. Further emphasis on more police "on the street" in foot patrols, bike-patrols - with a focus on quality of life issues is imperative. Enhanced youth anti-violence investments and strategies aimed at strengthening youth initiatives, enhanced job programs and education is paramount to addressing the crime and poverty. A comprehensive approach to addressing poverty can only occur through engaging the regional, state and private/public sectors in prevention strategies.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

Such initiatives as the $50 million neighborhood development bond investment, Neighborhood Revitalization Plans, public safety, improved schools and home ownership development are the cornerstone strategies to neighborhood development. Linking downtown development through increased mass transit to major neighborhood commercial districts and marketing Hartford's neighborhoods is essential. Business Improvement Districts should be expanded into neighborhoods and quality of life initiatives need prioritizing to build on investments made.

Kenneth H. Kennedy, Jr., endorsed Democrat

Age: 42

Job: Assistant Attorney General, State of Connecticut

Previous public Offices held: Hartford City Council, 2001-present; Chairman, Management & Budget Committee, 2004-present; Chairman, Education Committee, 2001-03; Hartford Economic Development Commission, vice chairman, 1999-01; Hartford Redevelopment Agency, 1999-01; Hartford Democratic Town Committee, 1995-02

Education: B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1987, with a major in political science; J.D., University of Kentucky College of Law, 1991

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

Issue an RFP for an independent revaluation of real property and compare said revaluation with the in house revaluation performed by the city to ensure the accuracy of property values and alleviate concerns of taxpayers about the quality of the revaluation done by the city. Adopt quarterly tax payments for real property valued at $400,000 or lower to help small businesses and residents with cash flow and reduce penalties for late payments. Encourage state lawmakers to rewrite state statute phasing in revaluation (at 3.5%/year) for residential property owners to afford similar protections (10 percent) to small business and to limit the 3.5 percent phase in to residential properties up to $400,000 in value.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

Have you been to NYC, D.C., Boston or Philadelphia lately? Hartford has only a fraction of the crime rates of those cities, yet they attract economic development by emphasizing what is good about the city and not just the bad. Hartford must market itself better and emphasize how safe the city is particularly with respect to the past, and in comparison with comparable cities. With respect to poverty we must invest in educating our children and developing our neighborhoods. We should continue with expansion of educational opportunities for Hartford children, including pre-K starting at age 3.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

The city should partner with licensed city contractors (minority contractors in particular) to, for a nominal fee, renovate blighted homes within a specified period of time with incentives for timely completion and hiring of local residents (particularly those who have recently completed construction training programs).

Secondly, the city needs to find developers who specialize in urban development to invest in neighborhoods. (For example, the partnership between the City of Bridgeport and Magic Johnson.)

Finally, the city must remove all school buses from the north main street lot as that area would be a good location for family friendly economic development. Similarly, the junkyard on Windsor Avenue should be removed for economic development and health reasons.

Matthew Ritter, endorsed Democrat

Age: 25

Job: Attorney, Shipman & Goodwin in Hartford

Previous public offices held: None

Education: B.A., Magna Cum Laude, government, Colby College, 2004; J.D. with Honors, University of Connecticut School of Law, 2007

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

The council needs to take initiatives to cut spending and control annual increments. There should be an increase in state payments in lieu of taxes for properties not fully taxed, e.g. state buildings and hospitals. Regionalization of services, in cooperation with other towns, should be explored. Fair taxation cannot require a shifting of unfair burdens among property types. Our council must help lead a state-wide effort to fashion an equitable tax system less reliant on property tax.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

For starters, the successes that there have been in reducing crime should be better publicized. However, we must also attack the roots of persistent crime through more visible policing, stronger gun control measures, and greater access to drug and mental health treatment. Most important to reducing crime is an emphasis on educational (beginning in pre-K), vocational training and job readiness programs, including focusing on adult literacy. Let's start by coordinating all our learning resources, public and private, and crafting a logistical support system (child care, transportation). We must prepare our citizens for jobs that provide self-sufficiency.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

Encourage home ownership and apartments that are not just exclusively for the poor or wealthy. To entice more people to live and do business in the neighborhoods, we must improve our schools, maintain infrastructure, tax fairly and police vigilantly. Anti-urban blight/quality of life ordinances should be enforced. Improve our primary arteries: Albany and Farmington avenues are priorities. The Council, NRZs and economic development staff should select key areas in need of re-development and the lack of parking in many areas must be solved. Vacant structures with no historic significance and no reasonable prospect of development should be demolished.

Pedro Segarra, endorsed Democrat

Age: 48

Job: Attorney

Previous public offices held: Hartford Corporation Counsel, 1991-96; appointed as City Councilman, 2005-07.

