The next four years will prove critical for New London. During that time, the National Coast Guard Museum should move from concept to construction. With economic growth gaining traction, the city has the opportunity to finally see development in the Fort Trumbull area, reinvigorate downtown revitalization efforts, and capitalize on its deep-water port.

At the same time, the city must take best advantage of property tax reform policies, approved by the state legislature, to control local taxes while judiciously rebuilding city services, particularly in the police and public works departments, which have suffered from austerity measures.

City schools are undertaking major reform, converting to a regional “magnet” system, and support from City Hall will be vital.

New London needs a mayor who can pull the community together, seek input from the business community in designing economic strategy, and foster the relationships at all levels of government that will be essential to helping the city realize its potential.

In the Sept. 16 primary that will choose the Democratic candidate for mayor, City Councilor Michael Passero is the best choice to fill that role. The selection of the Democratic Town Committee, Mr. Passero seeks to unseat first-term Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio.

Why not Finizio?

Four years ago, this newspaper endorsed then-candidate Finizio because he had a vision for moving the city forward and an understanding of the power the new office of mayor could present in pursuing an agenda.

Mayor Finizio confronted directly the city’s fiscal crisis. Some early decisions he made added costs, but the city’s budget problems, and the liquidation of the fund balance, were largely caused by bad budgeting and the avoidance of tax increases in the closing years of the council-manager system.

The resulting service cuts and tax increases pushed by Mayor Finizio did not help his popularity, but he completes his term with the city in better fiscal health and its fund balance on the rebound.

He also deserves credit for pulling all sides together on agreeing on a path and location for the National Coast Guard Museum, on the waterfront and adjacent to the downtown.

Yet the negatives outweigh the positives. His refusal to hire a qualified chief administrative officer as called for by the charter — “appointed on the basis of substantial executive and administrative experience, qualifications and knowledge” — proved a major mistake.

Instead, Mayor Finizio opted to base his choices on politics, not ability, in twice filling the CAO position during his term. He took the same tack in filling other key posts, opting for fidelity over experience.

The result is an administration beset with management problems, particularly manifest in police and public works. Due to increased claims against the city, liability insurance costs spiked.

Mayor Finizio too often embraced divisiveness, picking sides in labor disputes and attacking critics. This election he seeks victory by pitting an “old guard” business community and affluent property landowners hit hard by tax increases against the city’s working class and minority communities, contending he stands in the corner of the latter.

Why Passero?

Mr. Passero could not be more different in his approach. A career city firefighter and practicing labor attorney, he appears sincere in saying he seeks the job only to help the city he has long called home. He sees most city residents embracing the same priorities of improved schools, public safety, economic opportunity and affordability, regardless of economic standing or ethnicity.

Mr. Passero says he will hire a qualified chief administrative officer and base all key appointments on qualifications. This, he says, will free him up to play a leadership role, including working with the city’s development agencies to recruit and retain small businesses, and engage large employers to try to direct more of the employees drawn into the city to local businesses.

Given the candidate’s career-long firefighter union membership, and his other job representing unions in labor negotiations, it is fair to question if a Passero administration would take the tough negotiating stances necessary to control labor costs. Mr. Passero insists he will use his experience as an advocate for the city. Arguably, his credibility with labor could make him the man to be listened to when compromise is called for to control costs.

As mayor, Mr. Passero says he will take a more cooperative approach with the council, making sure it has the information it needs to make decisions, something he claims is often not the case under Mayor Finizio.

After four tumultuous years, New London could benefit from leadership that seeks to unite, focus on policy, and is willing to leave day-to-day management to the professionals.

In the Sept. 16 Democratic primary, The Day endorses Michael Passero.