A Chat in Hamden

August 20, 2007

Photo/Sharon Bass
Ed Sullivan, 44, BOE member, running for 8th Council District, husband, father, a relaxed man

By Sharon Bass

Halfway through his first four-year term on the Board of Education, Ed Sullivan is taking a stab at the 8th District Council slot. Depending on the outcome of the Sept. 11 Democratic primary, Republican Sullivan will face either Democratic Party-endorsed John DeRosa or incumbent Mike Germano. If Sullivan doesn’t make it, he will retain his Board seat. He also chairs the Finance Committee.

Sullivan is a late bloomer in the world of politics. He’s the first in his family to run for elected office. And apparently the first to even talk about the topic that’s akin to religion. He said his parents never, never discussed politics. In fact, Sullivan said to this day he has no idea which party, if any, his parents are affiliated or how or if they vote. He did recall his father once mentioning JFK. But doesn’t know if his dad voted for the president who was assassinated in Dallas, or how he even felt about Kennedy.

Sullivan, who’s the parts and service manager for Colony Ford in Meriden, has to a degree carried on the family tradition. He said he thinks his grown son is an independent. But he knows his wife is a Democrat.

Hamden Daily News: So whatever possessed you to get politically involved?
Ed Sullivan: I’ve always been a supporter of education. I got active with the PTAs when I moved here to this town. My son went to all grades here, and with the exception of two years, I was 100 percent active in the schools that he attended. And rather than be a critic [of stuff that wasn’t getting done in the schools] and sit on the sidelines, I felt the way to do it was to get actively involved. The way to do it is to run for office.
HDN: Why the decision now to abandon your BOE seat for the Council?
ES: I feel that what was accomplished in the last two years on the Board of Ed needs to be brought over to the town side.
HDN: Such as?
ES: Meaning spending, keeping it under control. Waste of spending. The goal in me running for the Council is what I’ve accomplished on the Board of Ed in the spending side of it and helping control that budget. We need people on the Council who are also going to impose the same type of detail that I’ve went over.
HDN: Can you be more specific about what you’ve accomplishsed?
ES: Over the last two years, the Board of Ed budget has been brought in two record-low numbers. The first year I was on, we were able to bring in only a 3.74 percent increase. This year we brought in a 2.8, and still be able to maintain all the programs that we have. We did that by reorganization, readjustments; that’s what we need people on the town side do
HDN: But significant changes were made to the BOE budget since you came on. In the ’06-’07 tab, for the first time the self-insured health account was moved over to the town side and less money was take from your budget than was initially budgeted to cover health costs. And in the new budget, school revenues were transferred to the municipal piggybank. Those changes make it difficult to compare them as apples to apples with earlier budgets, no?
ES: In years past, we’d have to freeze the accounts on the Board of Ed side not knowing where our insurance would go. By the town agreeing to keep it on their side -- it’s all the same pot of money -- rather than making it part of our budget allocation; on the town side they have better control.
HDN: But did that and the revenue measure help reduce the size of the increase to the school budget?
ES: Not totally reduce it. Those two actions alone did not specifically reduce the budget. It helped the Board of Education to have a realistic, true budget number.
HDN: Then why didn’t the Board present the mayor with a smaller increase in past years?
ES: I think it’s just someone new, fresh, looking at things differently. Asking that question, Why?
HDN: You ask a lot of questions?
ES: All the time. If I asked a question and I got told because that’s the way it’s always been done, that was unacceptable.
HDN: Were you told that?
ES: Twice. And at that point they then determined that was unacceptable response to me so I never got that response again. I got answers as to, ‘Well, we can look at it this way or this way now.’ We need people to stop doing what they used to do.
HDN: What were they doing?
ES: Just the status quo. You need to be more creative on how things get done and willing to work with everybody. I’ve gone over every line item in great detail as finance chair.
HDN: Some say the BOE has become much more political over the last two years with the new chair. Do you agree?
ES: I have to say the Board of Ed that we have, politics generally don’t come into play. We all seem to work well together.
HDN: What about the Adam Sendroff/Rose Mentone Board vote last February to fill the vacancy left by Jennifer McGrady-Heath?
ES: I don’t know what happened on the Democrat caucus side, so I can’t comment on that. I think Adam is a plus to the Board. He’s working out quite well, in my opinion.
HDN: I was referring the Board of Education’s vote, not the town committee’s.
ES: I don’t know.
HDN: OK, let’s talk about your potential transition from Board to Council. It’s doubtful you’ll get to chair the legislative Finance Committee. Are you OK with that?
ES: Obviously, I don’t anticipate being a finance chair on the Council. Also, let me say, I never anticipated being finance chair my first year on the Board of Education, either. I got it. I’m really happy.
