Stamford Election 2021 Profile: Bobby Valentine For Mayor

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 2 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Stamford.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the city.

Unaffiliated candidate Bobby Valentine, 71, is running for Stamford mayor.

Occupation: Former Executive Director Of Athletics At Sacred Heart University

Family: One son, Bobby Valentine Jr.

Experience: Former Stamford Director of Public Safety and Health & Welfare

Family in government: no

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The No. 1 thing we hear on the campaign trail is that voters want to take the politics out of city government.

Most people aren't interested in "D" vs. "R." They want people of all parties to work together to improve our schools, fix our roads and parks, and preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods and provide housing people can afford. That's why I'm running unaffiliated.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I have decades of managing large, complex organizations with multimillion-dollar budgets. I have a deep understanding of Stamford's many diverse neighborhoods because I am part of this community, and I have the relationships I will need to build a team to lead Stamford into a bright future. My aspiration is to better by hometown, and not use it as a stepping stone toward another political office.

Accomplishments:

In my diverse management career I have met budgets, made payrolls, and provided hundreds of jobs through my businesses. I have taken part in union negotiations and overseen the development of educational facilities.

I have built successful, diverse teams in baseball, business and academia. As public safety director and a member of a mayoral cabinet, I participated in Stamford government at the highest level.

Other issues:

We need to repair or replace school buildings and hire more minority teachers; create more affordable rental apartments and housing for residents to purchase; establish budgetary practices focused on keeping taxes down; make it easier for residents to access their government and especially citizens' services and permits for home repairs and small-business needs; enact zoning policies that preserve our diverse neighborhoods.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

We have built a campaign from nothing, with no service support from any political party, so I could run unaffiliated.

It's been more than a century since Stamford has had a mayor who is unaffiliated, but we see from the campaign trail that residents are tired of party division and want their government to operate in peace and cooperation, and neighbors working together.

I take it as my responsibility to hear their concerns and ideas for improving Stamford for all of us.