Chris Taylor wants to bring thinking outside the box to City Hall

Chris Taylor is one of the most unique candidates for mayor ever to stroll down Barnum Avenue. And given the fact that the Park City has seen individuals such as P.T. Barnum, Jasper McLevy and John Fabrizi occupy City Hall, which certainly is saying something.

When asked during at a recent interview at the Burroughs-Saden Library why he wanted to be mayor, Taylor didn’t mince word.

“I could use the job,” he said.

Taylor, who is retired from the demolition business, is not a guy who minces words, but employment is not the only reason he wants to sit behind the mayor’s desk: the East End resident has a plethora of reasons.

Taylor noted, “I think I can bring a lot to the table. I have a long history of community service and I strongly believe in cost effective management. Our current mill rate is a reflection of poor management. Under my leadership Bridgeport will be robust economically. Bridgeport has always been a city of industry and it will be again.”

Among Taylor’s community activities are being a board member of both East End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone and the East End Community Council, and membership in Vasco de Gama and the Bridgeport Community Historical Society.

According to his website www.christaylorformayor.com, Taylor’s mission statement is, “I will take immediate action to improve the city of Bridgeport through effective business practices, innovation, community, and compassion. Everyone has a right to thrive.”

One way the candidate will help Park City residents to thrive is his promise of providing each active Bridgeport voter with a free laptop computer for every household, a major credit card with a $300 limit regardless of credit, free Cablevision broadcast basic and internet and a free bicycle for each child & guardian. (Upon completion of a user-friendly bicycle training course).

“I think it’s important to say that these will be of no cost to the taxpayers of Bridgeport,” Taylor pointed out. “For example, there are many programs throughout the country that distribute free bicycles. I plan to capitalize on those opportunities.”

Taylor has a list of issues that comprise his platform that are both varied and intriguing. He will address activities, blight, commerce, development, education, enforcement and quality of life.

One of the more interesting categories is activities and there is little question that as mayor, Taylor will want Bridgeport to become a more active city. On his website, the candidate lists a host of possibilities in this vein including a dirt bike track, a state-of-the-art senior/community center, a hot air balloon festival, a deep water fishing boat and the creation of a Bridgeport marathon. He also wants these and other activities in Bridgeport to be inclusive.

“I think we have to open are arms to the LGBT community and embrace the fact that we are multicultural here in Bridgeport,” Taylor explained. “We have to be sensitive to people’s needs.”

Another interesting stance from Taylor is that as mayor he would institute a hands off policy with regards to education. He acknowledges that there is a laundry list of problems with the Bridgeport school system, but he cites the city charter in saying that the schools in Bridgeport are under the control of the Bridgeport Board of Education and he will leave their governance to that body and the Superintendent of Schools.

“I will not fund a failing institution,” he said simply.

Once elected, Taylor said he will become a champion of the Bridgeport police who he claims have received the short end of the stick for too long.

“The Bridgeport police are overworked and tired and there are not enough police officers to adequately patrol the city of Bridgeport,” said Taylor. “The police station is dilapidated and outdated. This will change when I become elected. The police will get a state of the art, user-friendly police headquarters. There will be 4 additional police precincts.”

Taylor told the Bridgeport Banner that his campaign has been well-received by Park City voters, but he is seeking even more interaction with registered voters.

To that end he is offering a 30-minute power point presentation on his plans for Bridgeport to any group of 10 or more registered Bridgeport voters. The free info session would be followed by a 30 minute question-and-answer session. And Chris Taylor will even provide the coffee and donuts. What could be better than that?