Gene Kierce, longtime active in Shelton civic affairs, is the Democratic party's candidate for Mayor in the November election.

Kierce, a retired General Electric/Black and Decker executive, says he is exceptionally  qualified to lead the city into the next century.

During his 34 years with the firm's quality engineering and manufacturing systems management departments, he traveled the globe and saw good and bad municipal governments.

In the past two years, as a member of Shelton's Board of Apportionment and Taxation, he has used that yardstick and says Shelton lags behind the best.

 A native of New Jersey, Kierce and his wife, Georgette, have lived in Shelton for many years. Their three children  were taught in the city's public schools.

His interest in the education system goes way back:

While  curriculum chairman,  he and other members of the Board of Education, established the Ripton School and provided the first computers for students in the school system.

During his tenure as finance chairman, the board purchased White Hills Park for a potential, future elementary school site.

As a parent, he was president of the Shelton PTA/PTO council, president of the Elizabeth Shelton PTA, and a substitute computer instructor for kindergarten through fourth grade at St. Joseph's.

In his work with Shelton youth, he served 5 years as a Boy Scout Cub Master; 3 as a Scout Master and 2 as an Explorer Scout leader.   He also volunteered as  a Little League coach.

Preparing Shelton' s seniors for the  21st century, Kierce voluntarily probes  the secrets of cyberspace with once a week classes at the Senior Center.  He was president of the center.

At income tax time, Kierce helps seniors and low-income residents prepare their returns free of charge.

In the business world, Kierce is a member of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), which provides free counseling to small businessmen. He also was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

As the owner of a  34 foot sailboat berthed in Bridgeport, Kierce is active in the U.S. Coast Guard and U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.  He has been a flotilla commander  and is a boat crew coxswain.

Kierce says, "somehow I  always seem to be offered  leadership positions in the organizations I join." 

"With the help  of many good, caring individuals, these organizations have been very successful."

"We are going to need your help in eliminating the chaos in the current administration by introducing a smaller, more technically advanced and frugal organization that serves all the citizens of Shelton."