Education: Associate of Arts from Capital Community College, major in political science and public administration, designation of College Scholar; B.A., University of Hartford, major in political science and public administration; M.S.W., University of Connecticut Graduate School of Social Work, concentration in community organization; J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law.

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

As the capital city, Hartford should not bear the sole burden of deciphering and remediating tax policies that are the product of state legislation. However, the council needs to continue to be more active in working as a body to offer changes to the tax law and work also with our "Tax Task Force" and the mayor's office. We need to engage and work with our legislative delegation so that they can prioritize our tax proposals. We have to also work to have a higher level of payments in lieu of taxes and ECS monies so that we can be compensated for the disproportionate amount of tax-exempt organizations within the city of Hartford.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

We councilpersons need to be spokespersons, ambassadors and public relations officers for our city. Crime has been reduced, but we need to engage our communities so that the many great people and events within the city of Hartford are highlighted. We need to increase our police presence, but our residents need to be inspired to take a greater role in patrolling and protecting our neighborhoods. These community efforts need to be funded. We need to do a better job in enforcement of quality of life crimes such as loitering, littering and unnecessary noises because we have a city that is composed of many workers, elderly and students who need to be able to be inspired by a peaceful environment.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

Let us continue to work on repairing our main avenues and streets and make them more attractive to attract persons from inside and outside our city. We need to improve the police services to merchants so as to create a good business environment where patrons feel safe and protected. This is the perfect time to have a public works program to further beautify and repair our streets and parks. We can work with neighborhoods to identify local beatification and restoration efforts, identify and work toward the remediation or eradication of blighted properties. Lets work with our state and federal leaders to make the capital city the greatest city. A city Mark Twain, Ella Grasso, Beecher-Stowe, Hooker and all our residents and leaders can be proud of.

Calixto Torres, endorsed Democrat

Age: 56

Job: Retired

Previous pubic offices held: Hartford City Council.

Education: Bachelor's degree in science in urban education and a master's degree in public administration.

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

Easing the tax burden in Hartford cannot be done by the city alone. The effort to reduce the tax burden will take a multifaceted approach: We must work in collaboration with our state legislature to correct the inequities on how taxes are applied; increase the State Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) to municipalities; provide adequate funding to our public education system; eliminate or fund unfunded mandated programs; reduce the dependence on property tax to fund municipalities; and increase our tax base through homeownership and business development.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

Violent crime has in fact gone down during the last three years. As a matter of perception over emphasis on these incidents while not highlighting the over abundance of positive things occurring everyday in Hartford will continue to cast a negative image of Hartford. A partnership with all media is needed to ensure a balanced image of our great city.

The perception of poverty is real. We have a lot of poverty in our city. We must continue to strive to fully employ all our residents in livable wage jobs. More education and/or training with support services is vital.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

Development of our neighborhoods must be accomplished in partnership with the residents. Infrastructure improvements and the millions that the city council has recently approved will go a long way to spur development. We need to pursue an aggressive plan to rid ourselves of blighted and/or abandoned properties (through foreclosure or differential taxing for abandoned or vacant/warehoused properties).

We must strive to develop our neighborhoods so that they can be marketed to a diverse economic base.

rJo Winch, endorsed Democrat

Age: 55

Job: United Technologies Corporation, Senior Administrative Assistant

Previous Public Office: Hartford City Council, 2004-present

Education: A.S., Community College of the Air Force; B.A., human services and organizational leadership, University of Hartford

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

We have established a Tax Task Force made up of residents, property owners, small business and large business owners with a tax adviser to research our options and come up with strategies to assist us in this matter. They are to get back to us not later than Dec. 15 with recommendations. My plan is to have the council adopt a resolution at our first meeting in January should I be fortunate enough to be re-elected.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

Our residents must help us rid the perception of violent crimes. We must band together as a city to respect our neighbors and build partnerships with the police department by creating a customer friendly environment at HPD. We must work on creating an atmosphere where residents feel comfortable in reporting crimes. Once residents know it is their constitutional right to be protected and expect protection, I believe crime will be greatly decreased. I believe the cure for poverty is employment. We must do more to get Hartford residents proficient in skills required to fill jobs within our city. We must work with them to change the mindset of our children and their parents who think education is a waste of time if there is no employment after receipt of this education.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

We must continue to push community pride. We need both downtown and our neighborhoods to be developed. We must continue to encourage our residents to take pride in their property and find a way to combat absentee landlords who live outside of the city of Hartford. We must find a way to penalize out of state landlords who would let their properties go vacant, under developed or abandoned for six months or more. The city needs to find a way to seize these properties and sell it to Hartford residents or Hartford businesses who want to develop them.

