Voter Guide: Republicans Seeking First Selectman's Seat

The race to occupy first selectman’s seat in New Canaan is as much a referendum on how New Canaan has been run as how it will go forward.

Hot-button issues such as , and with the repair of Lakeview Avenue bridge have divided residents and raised the profile of the town's highest elected office.

Given what many say are qualities needed in , two Republican candidates are touting their business acumen and experience. In this voter guide installment, New Canaan Patch offers a brief look at the candidate's vision for the town.

Paul Giusti

Education

• Colorado School of Mines (bachelor's degree, engineering); Harvard Business School

Job Title

• CEO, Brookstone Homes

Brief Description of Business

• While one business address associated with the company is in New Canaan (Giusti rents office space in town), the company does business building residential homes in Wisconsin. Brookstone Homes has sponsored local New Canaan events, though it's not a member of the New Canaan . “The simplest way to explain it is the business is based in the Midwest but it doesn’t conduct any business locally,” Giusti said.

Employment History

• Prior to Brookstone Homes, Giusti worked for General Electric and The Fortress Group (a fuller biography and employment history can be found on his campaign website). He held a Connecticut real estate broker license from April 1, 2002 through Marcy 31, 2003. “I got the license years ago and it’s not something I used,” Giusti said, referring to why he doesn’t mention it on his website.

Town Vision

• Excellence in education: “We worked hard to be number one in the school district. Excellence in education and the character of the community are important to the people of the community,” Giusti said. To that end, Giusti said he wants to make sure any efforts to reduce expenses leave the student-teacher ratio intact.  The energy savings measures taken WHEN are a good example of how to keep operating expenses down.
• Maintaining New Canaan’s character: “I’ve learned what not to do as much as what to do,” Giusti said. “We have a classic New England town and we need to be very protective of that, it’s what makes New Canaan special. We need to protect the look and the ambiance of the town.” That’s why Giusti said he opposed a plan to construct a parking garage behind Town Hall. 
• Managing the town’s finances: Need to make sure to keep town’s tax rates where they are. “Our town needs to be thoughtful about how it’s spending money,” Giusti said.

Campaign Finance

• According to the newly released campaign’s financial statement Giusti has thus raised a total of $28,130, said Claudia Weber, New Canaan’s Town Clerk.

Rob Mallozzi

Education

• University of Vermont (bachelor's degree, political science)

Job Title

• Owner,

Brief Description of Business

• Bob’s Sports was incorporated June 1, 1960 and is a member of New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. “I went to University of Vermont. A lot of my friends took jobs with IBM, I wanted to come home to New Canaan. It’s what I do. It’s what I love,” Mallozzi said. Mallozzi first started working at Bob’s in high school and then became manager and owner. The business model changed from retail only to real estate as well. “I learned you have to adapt, just because doing things one way for so long maybe it’s not the best way to do it now,” Mallozzi said.

Employment History

• Managing Partner, Caroline Realty, LLC. (More information on Mallozzi's background can be found on his campaign website.)

Town Vision:

• Town’s character: “Preserving of our down town, our historical buildings, keeping the look and feel of our village,” Mallozzi said, adding that’s why he voted against the long-range plan put forward in 2010. Mallozzi said he wants the town to fund a PR campaign in New York-based metro-media such as “Vanity Fair” or “The New York Times.” “I want to gather the towns’ creative minds, to get them to volunteer to help sell idea that New Canaan is an experiential destination. That to me is key. Rather than spend money on plans, we’ve got to show we have skin in the game,” Mallozzi said.
• Curbing the debt burden: Mallozzi said he’s concerned that the town’s tax base is shrinking since the population has remained flat. “We’re not gaining population. We’re losing population,” Mallozzi said. “So we need to make sure not to fund anything unless it we absolutely need it.”
• Union contract: Mallozzi said he wants to ensure contracts with public safety employees – fire and police – are reached. “We need to meet in the middle,” he said.

Campaign Finance

• According to the newly released campaign’s financial statement Mallozzi has thus far raised a total of $38,062, said Claudia Weber, New Canaan’s Town Clerk.