Danbury Election 2021 Profile: Roberto Alves

DANBURY, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Roberto Alves, 38, is running for Danbury Mayor in Danbury.

Occupation: Technical Sales Engineer

Family: My wife Robyn have two kids, Julius and Catalina, a cat named Felix and a puppy named Abby who is our newest addition

Experience: City Council At-Large

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

Education. Danbury has been dead last in per-pupil funding in the state for far too long. Our schools are overcrowded especially at the High School where students can barely navigate the hallways between classes because they’re so crowded, guidance counselors are responsible for 125 more students on average than is recommended, we have education budgets year after year that don’t keep up with the cost of inflation which means we can’t even fulfill our contractual obligations, and we lose out on new businesses both big and small because we can’t properly manage our money when it comes to our schools. Good schools lead to good roads, a solid infrastructure, and a healthy local economy. My vision and strategic plans for Danbury address the heart of what our city needs to build a brighter future. That includes: Applying ARP (American Rescue Plan) Funds to help address space and overcrowding issues in our schools, enrich academic environments with updated accessible technology, ensure building safety and health, strengthen community-school-family partnerships to support students, and make sure that Danbury’s educational system is equitable for everyone; Taking a broad and inclusive community-based approach to assess the needs, health, and conditions of Danbury Public Schools from building updates to repairs, educational supports, budgeting, and funding; Hand-in-hand with these initiatives also comes enhancing downtown and our business districts by investing in infrastructure improvements and beautification, creating more parking, increasing local transportation options, and implementing new tax incentive programs made available to small businesses and commercial real estate developers who commit to property enhancements and create jobs in Danbury, and and reviewing the city’s zoning regulations in partnership with commercial property and business owners to maximize and utilize existing space on Mill Plain Rd.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

When my wife and I decided to put our roots down here, where we both grew up, we never left because we believe in giving back to the community that has given us, and our kids, so much. Our city has so much to offer and there is so much more we could be doing to create a more equitable, successful, and prosperous city for everyone. In that same line, it is critical that Danbury’s next Mayor not only recognizes but faces our issues head-on. We can’t keep burying our heads in the sand in favor of flashy headlines because it’s easier. We need to get to work and catch up with other cities in Connecticut – from growing our grand list, which is half the size of municipalities comparable cities in the region, to creating more reliable, affordable, and expanded transportation options, and to creating an environment for small businesses and our local economy to thrive. We’re talking about using the existing resources and assets our city already has and making them work for everyone.

Accomplishments:

In addition to my time as a local activist, volunteer, and my time as a City Councilman, I bring 15 years of business experience to the position. We need leaders that haven’t been in the echo chamber for too long — we need to drain the swamp in Danbury. In the last few months, I’ve released strategic plans to address our education system from top to bottom, support our small businesses and bring our local economy to life, support our seniors in the most impactful ways we can on the local level, support and maintain our infrastructure, and more. This is about managing our city better, with a business-forward, people-centric approach, and that’s something I bring to the table every day on the City Council and in my work, and as Mayor I’ll fight for a better, and brighter future for everyone.

Other issues:

Small business and our local economy Supporting our seniors Infrastructure Education The issues we face are kitchen table issues that require smart, strategic local solutions. All of my strategic plans for Danbury, from small businesses and our local economy, to strategically applying ARP funds, to education, supporting our seniors, and and maintaining and addressing our infrastructure can be seen at: www.AlvesforDanbury.com

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I’m a husband, a father, and I’m committed to making our city a better, and brighter place.