West Haven Republican Primary 2023: Weinstein Seeks Mayoral Nomination

WEST HAVEN, CT — Paige Weinstein is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination to run for mayor of West Haven.

Weinstein received the Republican Town Committee’s endorsement in July and is being challenged by former City Councilman Barry Lee Cohen through a primary election. Cohen narrowly lost to incumbent Democratic Mayor Nancy Rossi in the 2021 election.

Patch asked the candidates to answer questions about their campaigns ahead of the primary, which is slated for Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Occupation: President/Director of Star Tires Plus Wheels located in West Haven and Hartford, CT

Experience:

For 30 years, I have served West Haven as the President of Star Tires Plus Wheels, with 15 local loyal employees and revenue of over $2M. My personalized and hands-on leadership has made us a staple business in the Allingtown neighborhood of West Haven for decades, serving the area automotive tire and repair market. My Hartford location, established in 2014 has revenues of over $3M.

My tested team management skills, however, predate my time at Star Tire when I worked as the Director of Human Resources for Tyler, Cooper, and Alcorn; at that time the second-largest Connecticut law firm. Prior to that, I shared my unique skill set and dynamic work ethic as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Eastern Airlines at Bradley Airport.

My business and leadership experience has always served the people of Connecticut, especially in West Haven. What makes my work experience unique is that I was the catalyst for incorporating more community initiatives and incentives at Star Tire to assist in-need residents and families of West Haven. My dreams of serving beyond my job description propelled me to implement senior, veteran, and first responder discounts, defining me as the supportive and successful businesswoman I am today.

Throughout my entire career, whether using motor grease, or elbow grease, I have always gone above and beyond to provide services and job opportunities to those who deserve a second chance. West Haven deserves a second chance. It deserves to be led by a proven leader, who is both business savvy and who can give our City the same love and support a mother, like me, gives to her family.

The single biggest issue in town is STABILIZING WEST HAVEN’S ECONOMIC SITUATION. I have outlined MY PLAN below:

First, West Haven must work hand in hand with MARB to learn about the true condition of the city’s finances. The last audit has yet to become public, though I hear our financial situation and operating procedures may be much worse than most people realize. As recently as August 4th, 2023, Moody's Investors Services warned that the city’s bond rating could be withdrawn if the city does not come forward and provide critical information regarding its finances. This would negatively affect all aspects of the city’s finances, from borrowing, to pensions, to infrastructure bonding, to even the taxes you pay on your house.

As mayor I will first stabilize our economic condition and then immediately implement my Economic Development plan. I will work closely with MARB to identify waste and fraud. Then implement fail safe measures for those in financially sensitive areas and establish mandatory bonding for employees with financial discretion or spending authority.

My administration will spend money on what it was intended for. Fill budgeted vacant positions that are needed in City Hall for day-to-day operations, including Grant Writers and an Economic Development Director with a look toward the future.

Critical differences between me and my opponent:

If my opponent desires, “a new leader with the right experience,” look no further because I am the only candidate with no connections to any current or former corrupt administrations and with 30+ years of real corporate experience, making me the most fit to confidently lead City Hall.

Fast Facts:

• I am the Endorsed Republican Candidate for Mayor of West Haven
• I have been a lifelong Republican. My opponent registered as a Democrat for 9 years.
• I have been married for 30 years, raising a family while working 50+ hrs/wk
• I have hands-on, roll up your sleeves experience at larger levels of operations and management that my opponent does not possess, which are critical to being Mayor. A single-person LLC would have difficulty managing and operating at all the diverse levels of management the job calls for. My proven interpersonal skills give me the ability to excel at team-building on day 1.

West Haven does deserve someone new. It’s true, I moved to West Haven in 2018, but I have been paying taxes as a businesswoman with my finger on the pulse of our community for most of my life. Although I may be an outsider to the political arena, I have never been an outsider to investing in West Haven with my business, my home, and my family, which proves that, like all of us, I am a stakeholder in West Haven’s future.

My opponent chooses to run a campaign on who lived here longest, who was the most popular in high school or how many residences someone may have. I am the only candidate who is running for Mayor to sincerely make a change in West Haven; I’m not in this for myself. I’m in this for all the people of our City.

