Every two years, citizens of all ages across Milford flock to the polling places to vote in the mayoral race. This race is unique because interim Mayor and former Board of Police Commission Chairman Richard Smith, the incumbent, is not running in the election.
Smith was selected earlier this year by the Board of Aldermen to fill the unexpired term of former mayor Ben Blake. Blake, who previously served the city for 12 years, stepped down to take a job as an administrative law judge with the Workers Compensation Commission.
As in most elections, there is a Democratic candidate and a Republican candidate.
The Democratic candidate is Kerri Rowland, the current Democratic Registrar of Voters and a former Board of Aldermen member for Milford.
The Republican candidate is Tony Giannattasio, the 12-year minority leader of and 16-year representative of the citywide 1st District on the Milford Board of Aldermen.
Each candidate has their own vision and direction for the city.
According to Rowland’s official website, she has five key priorities for her campaign: lower taxes, education, affordability, protecting the environment, and supporting first responders.
According to her website, “Continuing the Democratic record of lower tax rates is priority number one for Kerri…She’ll fight to cut taxes.”
Giannattasio has similar priorities to Rowland, as according to his website, his priorities are education, public safety, creating a sound budget, and preserving the environment.
Giannattasio’s campaign has also drawn support from multiple Milford businesses, including Mike’s Truck and Trailer Repair, Major League Appraisals, and R.J. Testo & Associates.
One of the biggest issues in the race this year is balancing the city’s and school district’s budget after the Milford Board of Education budget controversy earlier this spring, when the city finance board proposed to cut $1.8 million from the budget. Rowland and Giannatassio have different perspectives.
According to Rowland’s website, “A strong school system keeps property values high and prepares our young adults for a future in Connecticut. Kerri will fully fund our schools…”
While Giannattasio also believes this, he also wants to emphasize fiscal responsibility in budgeting. Both candidates have emphasized their support for the importance of schools.
Giannattasio’s website explains, “Tony will ensure fiscally responsible budgeting without compromising the high-quality services and curriculum offered to our students.”
Many citizens are expected to turn out and vote, as in the 2020 and 2022 elections, national and local trends indicated an increase in total voter turnout across the country.
According to the official website on Connecticut Voting Registration and Enrollment Statistics, 42,076 total voters were registered in 2022. This is up from 10 years prior, when registration among all parties reached 34,563 voters. This increase is evident, as many voters are becoming increasingly involved in local and national elections each year.
Voter registration can be done through either candidate’s website, on the official Milford Registrar and Voting Forms Website, or through the official CT Voting Portal website.
Regardless of which candidate or party citizens support, voting is encouraged on November 7.
