Leonard S. Paoletta
Leonard S. "Lenny" Paoletta (born November 9, 1934) is an American lawyer and former mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut from 1981 to 1985. He was a Republican.[1] Earlier in his career, he served in the Connecticut House of Representatives in the 1970s.[2]
Leonard Paoletta | |
|---|---|
| 48th Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut | |
| In office 1981–1985 | |
| Preceded by | John C. Mandanici |
| Succeeded by | Thomas W. Bucci |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 136th district | |
| In office January 6, 1971 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | William J. Lavery Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Alan Harris Nevas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 9, 1934 Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Easton, Connecticut |
| Alma mater | Fairfield University (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Early life and education
Paoletta was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on November 9, 1934.[3] He is a second-generation Italian-American.[4]
Paoletta graduated from Warren Harding High School. He then received his bachelor's degree from Fairfield University, where he was a member of the Fairfield Stags men's basketball team, and his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law School.[4] He was admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1959.[3]
Political career
Early political career
Paoletta first ran for the Connecticut State Senate in 1962, but lost the general election to Louis Gladstone.[5] He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives in the 1970s.[2]
In 1979, Paoletta ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Bridgeport against Democratic incumbent John C. Mandanici, although Paoletta held Mandanici to his smallest margin of victory in his three elections.[1]
Mayor of Bridgeport
In 1981, Paoletta (then age 48) again challenged Mandanici and was successful, narrowly edging out the incumbent by just 64 votes (17,950 to 17,886 votes, following a recount).[1][6] The New York Times reported at the time that "In what is virtually a trademark of Bridgeport politics, the mayoral campaign was held against a backdrop of violence and bizarre incidents."[1] Paoletta was sworn in on his 47th birthday, becoming Bridgeport's 47th elected mayor.[7]
In 1983, Paoletta won reelection, defeating both Democratic challenger Charles B. Tisdale and Mandanici (who ran under the third party "Taxpayers Party" ballot line after losing the Democratic primary election to Tisdale).[6] Paoletta received 15,606 votes, Tisdale 14,358 votes, and Mandanici 9,728 votes.[6]
As mayor, Paoletta clashed with Joseph A. Walsh, who had been Bridgeport's superintendent of police for 22 years.[8] Walsh had been a colorful and controversial figure in the city for many years.[9] In December 1983, at Paoletta's urging, the city's Board of Police Commissioners voted 6-0 to force Walsh into retirement.[8] Paoletta immediately appointed Thomas Thear, the former police chief of Battle Creek, Michigan, to be the interim leader of Bridgeport's 420-member police department.[8] Walsh subsequently challenged his dismissal, and the Bridgeport Civil Service Commission ordered his reinstatement.[9]
According to the New York Times, "two burly detectives, acting under orders from the Mayor, blocked him from entering his office. The dispute then shifted to the courts and a lengthy hearing on 185 charges of misconduct that the city drew up against the superintendent."[9] In mid-1984, a state trial referee ruled that "no just cause" existed for Walsh's dismissal.[9] During the seven-month standoff between Walsh and Paoletta, the police commissioners assumed day-to-day control of the police department for a time. Walsh returned to work in July 1984, after an "uneasy truce" took hold.[10]
1985 election and later political career
In 1985, Paoletta was defeated in the general election by Democratic candidate Thomas W. (Tom) Bucci.[11] In September 1989, Paoletta ran in a seven-way Republican primary for mayor, but came in second place, losing by 32 votes to Mary C. Moran, who went on to win the general election and become mayor.[12]
In 1997, Governor John G. Rowland named him as a member of Connecticut's Workers' Compensation Commission.[13]
Post-mayoralty
In the 1990s, Paoletta was a lawyer with Seeley & Berglass, which has offices in New Haven and Fairfield.[2] In 1994, Paoletta moved to Easton, Connecticut.[2][14] The same year, Paoletta unsuccessfully ran for probate judge.[2]
In September 1994, Paoletta (then 59 years old) was shot on the steps of Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church School in Bridgeport in an apparently random shooting; a priest and a parishioner were also shot.[2] Paoletta was seriously wounded but recovered following emergency surgery at Bridgeport Hospital.[2]
References
- Robert E. Tomasson, Paoletta Names Mayor-elect After a Recount in Bridgeport, New York Times (November 7, 1981).
- "Former Bridgeport Mayor and Two Others Are Shot". New York Times. September 18, 1994.
- The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Vol. 4 (1998).
- Leonard S. Paoletta named 2014 Columbus Day Parade Grand Marshal, Minuteman News Center (March 29, 2014).
- https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=936122
- Richard L. Madden, A Democrat Is Elected the New Mayor of Stamford, New York Times (November 9, 1983).
- Robert E. Tomasson, In Bridgeport, An Image of Change, New York Times (November 15, 1981).
- Richard L. Madden, Bridgeport Police Superintendent Forced Out After 22 Years at Top, New York Times (December 17, 1983).
- Richard L. Madden,New Page in Bridgeport's Police Story, New York Times (July 29, 1984).
- Richard L. Madden, Shaky Truce in Bridgeport as Police Chief Returns, New York Times (July 24, 1984).
- Rob Sullivan, Political Corruption in Bridgeport: Scandal in the Park City (The History Press: 2014), p. 85.
- Nick Ravo, Mayoral Victors Break New Ground But Face Old Woes, New York Times (November 12, 1989).
- "Rowland Nominations From Both Parties". Hartford Courant. December 13, 1997.
- Rob Sullivan, Former Bridgeport mayor to lead Columbus Day parade (June 22, 2014).