Kevin B. Carroll, endorsed Republican

Age:51

Job: Attorney

Previous public offices held: None

Education: Bulkeley High School, 1974; B.A., University of Connecticut, political science, 1978; J.D., Widener University School of Law, 1991

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

I agree with the Small Business and Taxpayer Alliance; the revaluation, which was performed by the city, is substantially flawed. A sample review of several streets evidences extreme variations in the rates of property appreciation from one property to another. This variance in assessment appreciation is surely evidentiary of a faulty methodology in the city's reevaluation process. The only way to resolve this is to perform a new revaluation to more fairly allocate the tax burden and to control spending and find savings within the city's various departments.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

Because Hartford is so small geographically, we continually present crime and poverty statistics that are at or near the bottom of major cities nationally. Cities such as Tampa, Indianapolis, Omaha and Charlotte have all incorporated surrounding land in the last 10 years or so. By doing so, these cities have swallowed up wealthier suburban areas which traditionally have lower crime and poverty rates, thus lowering the rates of crime and poverty, per capita, in their communities. We do not have that luxury, and while crime is a problem, the perception of crime and poverty skewed by our small geographical area is equally troubling. We need more police officers, we need to keep our seasoned officers longer and we need some incentives to encourage our officers to live in our neighborhoods.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

Economic development in our neighborhoods varies widely. Forster Heights may not seek any substantive economic development, while Frog Hollow may encourage retail development. The issue has to be addressed by looking at neighborhoods on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, over the years, much of our land formerly zoned for commercial use has been rezoned for residential purposes in a haphazard manner. I feel that the present administration has a record of assisting certain business owners with political connections while offering no help to others. I believe that the city should promote, assist and encourage existing business owners and actively and aggressively pursue new investment in the city.

Veronica Airey-Wilson, endorsed Republican

Age: 54

Job: Owner, Airey Insurance Group

Previous Public Offices Held: Hartford City Council for 14 years; Hartford Deputy Mayor; former commissioner of the judicial review council.

Education: B.A., Ithaca College; Connecticut Licensed P&C Insurance Agent

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

The issue of property tax reform is one that needs to be addressed at the state level, but until that happens, the city council will have to continue to work with the system we have in place. Shifting the burden from one segment of our society to another is not acceptable and is definitely not working.

Therefore, establishing a task force to identify the best solution for Hartford is a priority. The city council should take the task force's final recommendations to the state legislature early enough to make the appropriate changes for the next fiscal year. If no assistance is possible from the state, then we should look for additional ways to raise revenue and reduce spending which will lower property tax overall.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

I believe education, economic development and crime are interconnected. The council should take the necessary steps to educate our young people, provide job training, jobs and business growth opportunities. This will assist in substantially reducing crime and the perception of crime.

A large-scale adult education and job training center is needed in Hartford. The council should work with the state and federal government to accomplish this soon. We can further help with the negative perception of our city by maintaining a clean vibrant well lighted city where the quality of life issues are a priority.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

The city council can spur development in Hartford neighborhoods by creating an environment which encourages investment in our neighborhoods. This can be done through: infrastructure improvements (sidewalks, lighting, roads, etc.); reducing blight by all means necessary; providing incentives for private investment, especially in the area of housing; targeting neighborhoods that are decaying with full city resources; empowering our community organizations by providing them with technical support, so that they can assist in the revitalization of their neighborhoods; and reducing taxes.

John P. Lupo, Jr., endorsed Republican

Age: 73

Job: Building Engineer, Main Street Marketplace, Middletown

Education: University of Hartford; Aircraft Engine Specialist, United States Air Force.

Previous public offices held: Presently on the Hartford Planning & Zoning Commission; former Commissioner on the Hartford Redevelopment Agency; former Hartford Selectman

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

As a city council member, I would work diligently to garner support for an immediate professional analysis and reform of the existing budget, with emphasis on controlled spending, the elimination of city government waste and proper allocation of state and city revenue. I would continue to promote economic development to encourage more retail and small business enterprises within the city, thereby increasing tax revenue and lessening the tax burden imposed on our existing business owners.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

This perception is partly factual; however, it is also created through the media. I would encourage working closely with local organizations to beautify our downtown area and to promote Hartford as a destination for all the wonderful venues that Hartford has to offer, such as visual art, performing arts and historical buildings, by organizing quality promotion and advertisement drives with the proper agencies. I support a stronger visibility of downtown and neighborhood police patrols. I would work for an amiable alliance between the police department and our neighborhoods in an effort to create trust, security, and mutual appreciation, such as Community Policing Program.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

I believe that economic development is necessary both downtown and in our neighborhoods. I would strive for the formation of a Business Outreach program consisting of experienced business owners and city officials with equal qualifications. Small business is the core and the engine of economic development.