Accomplishments:

• Proud Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Businesswoman
• 30 Years of successful business ownership in West Haven
• Endorsed Republican Candidate for Mayor of West Haven
• Endorsed Mayoral Candidate by longtime State Representative Charlie Ferraro
• Selected as State Delegate for Connecticut GOP in 2022
• Raised a family, as a mother and grandmother, while building a two-multimillion-dollar businesses
• Hosted a Public Forum on Youth Crime and Illegal Street Activity in West Haven
• Philanthropic support including Dogs for Better Living, Cancer Society, St. Jude, Wounded Warrior Project, and Tunnels to Towers, and WHEAT
• Personally organized and Participated in several citywide street cleanups
• Personally organized winter clothing drives for our community’s homeless at Star Tire
• Hosted a Child as Volunteer DCF Foster Parents
• PTO/Girl Scout Leader
• Lifelong Republican

Events and Fundraisers Sponsorships:

• Sponsored various West Haven, Woodbridge and New Haven athletic programs and teams
• Bolstered both local and national Arts & Entertainment Programs
• Promoted the recently opened, “Music Back Then” venue in West Haven

Business Achievements:

• Established an Economic Anchor for the Allingtown Section of West Haven providing the area with jobs and economic stability that has lasted over 30 years.
• Oversaw the expansion of our Hartford store to develop a business footprint that stretches from Springfield, Massachusetts to Rhode Island to New York.
• Grew a small mom and pop tire store into a regional multi-million dollar automobile repair, tire and specialty business.

Other issues:

- Getting us off the list of CT’s Distressed Municipalities:

- I will work to remove the label of “distressed municipality” that has plagued our city since the Borer administration.

- Invest in the Backbone of our Community

- It’s no question: the backbone of our community includes such a diverse, hardworking group of residents; however, they have been neglected. More specifically, our seniors, youth, veterans, and small businesses have been put on the back seat so elected officials, like all my opponents, can support “friends” to steal emergency relief funds from those most in-need.

- Let’s cut the nonsense. I have sat down with hundreds of concerned residents making up our backbone, and I pledge to appoint advocates to expand programs for our seniors and youth, finally serve our veterans with the same support they gave us and meet with current and prospective business owners to outline small business needs to make our city the attractive hotspot it truly can be. It’s time we finally acted like a city and served the members that make up our most important parts.

- Make City Hall Transparent and Accessible:

- On Day one, I will unlock the doors of City Hall. Unlike our current mayor, I will not lock out our residents and I will never be an absent Mayor.

- I have already studied what our neighboring municipalities are doing right and seeing how those functions can improve our overall communication and representation in City Hall. For example, I will incorporate multilingual services to support our growing diverse community, compose weekly city email updates on city events, services, and deadlines, and I will make myself available for resident meetings on city-wide issues so that no residents will ever feel forgotten again. Updates to our city’s website, social media, and overall communication is a baby step towards making City Hall and West Haven a more open and attractive home.

- “We have Been Neglected by our Elected.”

- Whether it’s our youth involved in crime, our seniors without ample city services, our veterans without a place to find support, or even our small businesses who are surrounded by blight while also not having the leadership from a seasoned Economic Developer, West Haven needs fixing.

To fix our City, I will unlock the doors of City Hall and unlock our potential as the youngest city in Connecticut.

- In my first 100 Days, I will hire a full-time, experienced Economic Developer to lead and follow through on sustainable developments. Upon entering office, we will be half-way through our fiscal year, which is why I will audit our city’s finances, cut wasteful spending, and finally bring financial relief back to our people. I will fill open, budgeted positions to return efficiency to City Hall and collaborate with current department heads to assure a peaceful and successful transition.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Although this is my first campaign, this is not the first time I have been called upon to be involved in local politics. Last election, I was asked by my primary opponent to manage his campaign while he was costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees during a recount. After refusing, I was later approached by my primary opponent again for a “position” on his “team.” Again I said no as I had strong support of the West Haven Republican Party for my own campaign. I said no to him, and yes to West Haven.

Being an outsider in the political game can be challenging, but I want voters to know exactly that: I am not a lifelong politician. I’m a wife, a mom, a grandmother, and a successful businesswoman who raised my family while working 50+ hours a week. I didn’t take my whole life to fall in love with West Haven, and it only took West Haven Republicans a short time to realize my potential to bring positive change to City Hall. I have been a source of hope for clients who feel neglected, desperate, and without support. Now, prospective businesses and families come to me for advice with the hope of changing their lives in West Haven. I’m not a “lone wolf”, as my opponent proudly proclaims. I am a team player.

I was never handed anything in my life. Not my home, not my business, and not my success. I am proud of all my work and the many services I have offered to Westies throughout the years.

I humbly ask for your vote, I promise to continue to serve others, our community, and West Haven in the best way possible.

See also: West Haven Republican Primary 2023: Cohen Seeks Mayoral Nomination