ANSONIA – Democratic mayor candidate Frank Tyszka and Democratic candidates for Aldermen raised about $4,400 more than the city’s Republican Party between July and September, public records show.

According to campaign finance disclosures filed with the town clerk’s office Oct. 10, “Frank For Ansonia” raised $10,574 between July 1 and Sept. 30. The Ansonia Democratic Town Committee raised $5,402.10 during the same period.

Together, the Democratic organizations raised $15,976.10 between July 1 and Sept. 30.

“Frank For Ansonia” had $10,765.25 on hand as of Sept. 30, while the town committee had $107.79 on hand.

The Ansonia Republican Town Committee, which is managing the campaigns of both incumbent mayor David Cassetti and all other Republican candidates for office, raised $11,600 during the same period. 

The Republican Town Committee had $5,531.48 on hand as of Sept. 30.

Petitioning candidate Thomas Egan is funding his own campaign and spent $2,990.26 during the reporting period, according to public records.

The Valley Indy reached out to Tony Mammone, the leader of the Republican Party, to ask for his comments and reaction Oct. 21. He said he would not respond to The Valley Indy because the publication banned him from its main Facebook page in 2023.

Donor Data

The largest donors to “Frank For Ansonia” during the reporting period include two organizations – Power of Women, based in Middletown, and IUOE Local 478, a chapter of the International Union of Operating Engineers. The two organizations donated $1,500 each. Carpenters Local Union 326 also donated $500.

The largest individual donors included stockbroker Pat Perugino, of West Haven, who donated $1,000, G. Robert Krupa, of Fairfield, who donated $500, and Democratic Town and City Clerk Beth Lynch, who gave $300.

“Frank For Ansonia” received 66 individual donations during the reporting period, with an average contribution of $107.18.

The Ansonia Democratic Town Committee received 44 individual donations during the same period, with an average contribution of $122.78. 

Top donors to the town committee included Democratic Alderman candidate Daniel Stahl, who gave $771, Gary King, who gave $479.70, and David Williams, who gave $500.

“The numbers clearly show that Frank Tyszka’s and Row A’s campaign is a grassroots campaign mostly funded by small donations by the people of Ansonia and organizations which represent the hardworking people of Ansonia,” said Dave Hannon, the chair of the Democratic Town Committee, in an email.

The Republican Town Committee’s top donors during the reporting period included the city’s consulting engineer, Ron Nault, who gave $1,250, as well as Joanne Nault, who also gave $1,250. Other top donors included Andrew Skirpan and Carol Stanley of Interstate Waste Services LLC, which provides waste collection services for the city, at $1,000 each.

Lisa Falcone, of West Haven, also gave $1,000 to the committee, as did Edward Teodosio.

The Ansonia Republican Town Committee received 31 individual donations during the reporting period, with an average contribution of $374.19.

Hannon said the Republicans are relying on contractors who provide services to the city to prop up their campaigns.

“Cassetti is fueled by and favors privileged city hall insiders. It is a major conflict of interest that he is taking campaign donations from these city contractors and very telling that he does not have the support from everyday Ansonia residents,” Hannon wrote.

The Valley Indy asked Mammone to respond to Hannon’s accusation but he declined.

Egan did not report any donors, since he is funding his own campaign.

Spending

Lawn signs were the biggest expense for each of the campaigns during the reporting period, public records show.

“Frank For Ansonia”’s biggest expenses during the reporting period were $5,685.85 to Blue Edge Strategies for walk cards and lawn signs, as well as $1,000 paid to Mary Androski for two months’ rent for campaign headquarters. Other expenses included $623.21 paid to the Democratic Town Committee for a campaign mailer, and $506 paid to Michael Farina, the owner of Blue Edge Strategies.

The Democratic Town Committee’s expenses during the reporting period included $1,000 paid to Mary Androski for campaign headquarters’ rent, $1,246.42 to Valley Publishing Co. Inc. for walk cards, $303.70 paid to Dave Hannon as reimbursement, and $150 to the Subalpi Club for hall rental.

Hannon said the remainder of Tyszka’s war chest will be spent on spreading the party’s message ahead of the election.

“It will be spent on getting information out to voters about Frank and Row A’s message of putting the people of Ansonia first through responsible fiscal management, strong economic development, building a city that prioritizes families, and restoring integrity to city hall,” Hannon said.

The Republican Town Committee, during the same reporting period, paid $6,811.87 to Arrow Printers for various expenses including lawn signs, door hangers, and palm cards. It also paid $200 to Paradise Restaurant for room rental and refreshments.

The Republican Town Committee also reported $1,543.62 in expenses that hadn’t been paid yet. Those expenses include $1,000 owed to Lester Street Realty LLC for a campaign headquarters lease and $467.94 owed to Arrow Printers for lawn sign stakes.

Egan reported paying $1,967.39 to Signs On The Cheap for lawn signs during the reporting period. Other expenses included $500 to Retro Bar And Char for expenses relating to a campaign event and $470.40 to Meta, the company which owns Facebook, for digital ads.

The next campaign finance disclosure deadline is Oct. 28, according to the state elections calendar. Those documents cover Oct. 1 through Oct. 26.

Election Day is Nov. 4.