Michael J. Lupo, endorsed Republican

Age: 51

Job: Classroom Support Specialist, Adnet Technologies, Windsor

Previous public offices held: Hartford Board of Education, 2002-05

Education: Ward College at University of Hartford for electronic communication

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

First and foremost, the city council can hold the line on spending at city hall. Over the past few years, Hartford's spending has exceeded the rate of inflation for the New England region. Programs that are redundant or underperforming need to be eliminated and funding needs to be more carefully distributed to programs that work for Hartford's people. Second, comprehensive plans need to be developed to increase the grand list, to increase revenue. As a councilman, I will work closely with the Hartford and state economic development departments to market Hartford to companies that would consider locating here.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

To use the term "perception," leads one to think there is no crime. Hartford needs to do more than combat the perception of crime, it needs to deal with it in a forceful and rapid manner. More emphasis needs to be placed on the small quality of life issues that are the real annoyances that affect residents. My plan as councilman will include working closely with the police department and Hartford school system to solve the issues of small crime. Solving the smaller quality of life issues, will generally lead to preventing major crime.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

Downtown development is well underway. It is now time to concentrate on the neighborhoods. Council needs to look at the major avenues to see what opportunities exist to develop vibrant and thriving neighborhood retail and business. For example, according to the Assessors records, Albany Avenue has over nine city of Hartford owned property. Many have been vacant for several years, and some are owned by the Tax Collector's department. In addition, other vacant properties are owned by faceless LLC's, both local and out of town. My plan is to push toward developing these and other properties into job and tax producing businesses.

Michael T. McGarry, endorsed Republican

Age: 63

Job: Co-publisher of Hartford Publications

Previous public offices held: Hartford City Council, 1993-99; member of Republican State Central Committee and Hartford Republican Town Committee.

Education: Catholic Central High School, Troy, N.Y.; Junior College of Albany; University of Illinois, Urbana; Bernard Baruch School of Business, N.Y.

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

There are three methods of dealing with the tax question:

First, reduce city costs and responsibilities. Example, sell the 75 acres on I-84 using the interest on the capital gained to replace taxpayer funds used for park maintenance. Second, build the grand list. The mayor and the council should take a much more active role in recruiting businesses and work out the impediments to developing. Third, increase the fund balance (by property sales, with an ordinance change) to reduce interest costs. An "AA" rating would save millions over time.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

Using part of the proceeds from the sale of 75 acres of Batterson Lands ($2 million), most of our streets can be "street-scaped," culling out dead trees. Trimming others and planting proper replacements. Trees do make a significant difference in social order - and perceptions.

The mayor's office should use its professional public relations person to accentuate the positive in all areas of the city. The job should encompass more than the deeds and schedule of the mayor. Council persons and department heads should look for opportunities to speak to area groups: rotary, lions, churches, etc., abut progress in reducing crime and increases in home ownership.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

The few remaining business associations - SAMA, Business for Downtown, FABD, Parkville Merchants - all need support. Several years ago, presidents would meet and a modest amount of seed money was available. Strong business associations encourage investment. Modified "Business Improvement Districts" should be set up on every business corridor.

The economic development area of the city should be strengthened with a neighborhood emphasis. Goals should be set, alliances encouraged, and resources identified. Councilpersons should be aware of available help - city and state - and act as a resource for both investors and spur leads for the professionals in the field.

Tax incentives should be explored for new business investment, especially for business personal property.

Gerry Pleasent, endorsed Republican

Age: 68

Job: Hartford Hospital, security division

Previous public offices held: former member of the Water Pollution Commission, Suffield

Education: B.A., InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico; Master's, Cornell University School of Labor & Management

What can the city council do to help ease the property tax burden felt by certain segments of the city?

First of all, the city has to have a tax base. But that tax base needs to be dispersed in a fair and equitable manner. The present structure is neither fair nor equitable. We must not forget the everyday people who are in our city who are presently struggling to met that tax burden. All too often the tax structures are made or formulated by those people who are more comfortable then the people they serve. In order to address the tax problem that we presently face, we need to attract a wide variety of businesses.

How can the city combat the perception of violent crime and poverty?

Violent crime is not a perception, it is there. Progress is being made to address the present crime problem in Hartford. Additional manpower, additional federal and state aide will go a long way to combat the problem.

In part, poverty and crime can be inter-related, because one feeds the other. Again, let us address the ex-offenders problem that would certainly help alleviate part of the problem. I am acutely aware of the need to put to work "non-violent" ex-offenders. The need to re-introduce them into society. Training with a job to follow will go a long way to remolding those individuals.

What can the city council do to spur development in Hartford neighborhoods, not downtown?

Re-development first and foremost must have a duel approach. We must take care of the people who live in our city, and at the same time we must continue to develop our downtown. This would benefit everyone.