Politics & Government
Race For Mayor: Charles Baltayan, Independent
This November, independent candidate Charles Baltayan is running for mayor but sprinting toward a town transformation.
Rich scents of pumpkin are present as the air becomes stonier. Seasons prompt a reminder that life is constantly changing. And that is exactly what is on ’s mind: change.
The independent candidate is running for Mayor of Hamden this November and said he hopes to be the breath of fresh air for the sundry town.
“I want to get the Legislative Council to act in a reasonable and responsible manner,” said Baltayan.
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Baltayan has a lot on his agenda if elected, from making cost effective agreements with employees and unions to better serve Hamden residents to changing the construction of new buildings and facilities.
“No new debt will be incurred until the town gets back to properly taking care of things it has already committed,” Baltayan said.
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Aside from voicing his strong plans, find Baltayan playing tennis, cooking, or designing and manufacturing fine jewelry. The 58-year-old Hamden resident of 25 years is the owner of Charles M. Baltayan Jewelers. However, the mature shop is not currently conducting new business in Connecticut.
“[Being a jeweler] is most rewarding as a combination of creative skills, construction, engineering and art to manufacture a piece that is desired and meets the needs of the intended wearer while paying your bills,” said Baltayan. “My change to government service was born out of frustration with the town over lack of fair treatment to its citizens. My jewelry business enables me to have good business sense in order to make good decisions without incurring needless debt or expense.”
A psychology graduate from the University of Connecticut, Baltayan is fresh to running for office. He said the support from his family, friends and local volunteers has fueled his self-funded, grass roots campaign.
“Although many people have offered donations, I feel that the people of Hamden pay too much already and should not have to pay more to have good government,” said Baltayan.
Door-to-door knocking is Baltayan’s basic strategy for distributing his information. While the town of Hamden’s size prompted a logistic nightmare for him, Baltayan acquired the voter registration list and the Chamber of Commerce street map in order to determine which areas had the densest collection of voters to crusade first.
A major aid to Baltayan’s promotion has come from his helpers. Campaign volunteer Thomas A. Barker, 58, an electrical engineer and 32-year resident of Hamden, is connected to Baltayan by their children’s stints for the Hamden Soccer Association.
“I have had an overwhelming positive reaction to the news that an independent candidate is running so that’s evident that many residents want a change,” said Barker. “I still find it hard to knock on strangers doors and hope that I am not disturbing then, as I do not want to alienate them before I get a chance to explain Charlie's plan.”
Aside from assisting with door-to-door knocking, Barker said he and other volunteers help garner signatures and distribute flyers.
“Self funding is hard in any economic time,” said Barker. “Unfortunately in this country it seems that the more dollars you spend, the more votes you get. If we can only get the voters to read what is in the message not how may times they hear it, we can be successful. As an unknown independent you must get out and ‘press the fresh’ and rely on volunteers to reach out and spread the message.”
A topic Baltayan has been prominently outspoken about has been Hamden’s Board of Education.
“I am passionate in that I believe education can never hurt and the more you can learn and be willing to apply that knowledge, the better off you will be,” said Baltayan. “I find it intolerable that we lay off teachers when we have other ways of approaching management at less cost.”
A passion and concern for education is something Baltayan said has been powered by his longtime interest in serving the youth. He was a Hamden indoor and outdoor youth soccer coach and a boys swimming booster club treasurer for years.
“My concern for education stems from having children and appreciating how education has served me over the years,” said the married father of two.
No town is perfect, Baltayan said, and while he understands the major flaw of Hamden's current government is its budget, the municipality’s key potencies are its diversity.
“The sports, the arts, the parks, the businesses that bring others to Hamden are all important strengths we have and need to encourage and maintain,” said Baltayan.