Bobby Valentine Announces Transition Team Should He Win Nov. 2

STAMFORD, CT — On Thursday Bobby Valentine announced the transition team that would aid his administration should he win the race for Stamford mayor on Nov. 2.

Valentine, a Stamford native and former Major League Baseball manager, is running as an unaffiliated candidate.

The team, initially comprised of five Democrats, three Republicans and an unaffiliated voter, would compile status reports of all city agency initiatives and programs, and search for candidates to fill critical roles in Stamford's government.

"As someone who has built and managed companies and teams successfully for almost four decades, I’m looking forward to recruiting and establishing a world-class group of individuals to join me in serving the people of Stamford,” Bobby Valentine said in a news release. “I’m honored to have assembled a dedicated, diverse and deeply qualified transition team to begin this process.”

Valentine appointed Democrat Sandy Goldstein, the recently retired President of Stamford Downtown and the first woman to serve as President of the Board of Representatives, as the transition team chair.

Goldstein was the first woman to run on the Democratic line in a citywide mayoral election in Stamford. She lost to Republican Stanley Esposito in 1991.

"I’m delighted to join Bobby’s team at this critical juncture," Goldstein said in a news release. "Bobby is well suited to lead this city into the next decade. I’ve worked closely with Bobby for many years, and am thrilled that someone with his breadth of experience and passion for improving peoples’ lives is willing to serve as mayor of our vibrant city."

Valentine is going up against Democrat and State Rep. Caroline Simmons, who defeated current Mayor David Martin in a primary earlier this month.

Other members of the team include:

• Tim Abbazia (D): Chief Financial Officer of CSC Sugar and Chairman of the Stamford Police Commission.
• Dr. Tabitha Fortt (D): Family doctor and member of the Stamford Health Commission.
• Rissa Gerych (D): An international tax professional
• Frank Melzer (D): A lawyer who has practiced for 60 years in Stamford and has served for the last 10 years on the Stamford Fire Commission.
• Harry Day (R): President of both the Stamford Museum and Nature Center and Stamford Land Conservation Trust.
• Alex Martinez (R): Civil litigation, criminal defense, immigration and family lawyer in Stamford and a Stamford absentee ballot moderator.
• Bradley Michelson Bewkes (R): Board of Representatives member and Deputy Minority Leader and Co-Chair of the Land Use / Urban Redevelopment Committee.
• Rodney Bass (U): Former principal of Turn of River Middle School and recently appointed member of the Stamford Police Commission.