Patch Candidate Profile: Robert Melillo​, Danbury Zoning Commission

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.

Robert Melillo, 52, is running for re-election to the Zoning Commission in Danbury, as a Republican.

Education.

MEd Harding University

What is your occupation?

Social Studies Teacher

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Wife - Kim Melillo, Daughters - Tessa Melillo, Kaley Melillo

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Yes, I have been an elected member of the Danbury Zoning Commission since 2005

Why are you seeking this office?

In order to ensure that we live in a true representative democracy we need citizens willing to serve in government. I enjoy being of service to others and feel as though I still have a lot that I can offer and would like to be both a listener and a voice for the citizens of Danbury.

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

The single most pressing issue facing Danbury from a zoning perspective is continuing to protect the economic vitality while at the same time preserving the health, safety, and welfare of the residential community in Danbury by promoting and supporting smart and planned development. I intend to address this issue by continuing to maintain an open mind regarding all petitions for zone changes and zoning amendments as well as special permit applications while listening to the information presented in public hearings and using that information to make a well-educated and logical decision on behalf of the citizens of Danbury whom I am elected to represent.

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

One major difference between myself and many of the other candidates who are also running for a seat on the zoning commission is my years of experience serving The City of Danbury in this capacity. I have been an elected member of the zoning commission since December 2005, and served as Chairman of the commission for 10 years (2009 - 2019). The knowledge and experience that I have gained in this capacity is valuable in helping to fulfill this role.

A second critical difference pertains to my chosen occupation. I am a full time school teacher and am not involved in real estate or development in any capacity. By not being involved in Real Estate or Development it would be highly unlikely that I would find myself facing situations where my professional job would place me in conflict with decisions being made thereby causing me to recuse myself from the commission or open the commission up to legal appeals.

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

The biggest accomplishment that I could cite as evidence that I can handle this position would be that I have been re-elected to the commission for 8 election cycles. In addition I was nominated to be the chairman of the commission by a member of the other political party, demonstrating my ability to work across the aisles and not as a partisan politician. In my role as a member of the commission I served 10 years as chairman and 2 years I served as Vice Chairman .

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I know it may seem cliche but the best advice ever given to me was "Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You." This is valuable information for everyone to follow and something that I strive to live my life according to.

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

I was born in Danbury and with exception of the years a that I spent in college and while my wife completed her college education I have lived in Danbury my entire life. My family, which includes the Tomaino family and the Wanzer family, has deep roots in the Danbury/Greater Danbury area. I am proud to have served the citizens of Danbury for the past 18 plus years and would humbly request that the voters support my bid to be re-elected for another 2 terms serving this great community.