HDN: And you’re saying the Board of Ed is not political?
ES: I don’t feel they’re political. That’s my opinion.
HDN: Is the Council political?
ES: The Council’s very political.
HDN: With your unusual apolitical upbringing, how do you feel about entering such a political arena?
ES: I think I work quite well with everybody I come into contact with. I have that personality. I can put up a good argument if need be, but if there’s circumstances that can change my decision on something, I’ll also listen to the possibility. I think the way the Council is currently we need to make some changes. That’s why I’m running. We need a whole new council, in my opinion. I’m not criticizing any one person on the Council, but to have the same people all for a long period of time running -- and in my opinion not listening to many of the Hamden citizens.
HDN: Do you feel every member of the Council is like that?
ES: I feel that there are a few Council people that are not listening to the majority of the Hamden residents.
HDN: A few? You just said we need a whole new council.
ES: Well, I think we need a new council. I think we need some new, fresh faces. I think we need people who are gonna say no. Period. You can’t say yes to everything. Reality, unfortunately, has to set in and you have to listen to the people who have put you in that spot.
HDN: How’s the campaign going?
ES: I have things already out at the printer being made up, like a palm-type card to be handed out. I have four volunteers currently that are willing to walk my district for me and do whatever they need to help me. And they range in age from 19 to 21. So it’s the younger crowd, and I’m very glad and happy about that that I have support from that group.
HDN: Anxious about whom you will run against in November?
ES: It doesn’t faze me because no matter who I’m running against, I think I have over the last couple of years proven to people that what I say is what gets done. I’ve accomplished enough at this point to run for office in a district as opposed to town-wide.
HDN: How well are you known in the 8th?
ES: The district is big. However people talk, so I’ll run into people that I may have not seen but live in my district and know me or heard of me, primarily because of what I’ve done on the Board of Ed side. I’m looking forward to meeting more people in the town, primarily in my district, which I think would be great. The more people you get to know for anything is a plus.
HDN: How would you feel about debating the Democratic primary winner?
ES: Nobody’s approached me about debating. Someone was asked if I would speak at a PTA in one of the schools in the district. Would I be willing to talk openly like in a town forum, town meeting-type thing? Sure. Not a problem. I don’t like to look at it as a debate. I think I’d rather see something more along the lines of a public forum. Let the public come out and ask the questions as opposed to having a group or committee have preformed questions.
HDN: What does your district want from its Council rep?
ES: I don’t have a definite idea on that. I see some things that get done, other things that don’t get done.
HDN: Can you be more specific?
ES: I mean there are things in certain areas where some private properties may not be maintained to my liking. I have concerns and questions of what people perceive goes on in the area. So it’s kind of hard to pinpoint this is a problem, that is a problem. I want to hear collectively from people. Part of my campaign will be to go door to door to hear what people want.
HDN: How do you feel about the job the current 8th District councilman is doing?
ES: Anytime I see him is at the polls and at Council meetings. I don’t recall him walking the district, in my area anyways for obvious reasons. One, he’s a Democrat. Two, I’m a Republican. So the likelihood of him coming to my door would be nil, to a degree. But there’s also a Democrat who lives in my home. My wife.
HDN: How does that work out being married to a Dem?
ES: We don’t really discuss politics that much on a personal level for two reasons. One, we both have our own views on things.
HDN: Will she vote for you this November?
ES: I would hope I would win her over.
HDN: Do you think she will vote for a Democratic or Republican mayor?
ES: You never know what goes on behind the curtain; you can’t ever say.
HDN: Why did you choose the Republican Party?
ES: When I first registered to vote in West Haven, I registered as a Republican. I thought the Republican Party had the same views as I did.
HDN: Please give me examples.
ES: They were fiscally responsible, looking out for people. The public. Just that type of thing.
HDN: Has the Bush Administration been fiscally responsible?
ES: I’m a little hesitant to answer because it’s a national level.
HDN: Is the Bush Administration looking out for the people?
ES: At times, no. I don’t know that they are. It’s very rough to find somebody in politics that’s always looking out for the people. 
HDN: True. Many on both sides of the party fence think this country has suffered immeasurably and without precedence under the Bush Administration and George’s illegal war. Public education has suffered. More people are without health insurance. We have a huge record-breaking national deficit.
ES: True. [Tax dollars] are going everywhere else than they should be. Education money should be coming in for education.
HDN: And, of course, the Bush Administration may not be the best representation of the Republican Party.
ES: True.

