Mike Raduazzo
Former school board member Mike Raduazzo edged out veteran spending critic Ed Tyrrell for the vacant seat on the Board of Finance.
“It’s something that’s in me,” Raduazzo told finance board members when asked why he wanted to serve with them after four years on the school board.
“I enjoy coming out and talking about the issues, talking about the finances,” he said.
“It’s definitely an opportunity to give back to a community which I get so much from. It’s an opportunity to be a part of what makes the town great.”
Tyrrell shared his perspective from years as the town’s leading board-watcher.
“I think I really understand the issues,” he said. “I come to a lot of meetings. I’m a dedicated observer of things.”
Raduazzo takes over for Republican Jill Bornstein, who resigned after her husband’s employer, GE, announced it was moving from Fairfield to Boston.
The vote Tuesday night, Feb. 16, was 2-to-1. Raduazzo got votes from two Democrats he’d run against when seeking a seat on the finance board in the November election — Dave Ulmer and Jessica Mancini. Republican Marty Heiser supported Tyrrell, but expressed high regard for both candidates.
“I know both these gentlemen. I know their contributions to the town. They’re both friends of mine,” Heiser said.
He highlighted Raduazzo’s contributions helping negotiate contracts that substantially reduced health school insurance costs.
But he appreciated Tyrrell’s role as government watchdog and voice for taxpayers’ concerns.
“Ed, I appreciate his candor, his views,” Heiser said, adding “He attends all these meetings!”
“Ed is always at all the meetings,” Mancini agreed. She note the observations he shares. “I love his emails to us.”
But she valued Raduazzo’s “background on the Board of Ed” and the deep knowledge of the school budget he would bring to the finance board.
Ulmer thought it was important that Raduazzo had run for the board in the last election.
“You did run on a platform and presented it to the voters,” he said.
It may have come down to the two candidates’ ideological outlooks. Both were asked how they’d compare themselves “philosophically” to Bornstein.
“I had a lot discussions with Jill over the years,” said Raduazzo. “I’d say I’m in line with Jill.”
Tyrrell replied: “I would say I’m probably a little farther to the right than Jill. I’m a little more conservative on spending issues. I’m a little more conservative than her — not wildly more conservative.”
He got the one Republican vote, while Raduazzo got the two Democrats.
The board’s fourth member, Democrat Paul Sutherland, wasn’t at the meeting.
After the vote Tyrrell shook Raduazzo’s hand.
“While I’m disappointed,” he said after the meeting, “I’m sure Mike Raduazzo is going to do a fine job.”
In the interview Raduazzo had emphasized his four years on the school board and his work on its finance sub-committee.
“I looked on my role with the Board of Education as primarily oversight and governance over $86 million,” Raduazzo said.
“I’ve always been an objective person. I’ve always asked the tough questions,” he said.
Raduazzo also recalled working with other town officials.
“We haven’t always agreed on everything,” he said. “I think what I brought to the table is I’ve been collaborative with the Board of Finance, the Board of Selectmen, to help bring together these last four years of very low tax increases.”
Raduazzo has worked more than 30 years in corporate finance with companies including Diageo, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Pfizer. He’s currently with AIG.
He’s lived in Ridgefield for 13 years and has three children, a sixth grader at St. Mary’s, a fourth grader at Veterans Park, and one in college.
After Tuesday night’s vote he paid tribute to Bornstein.
“She brought an awful lot to the town,” he said. “It’s going to be a big chair to fill.”
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