Patch Candidate Profile: Karen DelVecchio, Trumbull Planning & Zoning

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

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

Democrat Karen DelVecchio, 63, is a Trumbull resident running for the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Education

Graduate of Trumbull High School and the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

What is your occupation?

Business Development Manager for a commercial construction company.

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

Three adult children – Mario III (37) works in banking in San Francisco, Jillian (35) is in human resources for a energy efficient start-up in San Francisco and Jessie (29), is a fifth grade teacher and lives in Danvers, Massachusetts with her husband Josh.

Also blessed to have a wonderful partner, Mat, and lots of extended family and friends that have become family.

Fun fact – all three of my kids were in Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band and Mario and Jessie both marched in inaugural parades for George W. Bush in 2001 and Barack Obama in 2009, respectively.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

I served on Trumbull's Economic and Community Development Commission for three years and am currently an Alternate on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

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?

I am a lifelong Trumbull resident and have always thought it was important to volunteer and serve.

When my kids were in school, I was involved in PTA as a committee chair, PTA President, and PTA Council Co-President. I was a member of the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band Parents Association for ten years. I have also been a Trumbull Rotarian for over 17 years, serving as president in 2014-2015, and in 2016, was honored to be recognized by my club with the Norm Parsells Award, recognizing Service Above Self.

Serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission will allow me to bring my years of volunteering and professional experience to continue to give back to our town.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the cost of living – we all feel it every day. I want to support economic growth that will benefit the town, the residents and the business community.

First Selectman Vicki Tesoro and Economic and Community Development Director Rina Bakalar have worked tirelessly to ensure there is an environment that attracts and retains businesses in Trumbull. Continuing their outstanding efforts benefits both business and residents and the associated grand list growth can lessen the tax burden on residents.

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

I don’t recall meeting my opponent, so I cannot comment on differences. I prefer to focus on the experience that I bring to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

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

n/a

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

There have been several studies commissioned to help in planning, including the Trumbull Mall Feasibility Study, and the Trumbull Center Corridor Study. These studies are important to future growth and development and it is important for the community to be informed and engaged in these types of initiatives.

Everyone is aware that the Trumbull Mall is the town’s biggest taxpayer and it has been negatively impacted by covid, ownership changes and an increased reliance on online shopping.

The Trumbull Mall Feasibility Study is an exciting opportunity to bring all of the stakeholders to the table and engage the community. This valuable feedback combined with the experience, expertise and market knowledge of the consulting team, has the potential to be transformative. There is already increased interest from potential tenants as a result of the study being underway.

Trumbull will also be updating the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), which has to be done every ten years. The POCD will provide a roadmap and vision of what we want to see in Trumbull for the next ten years in terms of development, planning, and community initiatives.

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

I worked for the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) for 13 years, holding several positions, including Executive Director of the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce. Job growth and economic development are at the core of the BRBC's mission. Meeting with developers, interacting with the regional town and business leaders, discussing economic development initiatives and presenting informational programs for BRBC members was top of mind every day.

Working for a construction company for the past five years, it has been important for me to understand the economic challenges and opportunities for development throughout the state. In order to do that, I interact regularly with economic development professionals and I serve on the Board and Executive Committee for the Connecticut Economic Development Commission (CEDAS).

Through my history and experience in Trumbull and tenure at the BRBC, I gained an understanding of the local economic climate. My current job and engagement with the statewide economic development community allows me to ring a broader perspective.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Two come to mind.

My father-in-law, who I adored, always said “you have to be able to go to bed at night and put your head on the pillow and know you did the right thing”.

I was fortunate to work for Paul Timpanelli for most of my time at the BRBC and when we were faced with a challenge, he would always remind me that“Change is Opportunity”. It was true of business changes and changes we may face in every day life. Change can be scary, but if you embrace it, life can be wonderful.

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

I am fortunate to call Trumbull home and I truly believe my years of volunteering and service, including time on the Economic and Community Development Commission, and my professional experience, has led to this place as a candidate for the Planning & Zoning Commission.

Economic Development in Trumbull has been robust. Over 800,000 square feet of underdeveloped or underperforming properties have been restored. We have seen seven national companies and 130 small businesses relocate to Trumbull and during the first quarter of 2023, Trumbull had the lowest rate of office space vacancy in Fairfield County. I am looking forward to helping continue this positive momentum