Photo/Sharon Bass
Curt Leng, 32, 6th District councilman, budding entrepreneur, ambitious and bright

By Sharon Bass

At 19, Curt Leng made his inaugural run for the Legislative Council as an independent. He lost. That was 1995. Two years later, he donned the donkey frock and ran for his 6th District (he grew up on Atlas Street and now lives about a mile north on Smith Drive). He primaried and took party-endorsed Michael D’Agostino, now School Board chair. Then Leng beat three-term Republican incumbent, Nick Troiano, in the general election.

In ’99, Leng won the 6th again.

But he soon left the bench to be former Mayor Carl Amento’s chief assistant. He was then appointed director of Community Development. Meanwhile, Leng moved to the 2nd District, married, and in 2003, successfully campaigned for an at-large seat and went to work for the city of Bridgeport.

Leng moved back to the 6th and in ’05, won that district again. He said he wants one more term and in ’09 -- with a growing cast of Democrats, some currently running for Council -- plans a mayoral bid. Unless, Leng said, Mayor Craig Henrici goes for a third, assuming he’ll win a second this year.

Hamden Daily News: What are you up to these days?
Curt Leng: For the last year and a half or so, I started a consulting firm. And I still have the consulting firm but I’m kind of going in a whole new direction for a few years and I’m opening a store in Branford, trying to whet my whistle as a small business owner.
HDN: What kind of shop?
CL: It’s going to be a sports collectibles and comics shop opening in September.
HDN: Your wife has taught at the Highville Mustard Seed Charter School. You did some consulting for the school until April. How do you feel about the discoveries of financial impropriety there at the hands of former director Lyndon Pitter and his board?
CL: I’m very disappointed in what happened.
HDN: What are you disappointed about?
CL: In the behavior of a number of individuals at the school. Though I’m very positive about the school going forward. I think the parents and a lot of the staff have worked very hard to keep the school going.
HDN: How do you feel about the parents’ protest about the charter school moving into the controversial old middle school?
CL: I want to listen more. I’m going to go to the meeting on Tuesday. I’m hoping … I heard there’s going to be a DEP [Department of Environmental Protection] official at the meeting. I think once people listen and have some questions answered, particularly about the younger students, if it’s OK for them to be outside ... If the temporary cap [over the contaminated soil] is still viable.
HDN: Let’s talk about this year’s elections. How do you feel about running against Republican Dick Reilly?
CL: I love election season because it brings you closer to the people that are out there. A lot of people kind of don’t like the silly season. But I think it’s important to have it on a regular basis because it forces you to get right out in your community and go door to door and …
HDN: My question was how do you feel about facing Reilly?
CL: I’m looking forward to running against Dick Reilly. I look forward to running against anyone that would like to run. I respect their right to run. I don’t have any particular problem with him. I don’t know what his policy or issues will be.
HDN: Do you feel fairly confident you’ll triumph again?
CL: When I face an election, I face it the same way every time. I run the same type of campaign every campaign that I’ve run. It’s doesn’t matter if the candidate is an incumbent or is someone who’s a newcomer, or Mr. Reilly who ran for mayor [in ’05]. I am very optimistic.
HDN: Why do you keep getting re-elected?
CL: I spend a lot of time going door to door. I’ve gotten a chance to personally meet a lot of people in Hamden, especially in the 6th. So it’s nice on Election Day when people come to the polls, a lot of times I know the people who are coming. They’ll say, ‘Hey, Curt, how are you?” And I’ll give them a hug.
