Anita Dugatto, a dentist in Derby, announced her intention to run for mayor Thursday.
Dugatto, a member of the city’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation, told her fellow Democrats at a Democratic Town Committee meeting Thursday night.
She is the first mayoral candidate to announce her campaign.
“It’s always been in the back of my mind, but now I am ready,” Dugatto said Friday.
Dugatto, often called “Dr. Anita,” said she will spend the next days building support and talking to residents about the issues concerning them in Derby.
She then plans to talk specifics about how she will govern if elected mayor.
“We all know what the issues are — the ‘how’ is the question,” Dugatto said.
Dugatto was born in Derby and has been a dentist here for 13 years.
She is a constant presence at Derby municipal meetings, sometimes sparring with Derby Republicans on the issues.
She owns Sunflower Dental at 69 Elizabeth St.
The Democrats and Republicans in Derby hold caucuses, usually in July, to formally nominate candidates.
Election Day is Nov. 5, 2013.
Mayor Anthony Staffieri, a Republican, is serving his fourth term as Derby mayor.
Will he try for a fifth?
“Oh yes, I will be running,” Staffieri said Friday.
He said he’d run the same campaign regardless of who runs against him.
“I’ll do the best that I can do,” he said. “The city’s always been first in my heart, and that’s the reason that I got involved, because the city wasn’t moving forward.”
Asked about Dugatto, he said: “If that’s the person that’s running I wish them well. I hope they have the city’s interests at heart.”
While the mayor’s position is officially a part-time job, in reality it takes 60 plus hours a week, Staffieri said.
“The mayor’s position, you can’t do it at the coffee shop,” he said. “There’s lots to do and there’s lots to make sure things happen correctly.”
Linda Fusco, chair of the Democratic Town Committee, said Dugatto has a solid mix of business, political and community experience.
“First and foremost is her strong sense of business acumen,” Fusco said in an e-mail. “As you know, she has, for many years, run and grown a successful business in the downtown area. She understands the needs of the Derby business community and has a great feel for the area.”
Dugatto has also been involved with the city’s cultural commission and the Elks club on Elizabeth Street.
“Lastly, Anita is so approachable,” Fusco said. “She talks and listens to everyone and has a good feel for the pulse of this city. I believe Anita will always make herself available to her constituents. I know too, she values the importance of a good, open and transparent government. We’ve had that conversation many times.”
Reporter Ethan Fry contributed to this report.
Hey Marc, I thought the position is part-time? That’s what I’ve always been told, but I’ve never read the charter on it, to be honest.
Dr. Harry Cicia, who was my family dentist, was elected as Derby Republican Mayor back in 1966, and ended the Democratic party’s 46-year hold on the office. Dr. Cicia a close friend, offered me any job in the city I wanted — but I had to decline the offer, due to time consuming family obligations at the time. Dr. Cicia was a great Mayor of Derby.
Marc: I am surprised that you asked if the Mayor’s job is officially a part-time job, as you were a full time college student at the Universty of New Haven in your first term in office, and didn’t report to work at Derby City Hall until around 4:00 p.m. daily. You apparently tested the part-time status of the Mayor’s office very well, as a church organist for funerals, and conducting polka radio hour radio programs at Radio Station WNHU – University of New Haven — during city hall hours, along with daily photo ops. The Mayor’s job is unofficially a part-time-time job, but Mayor Tony Staffieri told me he works up to 80-hours per week. Perhaps there are “different strokes for different folks?”
Glad to see Marc Garofalo still gets to you Stan.
Ron Sill: I am sure you are glad and it made your day, Ron. Have a good year with your lovely wife and family.
Ron: Why aren’t you using this blog to support fellow Democrat Anita Dugatto for Mayor, “rather than reflecting on the thoughts of a senior citizen, who replied to the queationable comments of a blast from the past?” Neither did you. or Mr. Garofalo display any support for “Anita Dugatto Seeking Democatic Nomination for Mayor.”
Regardless of what the Charter says, the position pays part time wages when compared to the salaries of other mayors and first selectmen in the area. That being said, I don’t understand the defeated former mayor’s complaint since Mayor Staffieri works many more than what would customarilly considered “full time” hours. Sounds like 8 years worth of sour grapes to me…
Joe Pinto: I agree. Also, former Mayor Garofalo earned more money than Mayor Staffieri, as his “Team Garofalo Aldermen” gave him frequent raises. He would be earning in excess of $60.000. per annum — if he had won his losing election to Mayor Tony. Perhaps “the sour grapes” are a result of the fact that Marc never got the benefit of his last raise — when he lost the mayoral election. But in life — we all win some and — lose some. Don’t take life so seriously Marc. See you in church.
