Rudy Marconi
Encyclopedia
Rudy Marconi is the first selectman of Ridgefield, Connecticut
, and exploratory candidate for governor of Connecticut. First elected as first selectman in 1999, he is currently serving his fifth term.
, Marconi is the grandson of first-generation Italian immigrants who settled in Ridgefield. In high school, Marconi was a three-letter athlete, leading his high school’s football, basketball, and baseball teams.
Marconi attended the Nichols College
of Business Administration, where he earned his BBA in 1971.
, on which he served until 1993. Ridgefield subsequently elected Marconi to its Board of Selectmen
in 1993, where he served for two two-year terms. In 1997, Marconi ran for the office of first selectman, but was narrowly defeated by Republican Abe Morelli. Between 1997 and 1999, Marconi served as the chairman of Ridgefield’s Democratic Town Committee. In 1999, Marconi again campaigned for the office of First Selectman against Morelli, and won, the first Democrat to beat a Republican incumbent in the majority Republican town in half a century. Marconi is currently serving his fifth term as Ridgefield’s first selectman. Due to a 2007 change in the town charter, it is a four-year term.
.
Marconi has outlined that his campaign priorities are centered on education, transportation, and economic development.
In January, 2010, Marconi called for the re-institution of tolls in Connecticut using electronic toll collection
, which does not require stopping or slowing. He cited a study by the state Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board which claimed tolls could generate a billion dollars a year in revenue for transportation.
Marconi's campaign has made extensive use of the website YouTube
in order to discuss his campaign and address political issues. In fact, the Marconi campaign has become known for its satiric videos that bring a sharp edge and a bright light to issues such as public campaign finance and campaign ethics.
Marconi also put together a 10-year financial plan, which secured financial security for the town of Ridgefield, resulting with a AAA bond rating for the 10 consecutive years he has been in office.
Marconi has led the acquisition of more than 600 acres (2.4 km²) for the preservation of open space, including Bennett's Pond, which has since been converted to a state park.
As Macaroni continues his career in Ridgefield he is planning to build a cell tower.
Marconi continues his efforts to oppose the FAA's plan to move the current LaGuardia Airport
-bound traffic from Westchester
to Fairfield County
and has testified in Washington on the state's behalf.
Marconi is Chairman of Alliance for Sensible Airspace Planning, representing 13 communities in Fairfield County and New York; he is secretary of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority; and is a member of the Saugatuck River Watershed Partnership. He is active in the fight against Lyme disease
. He is past chair and currently vice-chair of the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials, the regional planning agency. He also serves on the boards of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and the Council of Small Towns.
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census. The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S...
, and exploratory candidate for governor of Connecticut. First elected as first selectman in 1999, he is currently serving his fifth term.
Early life and education
Born and raised in Ridgefield, ConnecticutRidgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census. The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S...
, Marconi is the grandson of first-generation Italian immigrants who settled in Ridgefield. In high school, Marconi was a three-letter athlete, leading his high school’s football, basketball, and baseball teams.
Marconi attended the Nichols College
Nichols College
Nichols College is a private, co-educational, four-year institution of higher learning that is located in Dudley, Massachusetts.Nichols has many diverse majors that mainly focus on business and liberal arts. The school also offers an MBA program for graduate students.Nichols College athletics...
of Business Administration, where he earned his BBA in 1971.
Personal life
Marconi is married to the former Peggy Loomis and has four children and one grandchild. He was previously married which ended in divorce.Professional career
After graduation, Marconi worked for 15 years in the paper and printing industry in both Boston and Long Island. In 1986, Marconi returned to Ridgefield and joined Nano Marconi, Inc., the family contracting company, where he worked until 1999.Political career
In 1989, Marconi was elected to Ridgefield’s Planning and Zoning CommissionPlanning and Zoning Commission
A Planning and Zoning Commission is a local elected or appointed government board charged with recommending to the local town or city council the boundaries of the various original zoning district and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein and any proposed amedments thereto and shall...
, on which he served until 1993. Ridgefield subsequently elected Marconi to its Board of Selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
in 1993, where he served for two two-year terms. In 1997, Marconi ran for the office of first selectman, but was narrowly defeated by Republican Abe Morelli. Between 1997 and 1999, Marconi served as the chairman of Ridgefield’s Democratic Town Committee. In 1999, Marconi again campaigned for the office of First Selectman against Morelli, and won, the first Democrat to beat a Republican incumbent in the majority Republican town in half a century. Marconi is currently serving his fifth term as Ridgefield’s first selectman. Due to a 2007 change in the town charter, it is a four-year term.
Gubernatorial Exploratory Campaign
On October 5, 2009, Marconi announced he would form an exploratory committee to consider a run for the Connecticut governorship in 2010. He pledged that, if he were to run, it would be under Connecticut's public campaign finance program, the Connecticut Citizen's Election Program, in support of clean electionsClean elections
"Clean Elections" is a term used to describe a particular system of government financing of political campaigns, in which the government provides a grant to candidates who agree to limit their and private fundraising efforts and limit their campaign-spending.- In the United States :Clean Election...
.
Marconi has outlined that his campaign priorities are centered on education, transportation, and economic development.
In January, 2010, Marconi called for the re-institution of tolls in Connecticut using electronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection , an adaptation of military "identification friend or foe" technology, aims to eliminate the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. It is thus a technological implementation of a road pricing concept...
, which does not require stopping or slowing. He cited a study by the state Connecticut Transportation Strategy Board which claimed tolls could generate a billion dollars a year in revenue for transportation.
Marconi's campaign has made extensive use of the website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in order to discuss his campaign and address political issues. In fact, the Marconi campaign has become known for its satiric videos that bring a sharp edge and a bright light to issues such as public campaign finance and campaign ethics.
Ridgefield
During Marconi's first term, he convened the first-ever Town Summit, which brought town officials and citizens together to solve a sanitation dilemma for a new middle school.Marconi also put together a 10-year financial plan, which secured financial security for the town of Ridgefield, resulting with a AAA bond rating for the 10 consecutive years he has been in office.
Marconi has led the acquisition of more than 600 acres (2.4 km²) for the preservation of open space, including Bennett's Pond, which has since been converted to a state park.
As Macaroni continues his career in Ridgefield he is planning to build a cell tower.
Beyond Ridgefield
Marconi has also worked on issues of regional, state and interstate concern. Marconi led the successful effort to oppose casino expansion in the southwest corridor of Connecticut as a member of the CT Alliance Against Casino Expansion.Marconi continues his efforts to oppose the FAA's plan to move the current LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
-bound traffic from Westchester
Westchester
Westchester may refer to:*Westchester, Connecticut*Westchester, Florida*Westchester, Illinois*Westchester, Indiana*Westchester, Los Angeles, California*Westchester County, New York*The Westchester, a shopping mall in White Plains, New York...
to Fairfield County
Fairfield County
Fairfield County is the name of three counties in the United States:* Fairfield County, Connecticut* Fairfield County, Ohio* Fairfield County, South Carolina...
and has testified in Washington on the state's behalf.
Marconi is Chairman of Alliance for Sensible Airspace Planning, representing 13 communities in Fairfield County and New York; he is secretary of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority; and is a member of the Saugatuck River Watershed Partnership. He is active in the fight against Lyme disease
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most...
. He is past chair and currently vice-chair of the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials, the regional planning agency. He also serves on the boards of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and the Council of Small Towns.