Capone Going For 2 More Years

East Haven's youngest and only female mayor in history is running for a third term this November. With that exclusive to Patch, so dies the rumor chain that has circulated around town for months about whether April Capone would seek her second reelection.

"I've spent over three years working hard and creating efficiencies in town," said Capone, who just turned 36. "We've gotten East Haven on the right track with paying off the deficit and lowering taxes and I think there's more work to be done."

Capone will officially announce her candidacy April 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, where she will be joined by Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.

Capone will likely face either former Republican Mayor Joe Maturo (1997-2007) or former Republican Board of Ed Chair John Finkle at the polls. A Republican primary is expected. So far, there's been no noise about a Democratic primary.

"It's very challenging to be mayor during a national economic crisis," said Capone. "So I respect the fact that they're (Maturo and Finkle) both interested in throwing in their names and being part of the process."

She said her election strategy will not alter based on the outcome of the Republican primary. Whether it's Maturo or Finkle, Capone said her campaign will be clean and focused on the issues.

"I've always believed in civility in campaigning," said the mayor. "And I've shown that by the way I've conducted campaigns." Capone claimed her first political victory in 2005, when she joined the town council as the only Democrat.

In 2007, Capone ousted 10-year incumbent Maturo by 25 votes, writing a new page in East Haven history as its youngest and first female CEO.  

As with her last three campaigns, Capone said she won't have a single campaign manager but cull support from several people, including her father, Frank Capone.

"My dad is always my biggest supporter. My best campaign volunteer and my best friend," said the mayor. "I have an idea of what I want to do and how to do it."

Capone said Bev Gravino, mother of Town Clerk Stacy Piccirillo, will be her treasurer.

Asked to name some of the accomplishments she plans to campaign on, Capone rattled off many.

Solar panels have gone on the roofs of three elementary schools and the middle school during her tenure. Energy-efficient lighting has gone up along Main Street and in virtually all town-owned buildings. Town Hall got a new roof and energy-saving windows.

The police station has been renovated and installed with the latest technology.

Land for a new fire headquarters was purchased two years ago on Coe Avenue. While plans to build a new firehouse were put on hold after the town failed to secure a necessary federal grant, Capone said her "goal" over the next two years is to reapply for the grant to hopefully replace the 72-year-old building on Main Street.

The mayor said she's gotten the ball rolling on finding a new life for the old high school on Tyler Avenue. She recently formed a resident committee to decide on a reuse plan, which would then go to referendum on the November ballot, said Capone.

Perhaps the thorniest issue under her watch has been the  federal investigation of the East Haven Police Department, and how it's impacted the town. Chief Leonard Gallo was put on paid administrative leave a year ago when the federal Department of Justice issued its preliminary civil findings on alleged departmental weaknesses, spurred by reports of racial profiling and police brutality. Longtime Inspector Gaetano Nappi was then named acting chief.

The FBI has also been conducting a probe of the department and subpoenaed roughly 20 officers last December to testify before a grand jury.

Meanwhile, the Police Executive Research Forum released its findings to the town in March, citing many of the same problem areas in the department -- such as outdated or lack of policies and procedures -- as the DOJ cited. In its 120-page, $85,000 report, PERF urged the town to make a decision about the disposition of the police chief: either bring back Gallo or let him go.

"We would certainly like the FBI to wrap up its investigation," said Capone. And move on.

Check back next week to read the reactions to Capone's candidacy from local Republicans and Democrats.