Patch Candidate Profile: Charley Marenghi, Naugatuck Burgess

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

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

Democrat Charley Marenghi, 55, is a Naugatuck resident running for the Board of Mayor and Burgesses.

Education

Bachelors Degree in Education CCSU and Masters Degree Educational Leadership CCSU.

What is your occupation?

Professional Educator, 25 years.

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

Married 31 years to Gayle "Raczkowski" Marenghi. Four children: Stephanie 23 (Student University of Glasgow, Veterinary School), Charles 21(Student University of Connecticut, Music Education, Neag School of Education), Gwen 15 (Sophomore, Naugatuck High School) , and Greg 13 (7th Grade, City Hill Middle School).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Both my wife and I work for the Naugatuck Board of Education.

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

Yes, I am a two term incumbent member of Board of Mayor and Burgesses of Naugatuck 2019-Present. Before that I served on several commissions and committees as an appointed member. They included school space needs, long term school facilities planning, Naugatuck High School "Renovate to New" building committee, Mt Auburn Economic needs Study, Naugatuck Arts Commission, and Naugatuck Economic Commission. I also served two terms as a "Selectman" of Naugatuck (elected office no longer exist via 2011 Charter Change).

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking re-election so that I may continue to serve the community that I love. If elected to a third term I will continue to work with Mayor Hess to see the many projects and initiatives we've started together come to fruition.

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

When speaking to constituents the most pressing that is revealed is that of the tax burden that we all must endure. After decades of budgetary strife and lack luster meaningful economic development we have begun the process of building an economic foundation that will endure and bring about real tax relief.

Upon re-election I will continue to support the development of our third industrial park on the former Naugatuck Chemical property, building of mixed use residential/business property on parcels A and B, transfiguration of our downtown into a thriving "Transportation oriented district" that taps into the rail transit and natural assets that we have, and the revitalization of the Rubber Avenue business corridor. Only trough real and sustainable "Smart Growth" like the projects I have sighted will we establish a local economy that will thrive and provide authentic tax relief.

Authentic long term tax relief via authentic "Long game" thinking and policies are what I support and will continue to work for.

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

In all honesty the entire bipartisan slate of incumbent burgesses have had a shared vision of what we want to make happen in Naugatuck. Nearly all votes that we have taken have been unanimous. One item that has separated me from a few of my colleagues is my support of educational funding in our town. As an educator it has been my life's passion to provide the best education possible to all of our citizens' families. To me, a quality public educational system is an investment that pays incredible long term dividends.

In this last budget cycle I stood strong when others sought to make cuts that would have resulted in reduced staff and services. I made my concerns known, shared my perspective as both a parent and educator as to why these cuts would hurt our borough, and was successful in halting these proposed cuts to funding of our board of education budget. I have never nor will I ever vote for cuts to our educational system that would reduce the quality of public education in Naugatuck.

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

All issues that lend themselves to quality of life in our borough are the issues that I am happy to address. As a member of the Board of Mayor and Burgesses the last two terms I have worked with my colleagues to address a wide range of issues that pertain to the quality of life we enjoy in Naugatuck. Restructuring our debt to generate enough money to pay for our new skate park and the forthcoming splashpad while also lowering our interest rate on existing debt is one example of how solid, fact based, and bipartisan decision making can improve the quality of life in town.

In addition, responsible budgeting practices of the last four years has put our borough in a position where we are no longer labeled as a "distressed" community. By working with our department heads and finance board in practicing intelligent and austere budgeting we have strengthened our town's fund balance (reserves) to meet modern best practices. This will, in turn improve our overall bond rating. An improved bond rating will give us the ability to secure the necessary funding to continue to improve our parks, roads, sidewalks, and borough facilities.

All of this, no matter how mundane it seems, impacts the quality of life for all that live in our community. If elected to another term I will continue work with our mayor and other burgesses to make the types of decisions that better the quality of life for all.

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

As a burgess I worked with Mayor Hess and other community leaders to vet the developers that will help bring mixed use development to our former industrial down town properties. In addition, as an incumbent burgess I have been part of the bi-partisan efforts to make the former Naugatuck Chemical Property a viable revenue generating third industrial park. In my four years of serving my community as a burgess I have gained the needed experience to better serve my community.

Before being elected as a burgess I served on the "Renovate to New" building committee that oversaw the 81 million dollar Naugatuck High School project. This project vastly improved our school facilities and came in under budget. In addition to that, I served as chairman of the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library for over a decade. In that capacity I handled personnel, budgeting, and capital issues that were in many ways similar to issues brought before the borough board on a regular basis.

I have proven both in my elected office life and life as a private citizen that I am committed to serve my community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

A wise mentor and teacher of mine once said, "Listen and see both sides of every argument and issue. Rest assured that reality and truth reside in the middle." As a burgess one must listen and evaluate all variables and facts. Good decisions are informed and fact based.

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

If re-elected I will continue to support forward looking long range economic development that builds a secure environment for sustainable and meaningful growth. In addition I will also continue to work with our finance board and department heads to craft budgets that balance the vital services of our borough with fiscal integrity and responsible frugality that protects our taxpayers.

Moreover, I will continue to make it my mission to build a Naugatuck community that still values its history, embraces its role in an ever changing world economy, and provides opportunities to all of its citizens for a better quality of life.