Leonard S. Paoletta
| Leonard S. Paoletta | |
|---|---|
| 48th Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut | |
|
In office 1981–1984 |
|
| Preceded by | John C. Mandanici |
| Succeeded by | Thomas W. Bucci |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 9, 1934 Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Easton, Connecticut |
| Alma mater |
Fairfield University, B.A. Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. |
Leonard S. "Lenny" Paoletta (born November 9, 1934) is an American lawyer and former mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was a Republican.
Paoletta was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on November 9, 1934. He is a second-generation Italian-American.
Paoletta graduated from Warren Harding High School. He then received his bachelor's degree from Fairfield University, where he was a member of the Fairfield Stags men's basketball team, and his law degree from Georgetown University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1959.
Paoletta served in the Connecticut House of Representatives in the 1970s.
He served as mayor of Bridgeport, from 1981 through 1985, when he was defeated in his campaign for a third two-year term.
In 1978, Paoletta ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Democratic incumbent John C. Mandanici, although Paoletta held Mandanici to his smallest margin of victory in his three elections. In 1980, Paoletta (then age 48) again challenged Mandanici and was successful, narrowly edging out the incumbent by just 64 votes (17,950 to 17,886 votes, following a recount). The New York Times reported at the time that "In what is virtually a trademark of Bridgeport politics, the mayoral campaign was held against a backdrop of violence and bizarre incidents." Paoletta was sworn in on his 47th birthday, becoming Bridgeport's 47th elected mayor.
In 1982, Paoletta won reelection, defeating both Democratic challenger Charles B. Tisdale and Mandanici (who ran under the third party "Taxpayers Party" ballot line after losing the Democratic primary election to Tisdale). Paoletta received 15,606 votes, Tisdale 14,358 votes, and Mandanici 9,728 votes.
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