West Haven Candidate Profile: Silvana Apicella For City Council

WEST HAVEN, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in West Haven and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

West Haven Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Silvana Apicella, 46, is running for a seat on the City Council in the 8th District as a Republican.

Are you running for office in West Haven? Contact Vinnie Salzo at vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to West Haven Patch.

Family:

Lorenzo Apicella, Son, 16 years old attends WH High School. Angel Cadena, significant other (Congressional Candidate 3rd District)

Education:

Bach Degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College

Occupation:

17 years Communication Industry, past 6 years as a Sr. Construction Coordinator

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

none

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

High Taxes due to the lack of development and lack of fiscal responsibility is the most pressing issue our city faces today. I will vote in favor of any appropriate utilization of our shoreline and bring development to our city. I will also ensure that the administration abides by the balanced budget ordinance which requires the Finance Director to deliver a report detailing the status of the city's revenues and expenditures at the end of each fiscal quarter. This has not occurred since adoption of the ordinance.

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

I am completely unfamiliar with the other candidate or her views. However, during my tenure on the Bi-Partisan Charter Revision Commission, I have shown my willingness to work with others regardless of affiliation. I will always respect everyone's opinion, even if it conflicts with mine, as I plan on learning from all, including the young, as they will inherit what we leave them and they are the future.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I intend to have an open-door policy for my constituents and residents throughout the city. I will respond to each resident that contacts me and address their concerns directly. I plan on working as a team and keeping them informed on everything going on within the city.

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

Over the years I have received several awards at work for Outstanding Commitment and Dedication to Serving my Customers at work, as well as for working fast under pressure during major storms that caused many outages. I have also had much success with community events I have headed with the Italian-American Ladies Auxiliary. I also can't stress enough what has been done during my tenure on the Charter Revision. It's very clear to see with these recommendations what my intentions are. In work and life, I am a hard worker who always looks at the bigger picture and thinks outside of the box.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

My dad would say “There will always be people that will try to break you down, but at the end of the day, you are the one that is responsible for your own destiny." "Who pays for the shoes on your feet or the clothes on your back? You do!"

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I've lived in this city all my life. I bought my home in the same neighborhood I grew up in so my son and I could be near my parents. I spent summers in Italy and am bilingual. I was a competitive figure skater, who started in West Haven's Learn to Skate Program and also trained in Lake Placid. I have always worked hard, as a single mom, I put myself though school finally finishing my degree in 2011. I am also a BARC-CT Animal Rescue Volunteer. For the past year and a half, I was a member of the Charter Revision Commission in which we submitted the boldest recommendations for restructuring our city's government. We recognized as a commission, that the way our city currently functions is not working and in many ways our politics and policies have stood in the way of our progress. I have no agenda other than loving this city and its people. I plan on working diligently with everyone as a team to help bring West Haven to her glory once again and bring relief to its people.

Campaign website:

https://www.facebook.com/TeamS...