Politics & Government
Joe Corsello, Stamford's GOP Mayoral Candidate, Drops Out Of Race
Corsello, who was endorsed by the Republican Town Committee in July to run for mayor of Stamford, dropped out of the race this week.
STAMFORD, CT —Joe Corsello, the Republican-endorsed candidate for mayor of Stamford, announced this week that he has dropped out of the race. Corsello penned a letter to the editor in the Stamford Advocate in which he endorsed unaffiliated candidate Bobby Valentine.
A longtime Stamford resident, musician, and former Stamford police officer, Corsello was endorsed in July by the Republican Town Committee.
Corsello graduated from Rippowam High School in 1964 and went to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. After playing for the U.S. Army Field Band and later touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Corsello enrolled at the University of Connecticut in the 1970s, the Advocate reported. Corsello then joined the Stamford Police Department in 1980, where he served for over two decades.
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"We love Joe: his character, his values, his commitment to hard work and his personality. We believe he'll be able to draw attention to the real problems and opportunities in our beloved city. It's time for a reckoning and Joe is here to help clean things up," RTC Chair Fritz Blau told Patch shortly after Corsello's endorsement in July.
In his letter to the Stamford Advocate, Corsello said it's time to move on from Mayor David Martin and his leadership style. He added that Democratic candidate and current State Rep. Caroline Simmons is "entirely unprepared" to run the city.
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Corsello explained why he's backing Valentine.
"Bobby isn’t running for mayor because he needs a job or has political ambition. He is doing it for the love of Stamford that he has displayed all of his life. Bobby has a diverse record of success and will bring unique insight to governing," Corsello said in the Advocate.
On Facebook Thursday, Valentine thanked Corsello for the support.
"I was thrilled to receive another endorsement yesterday from a distinguished member of our community, Joe Corsello. Thanks, Joe!" Valentine said.
Martin and Simmons face-off in the Democratic primary on Sept. 14.
To read Corsello's piece in the Stamford Advocate, click here.
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