Trumbull Election 2021 Profile: Bill Mecca

TRUMBULL, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Trumbull will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next couple of weeks, so check back often to see the latest.

Democrat Bill Mecca, 52, is running for Town Council D-2.

Occupation: Social Worker

Family: Daughter, Lauren 17; Son Andrew, 15, mom Barbara ,87

Experience: Town Council D-1

Family in government: No

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

Keeping taxes stable while funding education, town services, and public safety priorities. Along with my colleagues, department heads and voter input, I will scrutinize the annual budget requests so that investments in our infrastructure are efficient and sustainable. Supporting economic development, and our sources of revenue must remain robust and healthy to reduce the burden on the individual tax payer. Citizens of all ages must always be encouraged to share their perceptions so that their input guides decision making.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I have been involved as a volunteer and have held leadership positions for many years. My work as a school social worker in town allows me to get to know many people and their first hand experiences. Being a moderate, I have had success with navigating different opinions within my own caucus which has resulted in voting based on the issues, and independent of party affiliation.

Accomplishments:

In 2020, when voting on the annual budget while quarantined, it was challenge was to communicate via zoom and find common ground. I chose to break from the caucus on the issue of school funding as the majority of the public wanted an increase. There were some inter-party tensions and that's ok. We were able to move forward by gathering more information for the following year, support a change in school administration and a reasonable increase after the worst of the pandemic's impact could be determined. It takes experience in building relationships with others and knowledge of the political process, and to navigate complex decisions affecting all.

Other issues:

I voted for the redistricting and the return to 7 districts that allows for better representation of neighborhoods through smaller-sized districts and more convenient polling/voting locations. The future issue will be deciding how to spend the money from the American Recovery Act and which major infrastructure projects can we afford and is a priority to the community.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am lifelong Connecticut resident, born in New Haven, and raised in Hamden. I feel fortunate to have been able to being a first time homeowner in Trumbull and the town has become even more desirable, in my observation, in the last 20 years. My passions are community involvement, education, public safety, economic development and the preservation of open space. As a moderate, and I value finding common ground and "the middle" and that's what the voters want.