Joseph Maturo is celebrating another political victory. He was elected to his eighth term as Mayor of East Haven this Election Day.
He sat down in an exclusive one –on- one interview with New Haven Newsroom reporter Leslie Mayes to talk about his goals for the future and how he’s trying to put past controversies behind him once and for all.
Maturo is celebrating victories over opponents Michael Speer, a democrat and Sal Maltese who ran as a Republican. He defeated both by more than a thousand votes each Tuesday.
“It’s just an honor to be able to serve my community” he said of his most recent win.
A comment about tacos helped Maturo make national headlines for all of the wrong reasons in
2012, following the arrests of some East Haven police officers amid allegations of racism targeting Hispanics. Maturo apologized shortly after the remark, amid a firestorm of attention. Now says he hopes that single comment won’t follow him forever.
“Will that go on our graves? How long does that stay on Joe Maturo?” he asked.
“I think we’re passed that. I think the town is passed that. I certainly am” he said.
The arrests of those officers led to a Department of Justice inquiry into the police department, which Maturo says brought needed change, including a more diverse, community oriented police force.
“The fruits of that are finally coming true because now these officers, they have enough time on the job, they have enough experience on the job to get promoted into good positions” he said.
Those accomplishments have been celebrated by the Obama administration twice this year. Maturo and East Haven’s Police chief were invited to the White House earlier this year. United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch also visited East Haven to talk about the PD’s turnaround, using it as an example for other cities and towns interested in community policing.
Turning to his political priorities, now Maturo wants to start work on the old East Haven High School. The building hasn’t served students in nearly 20 years. The Mayor says he wants it to earn revenue for the town by becoming a multi-use municipal building that also includes housing for senior citizens.
“You can probably fit 16 town halls in that building. It belongs on the tax rolls” he said.
Keeping taxes low is another goal. Maturo wants to do that by attracting businesses that increase the town’s tax base, He believes that will bringing even more residents to this community he says is thriving… regardless of what some outsiders might think.
“I am proud to be in East Haven. I think most people that live in our community are proud to say they live in East Haven” he said.
We also asked Maturo about the pending sexual harassment complaint against him made by a former town secretary. Maturo says he’s innocent of the accusations levied against him and confident he’ll be proven innocent of those claims. Lawyers for Maturo’s accuser have not returned NBC Connecticut’s calls for comment.
