Meet the Candidates: Gerald P. Araneo for Sixth District RTM

Name: Gerald P. Araneo

Age: 57

Years of residence in Branford: Since 1987, so 24 years.

Party affiliation: Was independent, now R.

Position running for: RTM

Branford Patch: When you’re not sitting in committee and full meetings, what are you doing? i.e. work and fun?
Gerald P. Araneo: Work at home for IBM over 20 years. Like working out at the gym. Like coaching my 10 year old daughter's Branford community league softball team, I am VP of Branford girls softball league. I attend some RTM meeting, BOE meetings and the parent advisory meeting with the superintendent, Head of BOE.

Branford Patch: How many years have you been a sitting member of Branford politics?
Gerald P. Araneo: 0.

Branford Patch: What and when was your first foray into politics?
Gerald P. Araneo: When I realized our Branford taxes keep going up, even tho our property value has declined. When I realized the public educational system is not where it should be, the excellence in teaching and transfering high quality skills to our kids is lacking... as compared to what my neighbors tell me about their sons/daughters attending private schools like Foote, Notre Dame, Hamden Hall, Our Lady of Mercy, ST. Bernadettes, Fairfield Prep, Xaiver, Hopkins, etc.

Branford Patch: What’s your 10-second elevator pitch for getting elected?
Gerald P. Araneo: I am a tiredless worker [missing words] to get the town and school officials to focus on EXCELLENCE in education for our kids with all the taxes that we pay in town to support a $49,000,000 educational budget. It is not my preference to pay for private school. The first selectman and educational RTM committee need to take a good look at our Branford public school scores and see how we stack up against similiar schools in oiur district. Full court press is needed to hold our officials accountable to come up with an IMPROVEMENT plan for our kids to achieve more and be better prepared for college and life after Branford HS. 

Branford Patch: What’s one thing right about Branford politics?
Gerald P. Araneo: Cannot think of one, no one seems to be looking out for us tax payers here in Branford.

Branford Patch: What’s one thing you’d like to see changed?
Gerald P. Araneo: Stop the spending, get serious about lowering the price to live in Branford, ie, lower the tax burden, full review of Branford budget, CUT SPENDING, live within the towns means, prioritize, make some hard decisions, you cannot keep taxing us more and more.

Branford Patch: Regardless of your party affiliation, can you name one good thing about the current First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos and one good thing about his challenger, Joy McConnell?
Gerald P. Araneo: No comments on UNK, Joy seems to want to be more of a Branford citizen advocate, she has 3 kids, so one can only hope she puts more focus on improving the Branford Public school system/experience.

Branford Patch: What has been the most exciting national election you have every voted in? Local? 

Gerald P. Araneo: The last national election.

Branford Patch: What’s one piece of advice you would give apathetic voters about the importance of casting his or her ballot?
Gerald P. Araneo: YOU cannot expect change and improvements here in Branford unless you are paying attention, get involved, get out to vote.

Branford Patch: What’s the one thing that you like best about Branford? Gerald P. Araneo: Lovely shoreline town, seems pretty safe, nice people, nice beach, nice services....but stop the increase in taxes to pay for runaway and mismanaged spending.

Branford Patch: Why did you decide to run in this election?
Gerald P. Araneo: Felt it was time to get off the couch, stop complaining and become part of the solution instead of part of the naive problem.

Meet Seventh District candidates Anthony J. Milici-D and Peter J. Anaclerio-R tomorrow. Seventh District candidates Mary E. Davis-D and Robin B. Sandler-R did not fill out Q&A surveys. 

Did you miss the stories on the candidates for selectman’s office? Check out the profiles below: