Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of interviews with the candidates for state representative and state senate.
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Robert Imperato
Republican Robert Imperato and Democratic candidate Robin Comey are vying for the seat being vacated by Democratic State Rep. Lonnie Reed, who decided to retire after 10 years of service. The 102nd District includes six of the seven voting districts in Branford. State Rep. Sean Scanlon (D‑98th) is running unopposed to represent one district in Branford, and most of Guilford.
The Eagle recently talked with them about their campaigns and their goals. Their interviews are reported in two separate stories.
We will also publish interviews with 12th District State Senate candidates Christine Cohen (D) and Adam Greenberg (R), who are campaigning for Ted Kennedy Jr.’s seat.
Republican Robert Imperato says his experience and background in finance make him the best choice for state representative in the 102nd District.
Imperato has worked in the banking and financial fields for 40 years. He was a member of the Representative Town Meeting for five years, and currently serves on the Board of Finance, and the Water Pollution Control Authority. He and his wife have lived in the community more than 30 years, where they raised their four children.
Why did you decide to run?
“I’ve spent my life committed to my family and this community. I’m not an activist. I don’t have an agenda. I want to continue to protect the taxpayers of Branford, and be their voice in Hartford. I think through my service on all the committees, I certainly understand what the municipality needs.”
Imperato believes his background in finance will help him address the state’s fiscal crisis.
“I felt it was time for me to step up, since we’re in a (fiscal) crisis mode, and offer my services. I want to make sure that the hard-working people and families in Branford have a clear and strong voice and that they keep more of the money that they work hard for every week.”
What are people’s top concerns when you go door-to-door?
“The first concern that I’m hearing is the fiscal crisis that we’re having in Hartford. That spurs a lot of different thought processes from constituents. One is getting the budget balanced, the other is the infrastructure problems that we currently are dealing with.”
He also hears concerns about people having to move because they can’t find a job, or can’t afford the taxes. “They either have children who have gone off to school and are not coming back to Connecticut because they don’t see a future here. Or folks who are retirement age and are looking to leave because of the current tax structure.”
What are your top goals if elected?
“The top is balancing the budget. “We can’t go anywhere unless we are a fiscally sound state… So we’ve got to look at long-term and short-term solutions. We have to find an effective way to make common-sense reductions to the budget.”
Imperato said borrowing has sky-rocketed over the last 10 years, and it’s time to get down to grass roots and make sure that borrowing makes sense.
Another of his goals is attracting new businesses to Connecticut. “We’ve got to stabilize our infrastructure to attract business. And businesses also want to have predictability regarding tax treatment. So we can’t be raising taxes one year and not raising taxes or threatening to raise them the next. Businesses that are looking at Connecticut really need that predictability.”
His third goal is not raising taxes, but continuing to offer services. “It has to be well thought-out. It can’t be just tax and spend. I think there is a solution. Community needs are always going to be there. We have to make sure we support our education in the state and in Branford. We want to make sure we get our fair share of whatever grants are available to us.”
He acknowledged that balancing the budget is a difficult problem. “The pension fund seems to be a huge issue that’s been kicked down the road. So I think that’s one of the things we need to look at immediately, and see how we resolve that problem. Until that problem is resolved, we’re just going to continue going in a circle. We need to meet our past obligations that haven’t been met yet. … And we’ve got to find a way to do that without incurring more expenses for the taxpayers.”
How can you spur economic development in Branford?
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“I believe we need to increase business in town, therefore the burden is not all on the individual homeowners and taxpayers.”
He said there have been increases in the number of businesses, and he hopes that trend will continue. “I think we need to encourage our Economic Development Commission and continue to be out there on a daily basis looking for attractive companies to come into town.”
How can funds be raised to improve infrastructure? Do you support highway tolls?
“I don’t believe we need tolls. If we go back and balance our budget, I think there’s enough there that we don’t need tolls to offset the $4.2 billion deficit that we currently have. I think tolls are more taxation with a different name. … And for folks who live here, it’s less money out of their pocket every week to go to work.”
Imperato believes in a transportation lockbox that would actually preserve money for infrastructure and transportation, instead of being raided to meet other obligations.
“If we earmark x‑amount of dollars for transportation and infrastructure, that money should not be touched. It should be solely used for that. I think that’s the approach we have to take. … Unless we do that, we’ve never going to come out of our problems with infrastructure and transportation.”
What is your position on legalizing recreational marijuana?
“I think for medicinal purposes, we’ve done a great job of working that into the system.”
However, he said recreational marijuana is a different matter. “It’s not federally recognized.”
He said unless the federal government legalizes marijuana, that Connecticut should abide by the federal status.
How does the political atmosphere in Washington affect Branford?
“We may not always agree with what goes on in Washington, but we sure need to pay attention to what goes on in our town and our state, so that’s typically what I would tell folks.”
He said it’s important to focus on the local and state elections.
“Yes it does affect lots of folks listening to the news in the evening. Do I agree with everything that’s out there? Absolutely not. I am really for the people, I don’t have any special agenda that I’m after. I truly believe we have to take care of our own here in Connecticut and here in Branford.”
“We have to be very sensitive to where we live and the environment. So my posture is making sure that Branford and Connecticut have what they need on an environmental side, whether is funding or emergency relief, we need to be sure we take care of the people in Connecticut.
Have you ever been a Trump supporter?
“I’ve supported every president, whether they were Democrat or Republican, that’s been in office since I was old enough to vote, and I will continue to do that. They’re our commander-in-chief. We may not all like how they act or what they have to say, but they’re elected, and that’s the process.”
“Do I support Donald Trump? I certainly support his economic views … On the other side, it’s not really about Donald Trump, it’s about what Dan Malloy has done to the state, and we need to fix the state.”
Imperato emphasized that this is a local election, not a Washington, D.C. election.
“We just need to keep our focus on getting Connecticut fiscally sound again. … As far as supporting Donald Trump, I support the Republican Party and what the Republican Party stands for… That doesn’t always mean I agree with Donald Trump and his actions in some areas. I do think he is putting the economy back on the right track as far as stimulating business growth, everyone’s 401‑K is doing much better, and unemployment is down. So from his perspective in the economic world, I think he’s done well for the country.”
What else would you like people to know?
“I’ve been in the community for 30-plus years, and raised our four children here . … I enjoy serving the community and would like to continue doing that..”
Imperato was endorsed by the Republican Town Committee in May.
He has also been endorsed by Connecticut’s Independent Party.