West Haven Election 2023: Nick Pascale Running For City Council

WEST HAVEN, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in West Haven with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 and cast their ballots for the position of mayor, along with seats on the City Council, Board of Education and more.

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

Nick Pascale, 47, is running for election to the West Haven City Council as a Democrat.

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://dorindaborer.com

What office are you seeking?

At Large City Council

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

Citywide

Education.

Bachelor's Business Administration

What is your occupation?

Manager Costco 29 years
Real Estate Agent 15 years

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

I'm married to Angela Pascale who is a Kindergarten teacher at Washington/ Molloy School. We have been married for 26 years. I have two daughters Joey (26) who is a school psychologist in Westchester and Devin (24) who is an Audiologist in Milford.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife works for the BOE in West Haven but does not consider herself a political person.

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

Yes, I have been on the Democratic Town Committee for several years. I was previously elected as the 1st district City Council Representative. I was elected by my peers as chairman of the council my last two years as councilman. Currently I serve on the ethics board in West Haven where we wrote a new and comprehensive ethics ordinance for the city. I also spent time on the Board of Tax Review and the Open Space 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 running for City Council because I feel West Haven has a lot to offer and we haven't yet realized our full potential. We need a common direction and willingness to move the city forward which I believe my team can provide. This starts with the basics. I would like to be part of a team that makes lasting change that the residents can admire with pride. West Haven deserves a win and would like to do my part to make that happen.

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 having faith in their elected officials. I intend to conduct myself with integrity, make smart choices on the decisions that come before me that benefit the community, and constantly check back with the people of West Haven so I'm always acting with their wants/ needs in mind.

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

I believe my past experience will help the council as a whole make better decisions. I'm known as a person who can work with everyone regardless of party affiliation to get the job done. I'm a FIRM believer in the fact that once elected you serve everyone regardless of what letter is behind their name. I feel that this simple belief is lost on many of today's elected officials.

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

I intend to focus heavy on intelligent economic development. I want to help change the way West Haven is viewed by potential business partners. I would like to strengthen our relationships with the companies we currently have here to maximize their willingness to be good community partners. I believe that getting more services and activities for the youth of the city should be a priority of West Haven's rebuild. (The people want a splash pad!) I'm fully aware West Haven has very limited funds, in order to make things happen here we need to leverage and strengthen our relationships with the surrounding business community and most importantly bring in dollars from state/ federal sources as well as expand the scope of the grants we pursue.

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

When I previously served on the council, we ushered in some sizable projects that have served the community. The new high school being one of those projects. We worked with the New Haven school system as well to get ESUMS a permanent home. Approvals for the train station etc. Buying parcels as open space to protect what little we have left has provided balance to our small city. But I think its also an accomplishment to look at a project and say this wouldn't be right for our community. When elected, it's our responsibility to fully take a look at each project and assess its value to the people who live here.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I wish I had something a bit more profound, but simply to listen more than you speak. Far too often we listen to people just enough to respond and never get their full message.

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

I want the voter to know that I would focus my time restoring integrity to West Haven politics. The people feel let down and angry. I want them to know they get a conscientious decision maker that will not allow another black eye to the town they live in. I also think it's important to be approachable, especially as a public servant. I'm known to be someone that's easy to talk to, that will listen even if I don't agree (that's how you learn). I believe everyone has something to offer. I have a love for West Haven and I would once again like to put my skills to use for you the citizen.

Are you running for office in West Haven? Email vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile on West Haven Patch.