Politics & Government
Rob Wants the Job
Rob Mallozzi was the last line of defense while playing goalie in his high school days for Darien. Now, he aims to be First Selectman of New Canaan.
He wasn't born or raised in New Canaan, but Rob Malozzi has been part of the fabric of this community for a long time. He started working at , a family owned and operated business, and a New Canaan institution, when he was a teenager.
Today, the 48-year-old Mallozzi owns the company, and he's trying to serve the town in another way, as he bids to become First Selectman.
"It's an honor to run for first selectman," Mallozzi said. "I love helping people. I really feel good when I solve a problem, whether it's as a fireman, or being at Bob's Sports and dealing with customers. I'm genetically wired to help people. I'm a people pleaser."
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Mallozzi has been on a number of town committees since becoming a resident in 1993. He was a for five years, on the board of directors for , and plays a key roll in the town's emergency preparedness response team.
"When this town has asked me to serve, I have been there," said Mallozzi, who is also managing partner of Caroline Realty LLC, a real estate holding company.
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"When they haven't asked me to serve, I have volunteered and I'm really, really proud of that," he said.
Mallozzi, who graduated from in 1980, said there are some very significant issues facing the town today. Because of the economic hardship of the state, Mallozzi says there is and will be a trickle down effect on our school sytems and taxes.
He said there is a disconnect between town politicians and its people.
Finally, Mallozzi isn't happy with the acrimonious situation between the Town Hall adminstration and the unions. He's particularly concerned about the high cost of negotiations between them.
If elected, Mallozzi said he'll attack those and other issues, the same way he did when he was playing goalie for the hockey team at Darien High School.
"The goalie relies on one thing: himself. There are five guys in front of you," Mallozzi said. "But the buck and the puck stopped with me. That's how I've been when serving New Canaan. I'm a team guy, but you have to be accountable and I am."
(Editor's Note: This is the second in a two-part series profiling the candidates who will meet in a Republican caucus on July 19 at 7 p.m. in the Saxe Middle School auditorium. A profile of candidate ran on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.)
