By FREESIA SINGNGAM
STAFF WRITER

PLYMOUTH — Coming from a family that’s very involved in politics — both of his parents are on the Board of Education and active in the Democratic Town Committee — it’s no surprise that Patrick Perugino II is following suit.

At 18, Perugino II is running for a constable position. He’s the youngest person to ever run on the Democratic ticket here.

“I like people. I’m like my dad, I like to talk with people,” he said, which is why he’s getting his start in politics. It’s also why he’s running for a position in which he would have to serve papers.

He’s not the only Perugino running for office this election season — his father, Patrick Perugino, is running for tax collector. Both Peruginos understand that there will be challenges in running for office, but the father and son are taking those challenges together.

See POLITICS, Page 3

Perugino, 67, has been involved in politics for 46 years. He worked as a volunteer firefighter and worked his way up to chairman of the fire commission. He has served on various town committees, and he’s been the Democratic Town Committee chairman. He has also run for town council, and he has been on the Board of Education for 10 years.

He’s used his experience to get elected, but now he can use it to help his son, who decided to run for constable because both Peruginos agree, “It’s a good place to start.”

Perugino II said he doesn’t want to be just another number. A recent graduate of Holy Cross High School in Waterbury he decided to attend New England College in New Hampshire in the fall because of its small-town feel.

That’s exactly who he is — a small-town boy wants to stand out and has ambitions. He loves the Terryville Fair and is sad that this is the first year he’ll have to miss it because he’s moving into school that weekend. He and his family talk about politics all the time — from the dinner table to the car ride to school — and he’s been involved since he was a child.

When he was five-years-old, Perugino II went to Democratic Town Committee meetings with his father, and as he grew up, he realized that he liked the community aspect of politics and liked people, so he wanted to get more involved. He’s been successful outside of politics too – he’s a second-degree black belt who travels to martial arts tournaments around the country.

“My family’s always been the driving force behind me,” he said.

He’s always been inspired by his parents and other politicians — President Clinton is his hero, “minus the whole Monica Lewinsky thing,” he said. He worked on campaigns for his parents but also Mayor Vincent Festa Jr. and State Sen. Thomas Colapietro (D-31).

When Perugino II graduates from college, he wants to move back to Plymouth, and he hopes to someday be mayor. His ultimate goals are to own his own business and become President.

Still, he’s starting at the bottom of the ticket with a constable position. Though some may question how well he can do the job because he’ll be away at school, he said he can work from school, and he’s going to be home during holidays, the summer and some weekends.

“I’m always willing to work whether it’s going to be at school or at home,” he said.

While Perugino II is a newcomer to Plymouth politics, he’s going for a smaller position. His father, on the other hand, knows that running for tax collector will be a little more difficult because he’s facing a 17-year incumbent, Republican Linda Hood.

“It’s a challenge, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Perugino actually wanted to run for the position four years ago but decided to stay on the Board of Education because he wanted to see the projects he had been working on go through.

“I wanted to stay there and have my input,” he said, noting that the new high school was built during his tenure.

He now wants to run for tax collector to “make it a friendly place,” adding that he’s not saying that it’s not friendly there right now.

“That’s a tough office,” he said. “It’s tough economic times right now — It’s not easy but we still need revenue so we can keep the town running.”

Perugino believes the tax collector position would be a good fit for him because of his background with finances and his personality.

He was on the First Bristol Credit Union board for some time, and he worked as a treasurer for Colapietro’s campaigns after knowing him from their days working at the New Departure Manufacturing Company in Bristol.

“I’ve known him 20 to 25 years. He’s always been a good, conscientious guy,” Colapietro said about Perugino. He added that asked Perugino to be his second treasurer because of his experience with him. “He’s good with numbers, and he’s honest.”

Colapietro also knows Perugino’s son, who helped on his campaign. He only had good things to say about Perugino II running for office.

“His son is a very bright young man, we need bright young people,” he said.

Perugino and his wife Roxanne are proud of their son for everything he’s done but especially because he wants to help their town.

“We’re a small community here and the roots are deep in this town,” Perugino said. “You live here, you love it, you just want to give back.”

Freesia Singngam can be reached at fsingngam@centralctcommunications.com or (860) 584-0501, ext. 7259.