A 22-year-old University of Connecticut student with a passion for politics has jumped into the race to capture one of two 3rd District City Council seats held by Democrats who are stepping down this fall.
Republican Derek Czenczelewski said Monday that he thinks he can “bring something a little different” to the council.
“It’s time for a change in Bristol,” Czenczelewski said, adding that he has the ability “to bring people together” and to endeavor to end the constant political bickering at City Hall.
Czenczelewski is the first candidate to enter the 3rd District race formally, though Democrats and Republicans alike are eyeing the district during this year’s municipal race because both seats will be open.
Both incumbents in the district, Frank Nicastro and Craig Minor, have said they won’t seek re-election.
So far, Czenczelewski is the only contender to take their place for the part-time, $10,00-a-year post, but several Democrats have said they’re interested.
Kate Matthews said she plans to announce her candidacy this month and two others, Terry Parker and Charles Cyr, are eyeing the race, too. There may be others.
Czenczelewski said there a trio of Republicans considering the race in his district, down from seven initially. The others haven’t come forward yet.
Czenczelewski said the key issues facing the city are the economy, education, public safety and transportation.
He said that city leaders “need to work with the existing businesses” in town to try to attract more jobs to Bristol. They should also prepare plans for downtown and beyond that will be ready to roll when the economy turns around.
Czenczelewski said he favors the $130 million plan to build two new 900-student schools in town, including one on Pine Street that would replace the aging Greene-Hills School in his district.
“We have schools that are really falling apart,” Czenczelewski said.
He said the city needs to push through the land purchases, hiring architects and more to get the project underway.
Czenczelewski said the city has to monitor what happens when the Route 72 extension opens up in a year or so to find out if drivers do wind up downtown in greater numbers, as officials have hoped.
He said that if the plans don’t work out, then the city needs to be ready to make some more changes to get the job done.
Czenczelewski is a 2005 Bristol Central High School graduate who is majoring in sports promotion at UConn. He is angling for a minor in communications. He said he will graduate in August.
He’s working for Edge Technology, which provides statistics and analysis for ESPN. It’s one path for future careers with the Bristol-based sports giant.
Czenczelewski said he’s learned a lot about leadership from ESPN, including the need to search for innovation and consensus.
He is not married and doesn’t have any children.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
21 comments:
Has MR.Czenczelewski ever served on any boards? I am thinking that would be a good place to start and learn before wanting to run for council.
Why? So he can get passed over for the next ten years. It's his choice, let him run.
It is not a game for amateurs!
There is a learning curve.
I want to hear more from him. I am intrigued that someone so young is ready to throw his hat in the ring. quit nay saying already and let him campaign. If he isn't worth the vote, don't give it to him.
Good Luck Derick.
Go, kid! The city could use some energy!!!
One could suggest that amateurs have been running the city for years. At least this one would bring new ideas. Obviously if he is smart enough to handle college, a job and a campaign, he's probably smart enough to handle a council job. I'm excited for this young man.
The mayor in Torrington was 23 when he was elected mayor and I don't think he held any elected positions prior to that. Anything's possible.
MR.Czenczelewski - will be making decisions with tax payer money. Does he pay city taxes? Does he own a house? Does he own a car? He cant make decisions for the tax payer if he does not own a house or car...Maybe he does...It easy for anybody to say that the schools are crap and that we need to prepare for the downtown area when the economy rebounds..But I think we have a committee that already is looking at the downtown and a school board and council that is pretty close to building 2 new schools. What are his other ideas? Anything for the seniors or how to clean up his 3rd district? Does he have any idea for the old IGA super market over there?
You bunch of old farts! I'm sick of hearing your same old rhetoric. This City needs some MAJOR changes or we are DOOMED. Don't you get it? The same old way of doing things doesn't work anymore. We need to get out of the dark ages and become more in line with the cities that surround us or we will surely be left in the dust...more than we already are. I hope this kid gets elected and then I hope he gets a bunch of his buddies to run as well. We need a fresh start, some new eyes and ears. And some people taht will actually DO SOMETHING for a change. Out with the old and in with the new :)
Anybody have a suggestion for the old IGA in the West End?? Downtown?? Don't we want younger people in Bristol? He might represent a demographic that is leaving our town and might have ideas as to slow or reverse that trend. Give the kid a chance! Go Derek!
I think it's great that the younger generation wants to get involved in the future of the City. He's obviously educated - so let's see where he goes with his campaign before people start bashing him for caring about his hometown.
I think you guys should be open to the idea of a young guy running...
Hurray!!! New blood is what we need!
The Republicans have a history of having good people run, not supporing them, and then these ame people fade away.
These newcomers have virtually no experience and lose heart real quick.
Sorta like what was said earlier, the republicans eat their young.
Hope this guy is different.
His lack of experience both in and out of government will not win him any votes.
The process has become so obnoxious (especially in Bristol) that it's no wonder this is the best the electorate gets.
there is another candidate running for the third district and while yes he is new to the arena he too will bring youth and vitatlity to the politicla landscape , like Mr. Czenczelewski he sees alot of problems that have occured because of the inability fo the current govt. to change and try new ideas , that is why we have one industrial park still not full and another with no one in it, or why we had to go full bore to buy the centre mall with out any real commitments from anybody to fill it if something were to be built there, lost taxes on both issues,and one more thing , while great that we have espn , does not anyone remember how much we relied on new departure as the major tax contributor to the city and then they left, whose to say ESPN could not do the same in tough times
there is another candidate running for the third district and while yes he is new to the arena he too will bring youth and vitatlity to the politicla landscape , like Mr. Czenczelewski he sees alot of problems that have occured because of the inability fo the current govt. to change and try new ideas , that is why we have one industrial park still not full and another with no one in it, or why we had to go full bore to buy the centre mall with out any real commitments from anybody to fill it if something were to be built there, lost taxes on both issues,and one more thing , while great that we have espn , does not anyone remember how much we relied on new departure as the major tax contributor to the city and then they left, whose to say ESPN could not do the same in tough times
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO THIS BLOGGER IS TALKING ABOUT???
Congratulations, Derek. It has been a pleasure to meet you and I am looking forward to working with you in this race.
It is easy for people to assail the youth and inexperience of a candidate, they did that with John Kennedy and Pres Obama....while Derek may be neither of those people the analogy fits. He may or may not own a home, but his parents and his friends do. He probably has school loans to pay off and he has decided to try and improve the community around him.
What have any of you that criticize his age or lack of experience done? What do you think the right level of experience is? I think having a young person whose life is in front of them, whose future is what is being risked by the decisions made is exactly the person that should be interested and involved in shaping those decisions.
Those of us whose lives have come and gone as we raise our children and look forward to retirement are merely looking to not rock the boat. It is the young that are looking to shape the future, we should support them at all stages and encourage a very open and widespread debate of all the issues. After all, that is what we have so many on the front lines fighting for right now isn't it?
Go Derek, best of luck to you and I hope your enthusiasm infects many of those in your generation. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.
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