Patch Candidate Profile: Frank Donato, Shelton Alderman

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

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

Democrat Frank Donato, 73, is a Shelton resident running for the Board of Aldermen in Ward 1.

Education

B.A. Political Science

What is your occupation?

Retired Small Business owner/ Salesman

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

I have been married to my wife Catherine for 51 years. We raised our 3 daughters in Bayside, Queens, N.Y. Our daughters married and decided to settle in Ct. and as grandchildren (8 total) came along we soon followed.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Presently an Alternate on Shelton Planning & Zoning.

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?

Autocracies and one-party rule are a threat to our Democracy. That describes the City of Shelton, a Mayor that has been entrenched in City Hall for 32 years, a Board of Alderman with 7 of 8 members belonging to the Mayor's party doesn't make for a healthy government. Positive growth can only be guaranteed by strengthening our city's checks and balances.

An additional reason for seeking office is that I enjoy walking around my community, engaging people, listening to their life experiences, their dreams, and admiring the natural beauty of CT.

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

The most pressing issue facing my constituents is Quality of Life. Are we providing services to our citizens that will help this community to grow in a healthy fashion? I will work with David Eldridge to maintain Shelton’s history of low taxes, while investing in Shelton’s quality of life. As I have gone door to door talking to people in Ward 1, I have discovered that individuals of all ages are being impacted by the lack of city services. Are there social services to help the elderly stay independent and families that may be dealing with dementia? As an alderman, I will investigate grants and other sources of help. Are we doing all we can to insure a safe and high-level education for our children. I will work with David Eldridge to make strategic investments in our schools with careful planning and oversight. We must also support our Police and Fire Departments – making sure they are equipped for the problems of the 21s century.

Are we maintaining our roads properly? During this campaign, I have walked all the major and secondary roads in Ward 1, and it is obvious that we need to do a better job. This includes the city clearing rubbish and cutting back overgrowth in areas that block vision. A final issue is flooding. There are people in the city who are being flooded monthly by what should be 100-year floods. Sewar grates should be cleaned and other solutions should be considered. If I am elected, I want my constituents to know that I am aware of their problems and will work to solve them

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

This administration, and the current Aldermen in Ward 1 have become part of the problems of this city. They are a rubber stamp for the mayor; they choose not to see what problems need to be addressed. Along with my running mate Nathan Diur and the rest of the David Elridge, team we will bring fresh eyes to our city.

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

Attend or watch on Zoom a Board of Alderman meeting (2nd Thursday each month). They consistently follow the Mayor's directives with little or no debate. The most recent example is the city budget which again would not fully fund the Board of Education. There was no debate about the Mayor's raise and lifetime insurance payments. (The only dissenting voice was the lone Democrat on the Board.) Again, the current incumbents voted for a charter revision that will needlessly increase city bureaucracy, give the Mayor a power grab on the Board of Education and needlessly increase city debt. The incumbents have no problem with the Mayor, being in the Real Estate business; I do.

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

Another major issue is disenfranchised voters. We won't see change in this city until people become more aware of what is being done in plain sight. A start would be to motivate the electorate to vote in our Mayoral elections. Less than 50% of our registered voters vote in local elections. These are the elections that have the greatest impact on our lives. It is not healthy to have these decisions made by a minority.

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

I helped develop a successful family retail business in East Harlem during the 1970's, one of the most depressed areas of NYC at the time. Later I operated my own retail business in one of the most exclusive areas of Long Island. However, my proudest accomplishment is that my wife Cathy and I have raised 3 wonderful daughters who, along with their husbands, are a positive contribution to Connecticut.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"Invest in yourself." The idea is that each year you should work at something to grow as an individual - it could be education, personal growth, or a hobby.

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

We want to attract and maintain talent in our community. We need to make Shelton a welcoming place to settle for workers, small business owners, and graduates of our schools. I want to make Shelton a city in which my grandchildren and other young people will want to settle. My running mate Nathan Diur is a perfect example of an immigrant's contribution to our society and economy.