Profile: Naugatuck GOP Mayoral Candidate Tamath K. Rossi

By Brian McCready, Naugatuck Patch Editor

In 12 years as Naugatuck’s deputy mayor. Tamath K. Rossi has a perfect attendance record.

Rossi said it’s that kind of commitment to her constituents, which has led her to run for mayor of the town and community she loves so much.

“I have worked hard every single day since May 6, 2003 to earn every vote and confidence that has been granted to me by the residents. I’ll apply that same work ethic, energy, dedication, and passion to the office of mayor,” Rossi said in a recent interview with Naugatuck Patch. “This is my passion, this is where my heart is. This community has the ability to shine again.”

Rossi is also equally proud that over the past six elections she’s earned the most votes of any burgess, which is how she received the title of deputy mayor.

Rossi’s candidacy was announced after her Republican opponents Seth Bronko and Burgess Alexander Olbrys.

She had just taken a job at the Waterbury Great Chamber of Commerce as the membership development manager, but Rossi said business officials and residents urged her to run for mayor, and she quickly decided to run for mayor.

“It’s a critical time for our community,” Rossi said. “I want to be able to lead us to a brighter future and it can be done.”

As for that brighter future, Rossi said a major part is a focus on economic development and “we need to build a stronger community.”

“I’m the leader to facilitate that,” Rossi said. “I’m Tamath Rossi, Naugatuckian. My decision is based on the good for the community as a whole.”

Experience

Rossi said she’s the right person to lead Naugatuck forward because of her vast experience and familiarity with local government and the business community.

She has served on or been apart of more than a dozen committees or local groups including the Naugatuck Economic Development Corp.

Like everyone living in Naugatuck, Rossi said the tax rate is too high, but there are no quick fixes. She said the mayor and the burgesses have privatized where they could to save money including garbage pickup and the VNA, and hard work lies ahead and requires a vision.

“You need results, not rhetoric,” Rossi said. “Anyone can say we need to lower taxes.”

Rossi said over the past 12 years her record speaks for itself in addressing tough issues and includes addressing a fuel tank that was leaking and left ignored in the past, tackling revaluation that also was ignored for 20 years, helping to privatize the VNA and garbage pickup, and bonding pensions.

“It hasn’t been easy, there have been some extremely difficult decisions,” Rossi said.

Businesses

Rossi, who owned a small business knitting shop on Church Street for 2 ½ years, said business officials in town feel like they are not being heard. She said there is a tax abatement program the town offers and many businesses don’t know about it.

She said she’d create the Naugatuck Business Advisory Group and she’d be an active part of that in order to hear first-hand what business officials feel and need.

Cost-Savings Plan

Last week Rossi unveiled her platform, which includes acquiring the Naugatuck Armory to create a multi-use Community Center, which could save taxpayers up to $10 million.

Elements of her plan include relocating the Park Department facility to the former motor pool facility and also utilize the Armory as a spillover for the Department of Public Works.

Create a community and non-profit collaborative space and use by relocation of the Naugatuck Youth Services to the Armory, create a permanent Public Safety Emergency Operations Center for the Borough as well as a potential shelter.

Relocate the current alternative education classrooms at the Naugatuck VNA building to the Naugatuck Armory.

Once the Armory project is completed she’d have the town sell the Naugatuck Youth Services and VNA buildings to get them back on the tax rolls.

To learn in-depth about Ross’s full campaign platform see this related story. Naugatuck Mayoral Candidate Tamath Rossi Reveals Her Platform

Some specific accomplishments Rossi cited include:

instituting the “Welcome to Naugatuck” sign project

writing and obtaining a $39,000 grant for remodeling/upgrade of Naugatuck Senior Center

resurrecting the Business Merchants Association

writing and establishment of the town’s Blight Ordinance and an IT Ordinance