Joseph A. Maturo, Jr.

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Joseph Maturo Jr. is the former mayor of East Haven, Connecticut. He is a Republican and is a life-long resident of East Haven, He is a graduate of the East Haven High School, class of 1970. He has attended South Central Community College (which is now Gateway Community College) and the University of New Haven. Maturo is a Master Electrician, having obtained his State Certification as an Electrical Inspector.

Maturo served in the US Navy during the Vietnam conflict for six years. Upon returning to East Haven after his military service, Maturo joined the East Haven Fire Department. While serving as a fire-fighter, Maturo was awarded three Medals of Merit. After 17 years of devoted service to a job he loved, Maturo was compelled to resign because of a work-related injury. He has been a member of the an East Haven Volunteer Fire Company since 1978.

He is a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Post # 484, American Legion, Post # 89 and a charter member of the newly revived East Haven Lions Club. He has served on the Public Relations Committee of the 1995 Special Olympics World Games held in New Haven, Connecticut. He has also served as a substitute teacher in the East Haven Public Schools and has served as a Legislative Clerk in the Connecticut General Assembly.

Maturo was a member of the Town Council from 1993 to 1995. In 1995 he ran unsuccessfully for the office of mayor, losing to the democratic incumbent, Hank Luzzi in a three way race. Luzzi won 40% of the vote to Maturo's 37% and independent candidate Ben Mazzucco's 23% of the votes. The general election of 1997 Maturo again was pitted against the incumbent Hank Luzzi. This time Maturo prevailed and won his first election for the mayor’s office with 60% of the vote. In November 2005, Maturo ran against Michael DeBenedet, who ran an aggressive campaign against the incumbent. Maturo won the election with 60% of the vote. With his re-election for a fifth term in 2005, Maturo was only the second East Haven mayor — and the first Republican — to win a fifth term. Democratic Mayor Anthony Proto was the only other one.^[1]

On November 6, 2007, Election Night, April Capone Almon apparently defeated Maturo by 21 votes. The slim margin of victory forced an automatic recount. On November 11, 2007, the recount showed that Almon won by 63 votes, but discrepancies in the tally resulted in a second recount. The election was certified on November 14, 2007 following a second recount. The final total showed that Almon won the election by 25 votes.

-Election Results-

2007 April Capone Almon (D) 4,010 - Joseph Maturo (R) 3,985
2005 Joseph Maturo (R) 4,386 - Michael DeBenedet (D) 2,897
2003 Joseph Maturo (R) 4,740 - Marilyn M. Vitale (D) 2,475
2001 Joseph Maturo (R) 5,596 - Norman DeMartino (D) 2,593
1999 Joseph Maturo (R) 5,647 - Frank A. Marotti (D) 1,720
1997 Joseph Maturo (R) 5,699 - Hank Luzzi (D) 3,913
1995 Hank Luzzi (D) ???? - Joseph Maturo (R) ???? - Ben Mazzucco (I) ????

As mayor of East Haven, Maturo serves on the Council of Governments (COG) and was chairman of the council from 2001 to 2003. He was recently appointed Chief Administrative Officer of the State of Connecticut's Police Officer Standards and Training Council. He was a member of the South Central Regional Council of Governments.

The St. Jude Connecticut Network, Connecticut's fundraising entity for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Award Maturo the 2004 Man of the Year award. At the 42nd Oak Street Reunion, Maturo received their Man of the Year Award for 2005.