HDN: What attracts you to the Council?
CL: I’ve always loved government and politics. I’m a vocal person on the Council. I try to make my opinions known.
HDN: Unlike last election season, there’s a significant hurdle for Henrici Democrats to overcome: skyrocketing property taxes for many residents since Henrici took office. On top of that, you were the chief legislative architect of the budget as Finance Committee chair, and then voted against your budget this year and last. How are you going to counter constituents’ complaints?
CL: Sure. Every Council member should be working on crafting the budget. I can’t say everybody does. I aggressively work on the budget. I enjoy doing it. The reason I voted against the budget both times is because not enough areas got cut.
HDN: What should have been cut?
CL: I think there were areas from the Public Works Department to the Parks & Rec Department to overtime line items. If I went through the budget with you, I can almost always find an area or two or three or four that really should have been taken a closer look at.
HDN: Why was that not done?
CL: The budget process is a long process. I think sometimes people get fatigued from cutting or are afraid to cut, because they don’t know how much it might hurt a department. Sometimes people lobby a lot. Town employees lobby or maybe a particular department lobbies Council members and may have more influence.
HDN: Who are the most effective lobbyists in town?
CL: I don’t say this in a negative way, but the most effective lobby is the Police Department. There’s a lot of reasons for that. And one reason is they do a good job. They manage their budget well. In all the years I’ve been involved, I’ve never seen the Police Department have a really bad budget year. In fact, during the [former, former Chief] Robert Nolan years they never even came back to the town for more money. They always stayed within the budget. It is a big budget. And they’re successful in lobbying.
HDN: I don’t understand how the revaluation could have affected the budget to result in a higher tax rate.
CL: It didn’t. Here’s what it affected. It affected taxes on the individual. The burden shifted from commercial to residential.
HDN: So wouldn’t a reval phase-in have been an answer for tax relief, as neighboring towns have discovered?
CL: I thought the phase-in was worth looking at for year one. There was a lot of publicity about three-year phase-in and five-year phase-in and what it would do for the numerous years. You can’t possibly have a crystal ball to know what the budget is going to be in year two.
HDN: Why do other towns do it?
CL: Honestly, it’s politically favorable.
HDN: Is it politically favorable not to do one?
CL: No. I think that politically it would have been the easier thing to do.
HDN: Isn’t a revaluation, such as ours in ’05, actually a gift to businesses since their taxes either held steady or actually decreased?
CL: Unfortunately, yes. I don’t like it. That’s why I use the phrase ‘flawed reval.’
HDN: What do you do when your opinion differs from the Council majority leaders and you get pressure to vote their way?
CL: I think in politics when you’re working with a group you’re always going to have deal with some level of pressure. But I’m really proud of the fact that I vote my conscience.
HDN: Let’s talk about that.
CL: You don’t want to create a fight where there doesn’t need to be one, sometimes.
HDN: You voted against Mayor Henrici’s request for a $570 monthly car allowance. A worthy fight?
CL: The reason I voted against the stipend is I didn’t think it was fair. It wasn’t equal. One person would be getting a stipend while another person had to put in for mileage at the federal standard.

 Photo/Sharon Bass
Craig Cesare, 38, Planning & Zoning commissioner, construction manager, 1987 Hamden High grad, Council hopeful

By Sharon Bass