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On the mend, Buzi to run for re-electionMONROE, Jul 13, 2009 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Recent cancer surgery behind him, First Selectman Thomas Buzi turned his attention to the future by announcing Monday he will seek a second two-year term. "I said I would run on my record and my record's pretty damn good," said Buzi, a Democrat, speaking by telephone from Cape Cod, where he is vacationing until Wednesday. Buzi, 58, cited an improved fund balance in the town budget, the bipartisan Project Warmth that provided heat for 200 Monroe families having financial problems, and a public safety initiative to spend nearly $5 million for new fire safety equipment and radios as his proudest achievements. His volunteer work has included chairing the town's Capital Projects Committee and the building committees for Masuk High School and Jockey Hollow Middle School. A town resident for 24 years, Buzi had a 19-year career with Verizon communications, during which he was executive director of its investor relations group and chief financial officer of its Yellow Pages subsidiary. Prior to that, he held positions in social service administration in Greenwich's Social Service Department and Youth Service Bureau. He also directed a joint program associated with the Boys and Girls Club of Bridgeport and other agencies, and worked with the Bridgeport public schools and Foundation School as a teacher and counselor with learning disabled and emotionally disturbed students. He holds a bachelor's degree education from Central Connecticut State College and master's degrees in education and business from the University of Bridgeport. With no announced opposition, Buzi is expected to breeze to his party's nominating convention July 22. "Tom has illustrated in his first term that he can successfully build essential coalitions and lead in a bi-partisan manner," said Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Patty Ulatowski. The only Republican who has publicly announced his candidacy for first selectman so far is former Town Council member Steve Vavrek, who said he is relieved that Buzi is recovering well from his surgery. "I'm that Tom is back up and able," Vavrek said. However, he said there would be issues he plans to press in his campaign, including the handling of the town property revaluation and economic development. Buzi and his wife of 37 years, the former Pamela Sidarweck, are the parents of a grown son, Adam. Their other son, Todd, died in 2001 in a one-car crash on his way to school. To see more of the Connecticut Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.connpost.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |