ANSONIA – Mayor Frank Tyszka, after defeating six-term incumbent David Cassetti in an upset that also unseated the entire Board of Aldermen, said sweeping changes are coming to city hall.
Tyszka was sworn in as the city’s new mayor in a ceremony Monday (Dec. 1). He said in his inaugural speech that the people of Ansonia voted for a new direction.
“We are all outraged and ready for a change in leadership, and a new direction. And the new direction begins tonight,” Tyszka said to a crowd of more than 200 people in the auditorium of Ansonia High School.
Tyszka, a Democrat, ran on a platform of increased transparency in city hall and more financial oversight. He won with about 58 percent of the vote.
In his speech, Tyszka repeated many of his campaign promises.
He said in his first 100 days, his administration will hire a full-time finance director, order a forensic audit, and send out a request for proposals for a new bond counsel. He said his government will also cooperate with state oversight of its finances, which began earlier this year.
Forensic audits are usually used when a crime is suspected to have taken place. It goes deeper than a normal audit, and can be expensive.
Tyszka enters government with a new, fully Democratic Board of Aldermen. The Democratic Party won every seat on the 14-member board – a stark turnaround from just two years ago, when the same party failed to win a single seat.
Tyszka said in his speech that people voted for an end to the Cassetti administration’s politics. He directed many of his remarks toward the former administration, saying it left the city in a dismal financial state.
“The days of reckless spending and catering mainly to the interests of partisan and political insiders is over,” Tyszka said.
He said there will be reform to the city’s bidding processes and that tax breaks will not be handed as readily to developers as in the past. He said the city is facing large budget deficits, and said difficult decisions will need to be made in order to right the course.
“We voted for accountability and change, a mandate our administration will honor every day. Massive change takes time, but with consistency, vision, and courage, Ansonia will be restored,” Tyszka said.
He announced in his speech that the city will turn to the Androski Law Firm, based on Main Street, as its new corporation counsel. Tyszka also said all city hall employees will be required to receive ethics training.
He said one change will be apparent to residents soon – the Aldermen will begin meeting in-person this month, putting an end to the Zoom meetings the board has held since 2020.
Tyszka also repeated his campaign promise to work with the board of education to expand after-school and summer opportunities for children.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz administered the oath of office to Tyszka. She praised the Ansonia Democrats on their newfound success
“You see this diverse and talented team, a team that looks like Ansonia, a team that looks like Connecticut, all ages and all backgrounds represented,” Bysiewicz said.
Keynote speaker, Naugatuck Mayor Pete Hess, said in his address that Ansonia holds potential for an economic boom, similar to what’s happened in Shelton.
State Rep. Kara Rochelle and state Sen. Jorge Cabrera also provided remarks. Other elected officials in attendance included former Ansonia mayors Thomas Clifford and Nancy Valentine, Derby Mayor Joseph DiMartino, and Derby Town Clerk Marc Garofalo.
Gary Hale, a former state senator, served as master of ceremonies, while Rev. Mitchell Wanat of St. Joseph’s Church provided the invocation and Pastor Bruce Goldson of Macedonia Church closed the ceremony.
Tyszka repeated his promise to put an end to name-calling in his inaugural speech, saying that his administration will respect everyone and behave with professionalism and civility.
Tyszka, 71, lives on the hilltop with his wife, Paula. During the inauguration, Tyszka paid tribute to his older brother, Edward Michael Tyszka, who died while serving in Vietnam in 1969.
The list of all elected officials and city officers sworn in Dec. 1 is included below. Those absent from the ceremony are marked with an asterisk (*).
List Of Officials Sworn In
City Treasurer
Joseph Confinante
City/Town Clerk
Elizabeth S. Lynch
Board of Aldermen
Jacquelyn Daniels (First Ward)
Tyler Kennedy (First Ward)
Jaylen Daniels (Second Ward)
Frank Pergola (Second Ward)
Adam Prestin (Third Ward)
Sean Rallis (Third Ward)
Rohan Brown (Fourth Ward)
Noah Darrow (Fourth Ward)
Patricia DaSilva (Fifth Ward)
Christopher Rogers (Fifth Ward)
Daniel Stahl (Sixth Ward)
Karl D. Williams (Sixth Ward)
Lisa Glazer (Seventh Ward)
Anne Lynch (Seventh Ward)
Board of Education
Steven Adamowski
David Knapp
Elizabeth LaBerge (*)
City Sheriffs
Frank Appleby
Christopher Grizzle
Timothy Holman (*)
Joseph Jeanette
Sean P. Rowley
