Where is the Mayor?

With the latest reporting by CT Examiner confirming what residents and councilors have been pressing to understand for weeks – that a man had been sleeping inside Town Hall for months – one question remains unanswered: Where is the mayor?

The mayor’s closest political ally and Town Hall insider has now admitted to providing unauthorized access to the building and described ongoing “security problems” as not uncommon. He even suggested that people wandering Town Hall after hours was normal. It is not.

What’s most alarming is not simply what happened, but the lack of accountability from those in charge. The mayor was either informed of these concerns months ago, according to internal emails now made public, or was kept in the dark – both concerning for their own reasons. Yet residents have heard nothing from her office – not a statement, not a plan, not a promise to review or improve Town Hall security. Silence is not leadership.

When a senior official dismisses someone sleeping in a municipal building as “not a big deal,” it raises serious questions about judgment and responsibility. Any space within Town Hall – even a Registrar’s “supply room” – may contain sensitive materials, from election documents to taxpayer records. Minimizing unauthorized access as harmless betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the public trust. Each day without answers deepens distrust; residents deserve assurance that their government buildings and records are secure and that those charged with oversight take that duty seriously.

As we head into the final days of early voting, this isn’t about one individual’s circumstances. It’s about a culture of denial, deflection, and disregard for the public’s right to know. Stratford deserves better. We deserve leadership that respects residents enough to be transparent, to act swiftly, and to hold even close allies accountable when they cross the line.

The facts are now public. The question remains: Will the mayor finally speak, or will silence continue to substitute for leadership?