Working closely with business leaders and organized labor, DeStefano led the effort to revitalize downtown New Haven and attract over $1 billion in investment from high-tech and biotech companies. DeStefano led a nationally acclaimed $1.5 billion initiative to reduce class size and rebuild the city’s public schools. New Haven’s inter-district magnet school program has become a national model for the racial and economic integration of urban schools, attracting over 1,700 students from surrounding suburbs with lengthy waiting lists of eager students and parents seeking a spot in this exemplary program. The educational initiatives spearheaded by DeStefano have cut New Haven’s dropout rate by more than half while increasing performance. New Haven has also been recognized for its environmental leadership—improving air quality and reducing childhood asthma rates, creating bike paths and using alternative energy sources. Under DeStefano’s leadership, New Haven was named the #19 U.S. Walking City in 2008 by Prevention Magazine and the American Podiatric Association.
DeStefano has been recognized internationally for his efforts to unify City residents across ethnic and social-economic lines when he introduced the Elm City Resident Card program in the summer of 2007. This tool allows all residents of the City, regardless of immigration status or age, appropriate local identification to enjoy the City services and programs they qualify for. The identification card doubles as a library card and contains a debit future with which cardholders can pay for parking meters as well as goods and services at more than 50 merchants citywide.
Born May 11, 1955, DeStefano is a lifelong New Haven resident. His father was a police officer and his mother a beautician. His two sisters have been teachers in Connecticut public schools. Prior to his election, he served in city government for more than ten years as Deputy Controller, Chief Administrative Officer and Development Administrator.
DeStefano met his wife Kathy at the University of Connecticut, where he received his undergraduate degree and a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs. Kathy is a kindergarten teacher. They have two sons: Dan who is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and James who is a graduate of Providence College.
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was first elected Mayor of New Haven in 1993. He has been re-elected seven times based on his strong record of cutting crime nearly in half, creating jobs, improving the public schools and stewarding New Haven’s transition from its old economy to a successful new, thriving economy. DeStefano’s innovative policies have been recognized by leaders across Connecticut and the nation and have often been replicated. His fellow mayors elected him President of the National League of Cities, an organization that he is still very active in today. He is also the past President of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.
