We are also the DCC. Here’s why we back Martin

We are also the Democratic City Committee.

Here’s why we back Martin for Mayor.

Stamford has made tremendous strides under the leadership of Mayor David Martin. He’s been serving Stamford for decades, fighting to improve the lives of our families and neighbors, and he will continue to do so with a third term as mayor. Furthermore, real experience in managing a complex municipality is an absolute necessity as we continue to climb out of the pandemic and its economic impact on our city. David Martin is the only mayoral candidate with the experience and expertise to meet this moment. There’s no room for a learning curve here. Mayor Martin was ready when we first elected him in 2013, and he’s ready now.

While state Rep. Caroline Simmons did receive a slim majority of the Stamford Democratic City Committee’s endorsement votes, this was in no way a landslide, nor a resounding signal of support for Simmons; the vote was practically a tie, 19 votes to 21. Mayor Martin then collected more than 3,000 signatures from registered Democrats (almost double the necessary amount) to secure a place on the primary ballot. This is a clear indication that all members of the Stamford Democratic Party wish to have a say in who their nominee is. The primary on Sept. 14 will be decided by Stamford Democrats as a whole, not just 21 of the 40 members of the SDCC.

Any candidate running for office can make vague promises about grand visionary plans. As a voter, it can be frustrating to listen to this without ever hearing exactly how they intend to achieve their goals. With Mayor Martin, we see a candidate with real accomplishments, instead of a wish list with no specific plan to back it up.

How can Democrats judge the last seven years of the Martin Administration? His demonstrable leadership in times of crisis is one clear metric. While there are many opinions on how the ongoing pandemic response should be handled, Mayor Martin continues to act swiftly and decisively by ensuring the availability of PPE, vaccines, testing sites, and information to the public. He also continues to grapple with the longstanding issue of mold in our city schools, refusing to kick the can down the road. As a true “bean counter,” Mayor Martin has maneuvered the city’s financial outlook to more sustainable solutions by generating more income through development while holding tax increases at zero percent throughout the pandemic. He has cut costs through amicable labor contract negotiations and responsible funding of long term obligations to ensure they no longer spiral out of control for future generations. These strategic actions and more have restored the city’s AAA bond ratings, which was a massive undertaking in and of itself and has saved taxpayers millions in borrowing costs.

In addition to addressing the challenges faced by the city, Mayor Martin has also actively improved Stamford and its government services. The implementation of the city’s online “Fix It” platform creates a direct line of communication between concerned citizens and city services. We have a new police station and a new K-8 school, two much needed infrastructure achievements. Sidewalks, crosswalks, and more than 100 miles of roads continue to be added, fixed, repaved, and maintained, increasing pedestrian and vehicular safety. Mayor Martin has also made moves toward environmental sustainability, including the plastic bag ban, the future implementation of electric city vehicles, and a new pesticide ban to protect our children. For the past seven years, our mayor has described his vision of Stamford as a safe and welcoming community for all who call it home. But he’s more than a visionary — he’s a workhorse, and he’s worked every day to improve the city and achieve our goals.

Many incumbents who run for reelection face the skeptical question from voters, “what have you done for me lately?” As you can see, Mayor Martin has done a lot for us. It’s easy to call for a change in leadership simply for its own sake. But what is it we really want to change? Mayor Martin has a track record, and it’s overwhelmingly positive for the City of Stamford and the people who live here. No other candidate can compare to Mayor Martin’s experience and success, and he remains our best chance at maintaining our momentum and continuing our progress. We must reelect Mayor Martin and keep Stamford moving forward.

Stamford Democratic City Committee members Virgil De La Cruz (D2), Gloria Depina (D5), Denis Patterson (D6), Marty Levine (D6 alternate), Jay Fountain (D7), Laurie Doig (D7), Anabel Figueroa (D8), Marggie Laurie (D8), Keith Silver (D13), Sean Boeger (D15), Phil Berns (D16), David Stein (D19), Richard Freedman (D19), Jackie Heftman (D20), Roz Nesin (D20).