Patch Candidate Profile: Lou Giordano, Danbury City Council

DANBURY, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Danbury and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Danbury Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Music producer Lou Giordano, 66, is running for a seat on the City Council representing the 7th Ward, as a Democrat. He holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in electrical engineering from MIT. He has been married to Carolyn for 34 years, and the couple has two daughters: Joanna, a public school music teacher, and Victoria, a manager for a worldwide hunger relief non-profit.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Danbury Democratic Town Committee 2018-present

Why are you seeking this office?

I’m running as a Democratic candidate for City Council, 7th Ward, to support my friend Roberto Alves for Mayor. We both feel that the City of Danbury can improve in many ways, such as increasing public school funding, lowering taxes and better maintenance of our roads. I believe that government should benefit all people and support diversity, equity and inclusion.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it.

improving public education. Danbury is the worst town in the state for per pupil spending on public education. I intend to work with all receptive members of government to allocate more money, increase educational opportunities such as the Career Academy, and upgrade existing facilities with state grants and any other source of funds.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I would have different priorities than the current administration. I think there are many areas where the city could improve, and I'm willing to take a fresh look at creative ways to make the city better, including sources of funding for those improvements.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

By sustaining a tired, 20-year old agenda of defunding public education, poor road maintenance and lack of transparency / accountability.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Better road maintenance, more transparency and accountability, sustainable development, and looking for ways to lower taxes while delivering better services.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a music producer, I managed large budgets for major label artists, and delivered platinum-selling records for those labels. I would put the same care and attention to detail to the work of the city council as I have for those projects.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My dad always used to say "roll with the punches." The work of the city council is challenging and you're not always going to get what you want, but if you roll with the punches, you will never lose sight of your core priorities.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I believe Roberto Alves has a better vision for the city of Danbury than the current administration. In order to implement this vision, he needs a city council that will support him. That's why I'm running.