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Mike Pavia was elected Mayor of Stamford on Nov. 4, 2009, and was sworn into office on Dec. 1, 2009 as Stamford’s 30th mayor. Mike was endorsed by Republicans and Independents and garnered a large bloc of votes from Democrats and other affiliations. He is a lifelong Stamford resident whose grandchildren represent the fifth generation of his family to live in Stamford.
Mike Pavia is also the Owner and Director of Pavia Development LLC, a Stamford-based residential and commercial real estate managing and construction business. His business is being managed by seasoned employees while Mike fulfills his duties as mayor of Stamford.
Mike’s background is a well honed combination of public service fused with business ownership, management and formal education. While Mike’s business success is a hard-earned result of sound decision making and an ability to recognize, recruit and nurture top talent, Mike is particularly proud of his distinguished record of public service where he applied many elements of his business expertise.
Mike’s public service career began nearly 30 years ago as an Environmental Health Sanitarian with the Stamford Health Department where he was instrumental in creating the City’s first comprehensive water pollution control and enforcement program. Many of the standards Mike developed and introduced then remain in use today. When Stamford formed the Environmental Protection Board, Mike was hired as its first Executive Director in 1976. Mike transformed this fledgling agency into an important and effective regulatory body by establishing the policies and procedures needed to protect wetlands, watercourses and other important natural resources.
Mike accelerated his business efforts after serving on Stamford’s Environmental Protection Board but his allure to serving Stamford emerged again: Mike returned to public service as Stamford’s Police Commissioner for eight years, from 1983 to 1991, during one of Stamford’s most challenging and exciting growth periods. During his tenure, he chaired the selection panel that hired approximately 100 new police officers, participated in a national search to hire a new police chief and initiated new policies and procedures to improve police services throughout Stamford. An active community organizer and supporter, Mike was also on the board of Directors of the Stamford Historical Society and the Springdale Neighborhood Association.
From 1991 to 1995, Mike served as Public Works Commissioner for the City of Stamford. Incorporating his expertise in development, urban planning, environmental planning and management, Mike implemented several successful programs within the Department that resulted in significant cost savings and increased efficiencies. His creation of a “Capital Projects” team of experts responsible for the oversight and implementation of all capital construction, resulted in major projects being delivered on time and under budget.
Under Mike’s leadership, Stamford also successfully raised the rate of recycling to over 35 percent of the total waste stream, saving the City over $2.0 million in disposal costs. During Mike’s tenure as head of Public Works, Stamford was recognized by state officials for having one of the most comprehensive and productive recycling programs in Connecticut. Through his watchful eye and keen negotiating, Mike was also able to pave and repair a significantly greater amount of roads than budgeted. Mike later served Stamford on the Board of Representatives, representing Stamford’s 18th District from 2003 to 2006.
As a business leader committed to building a better Stamford, Mike built and/or renovated over 200 Affordable-housing homes in Stamford that contribute over $1.0 million per year in tax revenue for the city. Mike has also amassed considerable expertise in urban planning and development, and his work as an accomplished site planner and environmentally-conscious land use consultant is acknowledged and respected by colleagues and competitors.
In addition to his business and governmental achievements, Mike proudly serves on a number of community boards and committees that are dedicated to improving the overall quality of life for Stamford residents. These include: The North Stamford Association, the Davenport Farm Association and the Homer Lee Wise Memorial Committee which honors the World War II Congressional Medal of Honor hero.
Mike holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the New York University School of Public Administration. He studied at NYU under a fellowship from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, awarded for his accomplishments in environmental protection. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Sacred Heart University.
A father of two daughters, Mike and his wife, Maureen, also a Stamford native, live in the Davenport Farm area of Stamford. They enjoy two young grandchildren who also live in Stamford.
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