NORWICH – Republican Sixth Ward Alderman Thomas LoPiccolo made it official this week that he is throwing his hat in the ring for city mayor, making him the first contender for the position since 2007.
With nearly three cumulative years of experience in city government, LoPiccolo said the post of city mayor has never been far from his mind. LoPiccolo was appointed to the Norwich Common Council in January, 2012, following former Ward Six Alderman Robert Jeffrey’s election to city supervisor that left the council position vacant. LoPiccolo then lost his seat in the 2012 Republican Primary to Daniel Palmer, who served the remainder of Jeffrey’s initial term which expired in 2013.
LoPiccolo regained the council seat after Palmer opted not to seek reelection in 2013, making his the only name to appear on the ballot for the city’s sixth ward.
Now nearing the middle of his first elected four-year term, LoPiccolo said he had initially hoped for a mayoral campaign later in his political career. But with the off chance of losing his seat on the council and the mayoral election if he were to run in 2017, he said the best time to run is now.
“I’ve always had the thought of running eventually,” he added. “I’m anxious to get in there and start working on things.”
LoPiccolo’s two-year mayoral agenda includes seeking new streams of revenue for the city, improving communication among city employees as well as residents, maintaining safety, continuing to seek state and federal economic grant or bond opportunities, and pushing the city’s budget deadline ahead.
“One of my top concerns is getting a timely balanced budget,” LoPiccolo said, recalling that the city’s 2015 budget was not adopted until mid December and included eleventh-hour changes resulting in a 6.5 percent tax rate increase for city residents. He argued that while mandated fiscal restraints have in many cases tied the hands of city officials, making it difficult to keep taxes low in recent years, the city would benefit from starting the budget process earlier.
“I think we have been way too late getting the budget done,” LoPiccolo added. There’s no reason for us to have the budget so late ... When we were talking to department heads in December about what cuts would have to be made, I thought these were discussions that could have been worked out months before.”
With changes to the city’s budget process headlining LoPiccolo’s campaign, hopes are also to continue ongoing efforts to make the city more business-friendly. LoPiccolo said he aspires to market the city to potential employers and utilize city resources to attract new businesses wherever possible – a challenge that’s troubled the city for years.
“We have always said we want to see more business come into town and create more jobs if we can, but it’s been very difficult; and that might be blamed on the Governor and what he has not done for the upstate community. That’s something that’s been a stumbling block for us in some cases,” said LoPiccolo.
LoPiccolo is a lifelong resident of the City of Norwich and a 17-year-long employee of the Norwich City School District – a full-time job he intends to keep if elected. He currently serves an additional position on the city’s water commission, and as a member of the Chenango County Republican Committee.
Incumbent Mayor Joseph Maiurano said Tuesday morning that he will be seeking re-election.