FITCHBURG — Mayor Stephen DiNatale has served four terms in his current capacity and his re-election bid shows he isn’t ready to quit anytime soon.
In a recent interview, DiNatale spoke about keeping his focus on the bigger picture and keeping a laser-focus on economic development. With traffic going two-ways on Main Street for the first time since the early 1960s, he wants to continue seizing the opportunity to reinvigorate downtown.
“We have challenges in Fitchburg that other communities don’t have, but these issues aren’t exclusive to Fitchburg.” he added in reference to housing issues.
Familiar with issues unique to the city DiNatale stated that he is aware of the forward most concerns in everyone’s minds.
“Everyone thinks about the conditions of the roads,” DiNatale said. “Maybe, I want to stress maybe, this is something that we put to the voters.”
DiNatale stressed how much time he has spent “fighting the state for more money” to help solve problems such as these.
“Rising tides raises all boats,” he said.
For DiNatale, the mayor’s office is also about public service.
“Our goal is providing the best service we can for the people of Fitchburg,” DiNatale said. With Fitchburg being a “small urban center with formidable challenges.”
Looking back on his career in Fitchburg, DiNatale referenced several projects that his administration has launched and completed. Dinatale mentioned the renovation of the library, building and restoring City Hall and building a new Crocker school as all clear signs that “Fitchburg is an alive and vibrant community.”
Throughout the city, there has been whispers that DiNatale’s fifth term would be his last. But for now, that’s just rumor.
“I have not decided on that yet, I am just focusing on running again.”