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Dr. David Chess Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Stratford

A Vision for Economic Transformation, Innovation,
and Community Renewal

David Chess 6/6/25 David Chess 6/6/25

I Know How to Grow Revenue the Right Way

I’m running for Mayor because Stratford keeps coming up short. Year after year, we don’t have enough money to pay our bills. So, taxes go up—or services go down. I’ve spent months reviewing Stratford’s budgets from the past decade, and what I found is deeply concerning. Stratford already has one of the highest tax rates in the region at 40.2 mills—just below Bridgeport. Compared to Milford (29.14), Fairfield (27.9), and Shelton (19.18), it’s clear that our residents are paying too much and receiving too little in return.

Read the full article in the CTExaminer.

David Chess 4/25/25 David Chess 4/25/25

Chess Keeps Pace with Hoydick in Early Fundraising for Stratford Mayor Race

Democratic challenger Dr. David Chess is hanging tough against incumbent Republican Laura Hoydick in first-quarter fundraising for this November’s mayoral race. Chess is running on the idea that his pronounced success as an entrepreneur in medicine and business will allow him as mayor to draw upon different connections to improve Stratford. He said Stratford, as a community, has undersold itself and its resources dramatically and that he can exploit those assets to improve government, lower taxes and better-fund education.

Read the full article in the CTExaminer.

David Chess 4/18/25 David Chess 4/18/25

Affordable Housing and the Failure of Leadership in Stratford

Nearly everyone agrees that Stratford needs more affordable housing. The issue isn’t the need for this housing, it is how it is done. Stratford is a residential community with areas which are historic and vintage, other areas beach oriented and still others are bucolic. We need a vision that creates affordable housing that enhances our neighborhoods while creating more affordable places to live.

Stratford has failed to take the necessary steps to protect our neighborhoods from unchecked, high-density developments. This costly oversight has left us vulnerable to developers who can circumvent local zoning laws, placing oversized apartment buildings in areas designated for single-family homes.

Consider the proposed development at 150 Oronoque Lane: a 60-unit, six-story apartment building on just 0.8 acres of land, located right in the middle of a single-family neighborhood. The developer can push this through because Stratford falls short of the state’s affordable housing threshold under Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) 8-30g. According to this law, towns with less than 10% affordable housing cannot block developments that include affordable units. Stratford is currently at only 6.3%, leaving us vulnerable to projects like this – unless we take action.

The Failure of Leadership

This situation was preventable. Other towns have used available moratoriums to pause CGS 8-30g development for four years, allowing them time to create responsible, community-friendly housing plans. Mayor Hoydick and her administration failed to take advantage of these waivers. In fact, one can’t find a document describing a town wide affordable housing plan.

Instead, they are now reacting to developments after the fact – when it’s too late. Leadership requires proactive solutions, not last-minute outrage. Stratford needs a mayor who will take action before developers dictate the future of our town.

Other Towns have gotten Moratoriums

Brookfield, Suffield, and South Windsor have current moratoriums. Berlin, Darien, Farmington, Milford, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Trumbull, Wilton, and Westport had moratoriums that have expired. Fairfield was just awarded a four year moratorium.

Success Village and Stonybrook Gardens

There are additional paths to meeting the affordable housing requirements. This includes engaging with Success Village and Stonybrook Gardens cooperatives, which together represent almost 600 affordable units which because they are not deed restricted are not considered affordable housing.

A Smarter Approach to Affordable Housing

I believe in affordable housing that fits within our community – not large high-density projects that disrupt neighborhoods. As mayor, I will:

Secure a moratorium to give Stratford time to plan, instead of letting developers tell us where and how we grow.

Develop a strategic plan for affordable housing that increases the number of needed units while safeguarding our neighborhoods.

Ensure transparency and community involvement so that residents have a voice in Stratford’s future.

We don’t have to choose between affordable housing and preserving the character of our town. With the right vision and leadership, we can do both.

