Joseph A. Maturo, Jr.
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Joseph A. Maturo, Jr. is the mayor of East Haven, Connecticut.
[edit] Biography
He is a Republican[1] and is a life-long resident of East Haven. He is a graduate of East Haven High School, class of 1970. He has attended South Central Community College (now called Gateway Community College) and the University of New Haven. Maturo is a master electrician, and had obtained his state certification as an electrical inspector.
Maturo served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War for six years. Upon returning to East Haven after his military service, Maturo joined the East Haven Fire Department. While serving as a firefighter, Maturo was awarded three Medals of Merit. After 17 years, Maturo resigned because of a work-related back injury.[2] He has been a member of the East Haven Volunteer Fire Company since 1978.
He is a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Post # 484; a member of the American Legion, Post # 89; and a charter member of the East Haven Lions Club. He has served on the Public Relations Committee of the 1995 Special Olympics World Games held in New Haven. He has also served as a substitute teacher in the East Haven Public Schools and has served as a legislative clerk in the Connecticut General Assembly.
Maturo was a member of the town council from 1993 to 1995. In 1995, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor, losing to the Democratic incumbent, Hank Luzzi in a three-way race. Luzzi won 40% of the vote to Maturo's 37% and independent candidate Ben Mazzucco's 23% of the votes. The general election of 1997 Maturo again was pitted against the incumbent Hank Luzzi. This time Maturo prevailed and won his first election for the mayor’s office with 60% of the vote. In November 2005, Maturo ran against Michael DeBenedet, who ran an aggressive campaign against the incumbent. Maturo won the election with 60% of the vote. With his re-election for a fifth term in 2005, Maturo was only the second East Haven mayor — and the first Republican — to win a fifth term. Democratic Mayor Anthony Proto was the only other one.[3]
On November 6, 2007, April Capone Almon apparently defeated Maturo by 21 votes. The slim margin of victory forced an automatic recount. On November 11, the recount showed that Almon won by 63 votes, but discrepancies in the tally resulted in a second recount. The election was certified on November 14, following a second recount. The final total showed that Almon won the election by 25 votes.
In a bid to become major again, Maturo ran against John Finkle for the Republician nomination, where he lost. Maturo decided to run as an independent until John Finkle withdrew from the race. The town Republican committee gave Maturo the party backing. He went on to face Almon in a rematch of the 2007 elections. Just has it happened in 2007, the challenger defeated the incumbent by 31 votes. The slim margin forced an automatic recount, mirroring the events of 2007. After a recount was finished on Saturday, November 12, 2011, Maturo won back the mayor's seat with 34 votes.
In early 2012, when four local policemen were arrested by the FBI accused of being "bullies with badges," Mayor Maturo said, "I don't believe these charges at all," and "I stand by these officers."[4][5] Additionally, when asked what he would do for the Latino community, he replied, "I might have tacos when I go home," a comment that many considered insensitive, especially in the wake of the recent racism problems. [6]
[edit] Election Results
- 2011 Joseph Maturo (R) 4,033 - April Capone Almon (D) 3,999 - Oni Sioson (W) 70
- 2007 April Capone Almon (D) 4,010 - Joseph Maturo (R) 3,985
- 2005 Joseph Maturo (R) 4,386 - Michael DeBenedet (D) 2,897
- 2003 Joseph Maturo (R) 4,740 - Marilyn M. Vitale (D) 2,475
- 2001 Joseph Maturo (R) 5,596 - Norman DeMartino (D) 2,593
- 1999 Joseph Maturo (R) 5,647 - Fred A. Marotti (D) 1,720
- 1997 Joseph Maturo (R) 5,699 - Hank Luzzi (D) 3,913
- 1995 Hank Luzzi (D) ???? - Joseph Maturo (R) ???? - Ben Mazzucco (I) ????
As mayor of East Haven, Maturo served on the Council of Governments (COG) and was chairman of the council from 2001 to 2003. He was recently appointed chief administrative officer of the State of Connecticut's Police Officer Standards and Training Council. He was a member of the South Central Regional Council of Governments.
The St. Jude Connecticut Network, Connecticut's fundraising entity for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, awarded Maturo the 2004 Man of the Year award. At the 42nd Oak Street Reunion, Maturo received their Man of the Year Award for 2005.
[edit] References
- ^ Zaretsky, Mark\work=New Haven Register (20 Dec 2011). "PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION FOUND; Rights violated; Feds complete probe of E. Haven police". p. A.1.
- ^ East Haven Mayor Wants Disability Pension February 08, 2012 By Denise Buffa, The Hartford Courant
- ^ "East Haven gives Maturo 5th victory". New Haven Register. 11/09/2005. 2006. http://www.nhregister.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=15541407&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517515&rfi=8. Retrieved 19 June 2006.
- ^ FBI: 4 Arrested Police Officers Were "Bullies With Badges," By Dave Altimari, Denise Buffa, and David Owens, The Hartford Courant 25 January 2012
- ^ East Haven Mayor Appears Blind To Racism, editorial in the Hartford Courant 25 January 2012
- ^ East Haven Mayor Blasted For 'Taco' Quip About Latinos, by John Christoffersen, Huffington Post, 25 January 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Luzzi |
Mayor of East Haven, CT 1997 – 2007 |
Succeeded by April Capone Almon |
| Preceded by April Capone Almon |
Mayor of East Haven, CT 2011 – present |
Succeeded by [[ ]] |