It is ironic that Linda Fusco, Chairwoman of the Derby Democratic Town Commitee, is the only Democrat to offer support for Anita Dugatto for Mayor — after Marc Garofalo took over this blog to air his political assault against Mayor Tony Staffieri. Instead of supporting Anita Dugatto for Mayor — Garofalo sounds like he is running for Mayor.
Marc: Why do you keep skirting the topic of this blog and keep carrying on with your designated subject of contention — that no one really cares about? You must have too much time on your hands.
Marc Garofalo: Your no class comments to Ron only verifies the true character of the person you are. It will possibly take decades for the City of Derby to recover from the lack of performance damage you caused to our city. You were described by a leader of the Democratic Party on your city ticket — as being incapable of completing any job you started. You campaigned for office using a phony job resume — as you never posted a legitimate full-time employer, You are a lifetime part-time church organist who failed badly in your four-term masquerade as Mayor of Derby. The only thing you did consistently in office, was to stage daily photo-ops of yourself with the news media, to try to impress people that you were the Mayor. You misspelled my name in this blog, like you used to intentionally mispronounce my name on your Radio Polka Program at Radio Station WUNH, for your personal kicks to satisfy your dislike for me — for exposing you for your continual errors of good judgement in office. Eventually, the voters in Derby, wised up — and elected Mayor Tony Staffieri — and you are still displaying your anger over it — in this blog. Forgive and forget — Marc Garofalo — as life is too short for a vendetta.
Ron, I took care of that thing with the thing…
…those who talk the most, win the least…let it go, already…
There are two sites linked to the Valley Independent Sentinel. There is this site that you all are commenting on, and there is a Facebook site. I can assure you Dr. Anita has been congratulated on the Facebook site and in person. The Facebook comments don’t show up on the Valley Independent site and vice-versa. Eugene, is there a way that the comments could go to both sites without submitting the comments twice?
With regards to Dr. Anita’s announcement…the City of Derby could not have a better candidate. I have known Dr. Anita since we worked together at WaWa many years ago. She is intelligent, honest, sincere, and there is nobody who cares more about Derby. Furthermore, she can be counted on for her charitable contributions, runs a thriving downtown Derby business, is not afraid to ask tough questions, and sticks to her core values. Good luck again, Dr. Anita!!! I say again, because I already liked her announcement on Facebook and wished her well in person.
Re: comments
I don’t think FB makes it possible for a system that allows comments to show up both here and on the Valley Indy FB page at the same time.
There’s a newer commenting system that allows for simpler way to allow FB commenting in general here, but the commenting system/technical aspects of this site are out of my pay grade, abilities, skills, etc.
I have been criticized in this “Anita Dugatto Seeking Democratic Nomination” blog — being falsely accused by Mr. Garofalo of bullying the director of the Derby Seniors Center over a trip to Foxwoods that she refused to handle — due to her extended fued, at that time with Scott Butera, the Chairman of the Board at Foxwoods.
I have no beef with the Derby Senior Center director, and never had any dealings with her, as her assistant told me that the Derby Seniors Center address and phone number should not be used in conjuction with the trip. The Senior Center also posted a notice in the Valley Times newspaper that their facility and phone number was not to be used in conjunction with the trip. I ran the trip myself, with the assistance of Mayor Tony staffieri, who suggested the use of the Derby Municipal Parking Lot for an embarkation point — as the Derby Seniors Center were not making bus pick-up or drop-off at their facility possible.
Instead of being “careless with the truth,” Mr. Garofalo should have contacted any one of the 45 seniors who made this trip to Foxwoods, as they all told me that they all enjoyed their trip to Foxwoods, being provided with two complimentary meals — and all seniors told me — they won money! And, “the trip was free!”
As an alleged Democrat, why isn’t Mr. Garofalo using this blog to support Anita Dugatto for Mayor — “instead of submitting a lot of political gobblygook?”
Since “Derby’s leading political dissident” cited me for “not acting like an emotionally stable person, and not doing things a stable person should” — I suggest that Marc Garofalo seek more paid church hours from the pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, as he has too much time on his hands — writing nasty comments in the Valley Independent Sentinel. As a church employee — Garofalo must display a “Mr. Nice Guy image” on parish premises. However, “he projects a Dr.Jekyll and Hyde personality” — outside of church grounds, as he apparently has too much time on his hands — “throwing un-Chistian-like barbs” at Mayor Tony Staffieri, myself — and other people he dislikes.
“Peace be with you” — Mr. Garofalo.