Mike DelSanto Candidate for Town Council Current Chairman - Planning & Zoning Commission
I was born and raised in Southington. I am a 3rd generation Italian American Southington Resident. My maternal grandfather came here alone from Italy and worked for several years before he could provide and send for the rest of his family (my mother included). My parents and my brother owned multiple businesses in the 1980s and 1990s and I learned first-hand the challenges of owning and operating a business. I am proud to call Southington my home for almost 48 years and never thought of living somewhere else.
I received my Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration From Western New England College (now University) in 1997 and since 1999 worked for the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch in the Family Services Division as a Supervisor in the Meriden Superior Court. I am married to my wife Kim and we have two children, Jack age 12 and Max age 11.
In 1999, I was appointed to the Southington Commission on Disabilities (currently the Southington Commission for Persons with Disabilities) and was elected to the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) in 2001. I was selected Chairperson of the PZC in 2009 and remain the chair today. In almost 18 years of service as a PZC member, I have only missed 8 regular meetings have not missed a meeting since becoming chair. I am proud to say that while under my time as chair, the Planning and Zoning Commission has worked tirelessly to improve and enhance outdated regulations, work more collaboratively with other boards and town staff and stimulate a “business friendly” atmosphere. I am most proud of the Economic Development the board has promoted these last 10 years with many new businesses and industry that have been approved.
If elected to the Town Council, I plan to continue to encourage Economic Development by taking a more inclusive approach with the town’s Economic Development Director. Economic and essential tax base growth in a very competitive environment is vital to enhance our future stability and to maintain the high quality of life for all Southington residents. We need to get back to the idea that the promotion of Southington is most significant for all council members and we need to work more collaboratively with other boards/commissions. The purchase of open space or the invaluable option for Development Rights are also very important goals for me. In my discussions with residents, they are often disheartened with the development of private land for housing. The only way to prevent this is for the land to be privately purchased and allowed to lay fallow or for the Town of Southington to purchase the land and keep it for open space. I have an amazing allegiance to the town of Southington. I am hopeful that my almost 20 years of service and passion to the town will be enough to have a successful run this fall. I ask that you please support me in this endeavor.
