MONROE, CT — It’s still too early to know if Monroe will have a contested first selectman’s race in November’s municipal election, but town Republicans already have a candidate they’re backing in hopes of winning a second consecutive term.
First Selectman Terry Rooney held a rally for his reelection campaign at Vazzy’s Osteria, 415 Main St., Tuesday night before a packed dining room filled with family members, business owners, a few police officers and firefighters, and local and state officials, as well as leaders of the surrounding communities of Stratford, Milford and Shelton.
Rooney was introduced by his son, Conor, and they shared an embrace before the first selectman took to the podium.
“Two years have almost passed. What a road we’ve had guys,” Rooney said. “I remember when I was running for election. They were asking me certain questions. ‘Hey, have you ever handled a disaster?’ Well, I can answer that ‘yes’ now can’t I? A thousand year flood that ripped through our streets. It paralyzed our lives for about four or five months. One day of damage paralyzed our lives. The Department of Homeland Security, FEMA … right?”
“But what did we do? We took it. We handled it like Monroe people do and we got it done and we got those roads together in eight days, didn’t we? Did we not get our roads back together in eight days guys?”
The audience applauded.
“Not only that, it was almost a miracle, we got a state road done in two weeks,” Rooney said of Route 34. “How does that happen? From hard work and commitment from people in the town: myself, public works, Chief White — wow, what a great job they did. That was very difficult.”
The town also passed budgets in the first referendum in each of the last two years.
“The last one was tough with a reval,” Rooney said of the state-mandated revaluation, which led to a significant spike in residential property values. “But it was the first time it ever passed in the history of budget passing after a reval, so I think that’s an accomplishment. It was too high. I wanted it lower, but the community spoke.”
The first selectman noted how some residents thought the education budget was too low, but said, unlike some other towns, Monroe is not laying off teachers.
He also touted progress made with cybersecurity.
“Our seniors’ homes are now protected by a program,” Rooney said. “That’s a good thing. Now people can’t play with seniors’ deeds and take their homes out from underneath them. We started OpenGov in planning and zoning, so now you can get permits.”
He said Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, who attended the dinner, helped him with the online permitting system.
“Parks and Rec got a couple new gazebos. We’re taking care of the parks,” Rooney said. “I’ve got all kinds of ideas to redo the buildings and do some refurbishing that’s been needing to be done for a long time.”
In addition to beautifying the town, other future goals include growing the commercial tax base. In the last two years, Rooney said Monroe brought in 74 new businesses.
“Is that an accomplishment?” he asked, getting another round of applause from his audience. “And that’s off the heels of Mr. Kellogg and what’s he’s done with his administration.”
Rooney’s predecessor, Ken Kellogg, was among the local dignitaries at Tuesday’s dinner.
“And I think it’s really important that we look at Republican leadership in Monroe in this way,” Rooney said, “Mr. Kellogg had talents that I did not have and I believe I have talents different from Mr. Kellogg.”
The first selectman said Republicans can have different leaders within their party, who are the right ones at the right time.
“I believe during COVID, Mr. Kellogg was the right man,” Rooney said, alluding to Kellogg’s EMS background. “I would never have gotten through this town as well during COVID as Mr. Kellogg did.”
“Ken, you know what’s coming,” he added with a smile,”but I got us through the storm I think better than you might have. I’m sorry, but I believe that to be true. This is a good thing. I’m very proud that within our party we have different people with different skills and I think that’s why we’ve run Monroe really well, and I think that’s why we continue to win, because we do what’s best for our town.”
He asked the elected officials and commissioners at the dinner if they agreed and received a resounding yes.
Among the elected officials in attendance were state leaders, including Sen. Jason Perillo, R-21st, Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield and Rep. Amy Romano, R-Shelton.
Jim Tamburro, executive director of the Connecticut Republican Town Committee, was also on hand, along with Chris Carrena, who was a candidate for the 22nd Senatorial District, a seat won by Democrat, Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, last November.
In addition to Lauretti, Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, Milford Mayor Anthony S. Giannattasio and other municipal officials from those towns came out to support Rooney.
Of Rooney, Kellogg said, “I’m proud that he’s continuing the progress and doing what’s best for our town.”
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