New London — About five months after announcing his candidacy and about five months until the first votes will be cast, mayoral candidate Michael Passero on Wednesday outlined a campaign platform largely focused on curtailing property tax increases and building confidence in city government.

Passero, a Democrat who currently serves on the City Council, told a group of about 75 gathered at Copperwood Grill that the first priority of a Passero administration would be to stop wasteful spending and slow the rate of property tax increases.

“New London will never achieve its potential unless our government learns to live within its means,” he said. “We must put an immediate stop to spending increases paid solely by increasing property taxes. There should not be an increase in our spending unless that new spending is offset by new revenues.”

Passero, who will face off against incumbent Democrat Daryl Justin Finizio in a September primary, referred to the election as an “opportunity to restore leadership to City Hall,” asserting that members of Finizio’s administration were appointed for personal or political reasons.

“Cronyism and political patronage are perhaps the greatest failings of the current administration and we are paying dearly for it,” he said. “I will make it my mission to restore confidence and competence in our government through professional management.”

As a city councilor, Passero has been critical of Finizio’s handling of the New London Police Department, placing much of the blame for both the loss of officers from the department and internal morale problems on the mayor’s shoulders.

In a 14-page position pamphlet distributed Wednesday, Passero wrote that the City Council's efforts to increase the size of the police force have been “consistently undermined” by his opponent.

As mayor, Passero said he would set a goal of hiring at least six new police officers each year until the department reaches the mandated level of 80 officer and would not meddle in the department’s business.

“It pains me to see what has happened to our police department under the current administration,” Passero said. “Our dedicated officers on the city’s streets are keeping us safe. They need and deserve a professional management structure free from political interference.”

Passero, 59, grew up on Ocean Avenue and worked as a lifeguard at Ocean Beach Park during the summers. He studied English literature at Connecticut College and earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the school.

He was first elected to the City Council in 2009, when the first-time candidate ended up as the top Democratic vote-getter.

For his second term, from 2011 to 2013, Passero was elected by the other councilors to serve as the body’s president. In 2013, he was elected to his third term on the City Council.

Passero’s platform speech Wednesday also touched upon his status of a native son of the city and his 31-year career as a city firefighter.

“I’ve spent over 30 years on the front lines of public safety in this city as a firefighter, I know the streets. I will be leaving that career to become mayor,” Passero said, his voice wavering as emotion briefly overtook him. “I could have made a career for myself anywhere, I could have made a life for my family anywhere, but I fell in love with New London.”

c.young@theday.com

Twitter: @ColinAYoung