Upon graduation from the University of San Francisco in 1973, I thought that N. Warren Hess, III, my real name, sounded more lawyerly and I also felt that it would be a tribute to my deceased father.  Thereafter, my entire legal career has been conducted under the name of N. Warren Hess, III, but my friends and most people from Naugatuck continue to call me “Pete”.  Some of my closest friends also call me Newman because they think that I don’t like the name.  The truth is that I am comfortable in my own skin under all variations of my name, but I am most comfortable running for Mayor as “Pete Hess”.

My education began several months prior to entering kindergarten at Hop Brook School when my mother, a teacher at Hop Brook, taught me the basics of reading. I have always been an avid reader and I attribute most of my academic success to my early development as a lover of all forms of literature. I read extensively on a daily basis for work and pleasure including three newspapers every morning while I am also reading multiple novels or other works of non-fiction in addition to my legal reading at work.

I completed my education in Naugatuck by attending Hillside Middle School and Naugatuck High School where I graduated on the honor roll with the class of 1966.

Upon graduation from Naugatuck High School, I attended Boston University where I graduated in 1970 with a degree in Business Administration, which has proven very useful throughout my career. While at Boston University, I read a book entitled "Attorney for the Damned" which contained excerpts from the closing arguments of Clarence Darrow. I decided on the spot to go to law school.

On a bitter cold day in April 1970 with snow falling while I was driving down Storrow Drive in Boston, I decided that I should move to San Francisco for law school. I drove to San Francisco in the summer of 1970 and enrolled in law school at the University of San Francisco. I graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1973 with honors. I passed the California Bar in late 1973 and the Connecticut Bar in April 1974.

I reside at 60 Mistywood Lane in Naugatuck with my wife of 25 years, Krista, and our beloved dog, Beaumont. My wife works with the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch in Wethersfield and Beaumont comes to work with me. Beaumont also helps me with my toughest cases. I have two sons, Brandon and Spencer, who currently reside in Connecticut. My favorite pastimes are hiking the Appalachian Trail or the streets of the five boroughs of New York City, golf, movies, reading and cooking with my wife. My wife is a world-class chef but I am limited to certain specialty dishes. I have been a fan of the New York Mets since their inception in 1962 in order to avoid the fatigue of the Yankee/Red Sox never ending feud. As a former pitcher, I also detest the designated hitter rule that removes managerial strategy from the game. I love music and traveling to music and food related destinations, the New York Jets, the New York Rangers and all things UConn. My favorite alternate locations are New Orleans, San Francisco, Charleston, Santa Fe, Boston, Nashville, and Austin. My best days are spent at home in Naugatuck with my family.

While studying for the Connecticut Bar exam in 1974, I began my legal career by working for Attorney Michael J. Daly, III in Waterbury. There is no question in my mind that Mike Daly is the smartest lawyer I have ever met and he mentored me throughout my career until his death. Mike showed me how to litigate any type of case. He taught me the strategic aspects of a legal battle and how to think like a real lawyer. In my early years as a lawyer, I also benefited from my association with Attorney Henry S. Marlor who taught me the ins and outs of all forms of real estate transactions. I received excellent guidance from these lawyers, which provided the foundation for the eventual formation of my own law office.

In 1978, I opened the law offices of N. Warren Hess, III as a sole practitioner. During the first portion of my career, I focused on civil litigation, municipal law and real estate transactions. I handled litigation for the Borough of Naugatuck and I was counsel to Regional School District No. 16 for all matters. I am very proud of the fact that I have maintained my representation of Region 16 and the Borough for long periods of time through many administrations.

In the 1980's, my real estate practice began to change and I became an advocate for real estate developers for residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed use projects. I worked for developers in towns that I did not represent and I defended other municipalities from claims by developers in the towns I did represent. The focus of my practice was evolving more and more toward complex real estate transactions and litigation relating to land use matters, environmental issues and other real estate matters. 

Throughout the 1990's and after the turn of the century, my office has become a real estate "boutique" with special expertise in all aspects of municipal real estate problems. We focus on commercial and residential real estate transactions and related disputes and litigation. We represent towns, developers and banks as well as purchasers, sellers, lessors, lessees or any other party to a real estate deal. My experience as a real estate lawyer, as well as the experience that I obtained from working with towns, land use commissions and others, provides me with the necessary experience to help guide the Borough and the NEDC in the future development of downtown Naugatuck as well as other undeveloped or underdeveloped areas of Naugatuck.

The Early Years/Terrace Avenue

Upon the commencement of my own law office in 1978, I purchased a mixed use Victorian office building at 42 Terrace Avenue overlooking downtown Naugatuck. The home was built in 1886 by the Tuttle family and was the first home in Naugatuck to have electricity. I began my first historical renovation project upon acquisition of the home and the first 23 years of my legal career were based at the Terrace Avenue location. 

The Hopson Building

Several months after the millennium, an opportunity arose from me to acquire the Hopson Building in downtown Naugatuck. The Hopson Building was built in 1896 and I always admired the building while growing up in Naugatuck. My dentist and barber were on the second floor and I have fond memories of the grand staircase and the high ceilings. On June 1, 2001 I acquired the building and began my second historical renovation project. I encourage anyone who has not had the opportunity to visit the building to stop by during regular business hours to see the building.



I moved my law office from 42 Terrace Avenue to the Hopson Building later in the year in 2001. It was my intention not only to renovate the building but also to attempt to bring more people into downtown Naugatuck. The Hopson Building project was successful at the outset and the entire building was filled in several years. The rest of Church Street did not fare as well and there were many empty storefronts or underutilized commercial buildings. 

The Old Convent

Later in the year 2001, I made the decision to further invest in downtown Naugatuck by purchasing a one-half interest in a mixed-use commercial/residential building at 223 Meadow Street. 223 Meadow Street is the former convent for St. Francis Church, which was previously renovated in the 1980's. The acquisition of the Hopson Building and 223 Meadow Street demonstrate my commitment and belief in the future of downtown Naugatuck. 

Skin in the Game

Most of my entire net worth has been invested in downtown Naugatuck. I love Naugatuck and I believe that Naugatuck can thrive again in the coming years. My investment in Naugatuck gives me significant "skin in the game" together with the motivation and focus to work with the Borough Board and NEDC to complete the development of downtown Naugatuck as well as other areas of Naugatuck.