Giuliano says experience is key to his candidacy

Former mayor seeks to hold Middletown’s top job again

“I know the job, the learning curve is nonexistent and I’ll hit the ground running.” Common Council Minority Leader Sebastian N. Giuliano

MIDDLETOWN — Lifelong resident and Common Council Minority Leader Sebastian N. Giuliano, a Republican, said his extensive experience leading the city from 200511 makes him a natural to slide into the city’s top job if elected in November.

The former threeterm mayor, 67, announced his candidacy in midMay. “I know the job, the learning curve is nonexistent and I’ll hit the ground running,” he said. “This was the year. And now with six years on the council under my belt, I think I’m even better prepared than I ever was.” In 2011, he lost to Democratic Mayor Dan Drew, who is not seeking reelection.

Giuliano challenged then Democratic mayor Domenique Thornton in 2003, and narrowly lost by 232 votes. In 2005, he defeated Thornton by 807 votes. Giuliano, on the council since 2013, has been married to his wife Paula for more than 39 years. They have three children and two grandchildren. Giuliano is an attorney who graduated from Xavier High School in Middletown. He attended U.S. Military Academy at West Point for two years, and graduated from Boston College in 1975 with a bachelor of arts degree in English and minor in math. Giuliano earned his law degree in 1978 from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

“The fiscal health of the city and the tax burden on its residents and businesses” is the most pressing issue Middletown currently faces, Giuliano said. If elected, he’s intent on creating a city budget with a fiveyear projection in mind.

“We’re always trying to pull rabbits out of the hat to try to get through this year. We’re pulling all the

cushions off the couches in City Hall to see if there’s any spare change around we can throw in,” making it difficult to plan ahead, Giuliano said in May.

If elected, Giuliano would focus his administration on several goals: improved economic development, public safety, education, maintenance and improvement of the city’s infrastructure and physical plant, enhancement and redevelopment of the riverfront, more efficient and effective delivery of city services and interaction with the public, he told The Press.

He is also concerned about comprehensive capital planning, growth of the city’s grand list, increasing Middletown’s capital reserves, and resolving the traffic congestion problems on Route 9 and the Arrigoni Bridge.

He believes the best way to open up the riverfront and promote economic vitality is not just about how to best use public spaces, but also privately owned parcels. Giuliano is a member of the Middletown Republican Town Committee, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, Xavier Alumni Association, St. Sebastian Pastoral Council & Property Management Committee, St. John Paul II School Board, Italian Society of Middletown, ItalianAmerican Civic Order and Kiwanis Club of Middletown.

He also belongs to the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3, is a corporator at Middlesex Hospital, a volunteer for the Middletown Mentor Program, member of the American Legion Post 75, and sits on the Middletown Commission on the Arts.

For information, visit giuliano2019.com.

File photo Sebastian N. Giuliano