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Community Corner

11 Questions

A conversation with former 5th District Council member Matt Reale.

Politics being what it is — with partisanship and ego trumping common sense these days, the cool kids of the cliques advancing to hold positions of power within the society from the local to the national level — I thought it beneficial to the community to really get to know one of our former council members from Trumbull.  

Authentic, unapologetic and determined to serve the people, Matt Reale, a lawyer, educator and one of our neighbors, sat down to answer a few questions about himself, his service and I am proud to offer this view of a community leader unlike those that you will hear about from campaign ads of those seeking your vote. [Editor's note: Reale has not announced any candidacy for this year's municipal elections.]

After all, that is what democracy is supposed to be about: politicians working for everyone, respecting each and every voter and being there for us when we need them. Recognizing that power is temporary in nature and that we should neither belittle those who lead us nor seek supermen. I met Mr. Reale in his law offices. 

LAB: what inspired you to get active in public service?
Matt Reale: I was born and raised in Trumbull, I have always felt a unique connection to the town and I felt if I got involved in public service, I could give back to the community. I studied Political Science at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield and that inspired me as well. I felt at the time and still do that we can make Trumbull the best place to live in Connecticut.

LAB: if there was one thing you would change about Trumbull what would it be?
Reale: There are two areas, one more ambitious than the other. The most ambitious idea that I have is to make the White Plains area a destination village area with retail, cafes where people can sit outside and drink a cappuccino and talk, a place where you can go for dinner and ice cream, and arts and entertainment.

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In short, with the type of layout that would make it conducive to park your car in one spot and walk around like you can in like Greenwich, it would be a great place to have a day out, and to enjoy one's life. Trumbull center is our hidden jewel.

The second is a little easier to accomplish. I would like people in town to help make politics go away. Let's get rid of these destructive politics, put the political labels behind them. Only then, when the environment is more amicable can we limit tax impact on people through working together. Better communication, more amicable communication.

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LAB: What was your most important vote on the town council?
Reale:  That's easy, the Trumbull High School renovation. It was a vote that impacts the entire community, young and old. The strength of a community is its education, its people and public safety. Trumbull High School was the school that time forgot, built in the 1960s and we had to balance the needs of renovating it with the other needs of the community in a democratic process. I believe that we successfully achieved that balance, but it must be managed properly going forward. If the job is done as it should be, then I expect that it will be under budget, and I made sure along with many of my colleagues, that we fought for state reimbursement on much of the construction costs.

LAB: What was the happiest moment of your life?
Reale:  The day I graduated from college and then law school at Villanova. Seeing how proud my mother was, the look of pride and joy in her eyes was the happiest moment in my life.

LAB: Is there anything you regret during your years of service to the people?
Reale:  You know when you hold an official position you have so many things to focus on that you sometimes don't have the time to think about the big ideas. I wish I had done more for the Senior Center and concentrated more on the needs of our seniors who are our valuable resource and the keepers of our history. We didn't give back to them enough. I wish I had created a Senior Youth partnership where our seniors can mentor some of our young people, and through this community outreach with our kids, share their knowledge, wisdom and experience, such as the effcets of the second world war. They are our living and talking history.

LAB: Growing up in the area, what was your favorite place to spend time or where is your favorite restaurant and your favorite food?
Reale:  When I was a kid, my buddy Eric and I would ride our bikes to the local corner deli or we would go to Carvel's on White Plains road after little league. We would buy baseball cards and we would look through them and compare which ones we bought. It was a lot of fun.

LAB: Do you have a hobby, what would it be?
Reale:  I enjoy spending time with my friends. I am blessed that I have many lifelong friends, and you don't realize how valuable friendships are when you are young. Friends are to be cherished, and I still have friends that I had in the 5th grade even. It's fantastic to just be with them, to enjoy their company, to talk about old times, to remember when we were kids, the old neighborhood, playing touch football and Middlebrook school. Those times will never come back again, but we have each other to remember those days and to build new memories.

LAB: Favorite sports team or musician?
Reale:  The New York Mets, and I love the new stadium.

LAB: The most important job, to you that you have ever held?
Reale:  I'm the President of the McGivney Center in Bridgeport, near St Charles parish. It features an afterschool program for kids as well as other activities for the community.

LAB: Your hero?
Reale:  I would say two people are my heroes. First, Dr. Rose, the chair of political science at Sacred Heart University, who was my mentor, inspiring me that government can do good things for people. And my father, who died young in 1985.  Now that I look back at all he provided for myself, my brothers and sisters, I look back at all those memories. He was an educator, always giving back to the community, compassionate to everyone he met, treating everyone with respect and deference.  I hope I can be as great a man as he was.


LAB:  Thanks again for spending time with us and I wish you best of luck in the future!
Louis A Bevilacqua: If you have any more questions on issues, politics or legal philosophy, you can ask Matt yourself!

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