ANSONIA – David Hannon, the chairman of the Ansonia Democratic Party, resigned Thursday (Dec. 11), four days after being charged by city police with driving under the influence.
“Effective immediately, I am resigning as chair of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee. Serving in this role has been an honor, and I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside all of you,“ Hannon said in a written statement.
Hannon said he is searching for an attorney and does not intend to comment further on the case. He is due at Superior Court Dec. 19 in Derby.
Hannon was arrested after allegedly rear-ending another car Sunday, Dec. 7 at about 4:50 p.m.
Police said Hannon had about twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.
Hannon has been the chairman of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee since 2023.
It is not a position elected by members of the general public.
In his capacity as chairman, Hannon played a key role in organizing the 2025 Democratic campaign, which saw Democrats capture the mayor’s office and the entire Ansonia Board of Aldermen on Nov. 4.
Under his watch, the Democratic Party’s Facebook page was former Mayor David Cassetti’s most vocal and active critic.
In a Facebook post Dec. 9, the Ansonia GOP said Hannon’s arrest reflects poorly on Democratic Mayor Frank Tyszka’s administration. Tyszka took office Dec. 1.
“What Dave Hannon did is not only irresponsible, but endangered Ansonia residents. If this is what Frank meant by honesty and integrity, we should be scared to see what is next,” the post said.
Javier Varas, the vice chairman of the party, will serve out the remainder of Hannon’s term as chairman.
The Valley Indy initially reported on the arrest Dec. 8, after a routine check of the Ansonia police blotter.
The Valley Indy reached out to Tyszka on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 seeking comment. Nancy Spagnolo, Tyszka’s chief of staff, spent the following statement on his behalf:
“I was disappointed to hear about this incident. Driving under the influence is wrong, and no one is above the law. I commend the Ansonia Police Department for their professionalism in handling this matter,” the statement says.
Tyszka spoke to Hannon after the arrest, according to the statement.
“I have spoken to Mr. Hannon, and he recognizes the seriousness of his error and has taken full responsibility for his actions. He will deal with the legal implications he faces, and I understand he has resigned as Chair of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee,” the statement says. “I am certain he will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that this does not happen again.”
The full statement from Hannon is as follows:
Dear Members of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee,
Effective immediately, I am resigning as Chair of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee. Serving in this role has been an honor, and I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside all of you.
This past election demonstrated what is possible when we stay focused on organizing around shared goals. I have always said that the sole purpose of the DTC is to elect Democrats who reflect the values and priorities of our community. Together, we proved that approach works. The commitment, discipline, and collective effort that drove this win are something I will always be proud to have been part of.
Thank you for your partnership and for the work each of you put into achieving a historic victory for Ansonia. I have full confidence in the leadership that will move the DTC and the city forward.
Editor’s note: This story was edited after publication to include a statement from the office of Mayor Frank Tyszka.