David Chess 4/3/25 David Chess 4/3/25

Melissa in the Morning: Dr. David Chess

The first candidate to publicly announce running for mayor in Stratford joined us in studio. Dr. David Chess shared his background of 40 years working in the healthcare industry and building businesses. He explained why he is now turning to a political path and his plans for Stratford if elected.

Listen to the full broadcast at WICC The Voice of Connecticut.

David Chess 3/31/25 David Chess 3/31/25

Stratford doctor seeks Democratic nomination for mayoral bid: 'I'm going to transform the town'

Longtime local doctor David Chess is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to be the next mayor, setting up a potential matchup this fall against incumbent Republican Laura Hoydick. Chess is the first candidate to formally announce a bid in the upcoming municipal elections and hopes his experience running several medical practices will persuade voters to give him the keys to Town Hall.

Read the full article in the CTPost.

David Chess 3/9/25 David Chess 3/9/25

Chess Pitches Growth in Democratic Run for Stratford Mayor

“I’m planning parties where I’m meeting with people in the community, each district. I plan on having a lot of parties where we get food trucks, where we have entertainment and get people out talking about what’s important to them,” Chess told CT Examiner. “And I’m sharing my vision.”

Read the full article in the CTExaminer.

David Chess 2/5/25 David Chess 2/5/25

Dr. David Chess Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Stratford

Dr. David Chess, a physician, entrepreneur, and longtime Stratford resident, has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor in the 2025 election. With a career spanning four decades in healthcare, business, and community leadership, Dr. Chess is committed to unlocking Stratford’s potential and broadening its economic base.

A Vision for Economic Transformation, Innovation, and Community Renewal

STRATFORD, CT, February 5, 2025—Dr. David Chess, a physician, entrepreneur, and longtime Stratford resident, has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor in the 2025 election. With a career spanning four decades in healthcare, business, and community leadership, Dr. Chess is committed to unlocking Stratford’s potential and broadening its economic base.

“For too long, Stratford has been stuck in a cycle of high taxes, declining services, and underperforming schools,” said Dr. Chess. “It’s time to rethink how we govern and bring bold, innovative solutions to our town. My goal is to shape Stratford’s future into a thriving, economically vibrant destination—where families, businesses, and entrepreneurs can flourish.”

Dr. Chess’s platform centers on economic transformation, financial resilience, and government efficiency. He is committed to:

Expanding Stratford’s economic base by attracting new businesses and industries to reduce the town’s dependence on residential property taxes.
Strengthening financial resilience through efficient budgeting, targeted infrastructure investments, and strategic partnerships.
Driving change by encouraging innovation, ensuring Stratford maximizes technology and efficiency in municipal operations.
Investing in Stratford’s future by improving schools, expanding community services, and smart development initiatives to make it a destination for living, working, and playing.

A longtime advocate for Stratford, Dr. Chess has deep roots in the community. Since 1985, he has practiced medicine in town, pioneering groundbreaking healthcare initiatives such as Tapestry Health, a national leader in telemedicine that serves more than 100,000 patients. His commitment to civic engagement includes founding the non-profit Stratford Forward, launching the Stratford Crier, and spearheading the Stratford Volunteer Corps to connect residents with local schools.

“My experience as a doctor and entrepreneur has taught me that real leadership is about listening, problem-solving, and taking decisive action,” said Dr. Chess. “Stratford needs leadership to expand opportunities, restore trust, and drive meaningful change. That’s what I intend to do.”

The campaign will kick off with a launch event on March 7 at Two Roads Brewery, where residents are invited to meet Dr. Chess, discuss Stratford’s future, and celebrate the start of a movement for a stronger Stratford.

For more information on the Chess for Stratford campaign, visit www.ChessForStratford.Com or contact contact@chessforstratford.com.

Media Contact:
Karen Tracy
contact@chessforstratford.com

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