DERBY – This story was updated Wednesday morning.
The Democrats remained in control of the mayor’s office and the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.
Mayor Joseph DiMartino was elected to a second term, besting his Republican challenger, Scott Derby, by a 1,692 to 947 vote.
Voters also approved a $6.5 million capital needs referendum, which means new fire trucks and a new emergency radio system for first responders. There were 1,154 “yes” votes on the referendum, compared to 643 “no” votes, according to unofficial results.
Click the video below to watch DiMartino’s reaction to the referendum’s approval.
DiMartino and his ticket waited for results at a storefront in Plaza on the Green on Elizabeth Street.
The numbers reported shortly after the polls closed pointed to an obvious victory for the Democrats.
By 8:45 pm DiMartino had received congratulatory phone calls from Gov. Ned Lamont and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Shortly thereafter he was basking in the cheers and applause of about 60 people.
DiMartino thanked voters for placing their trust in him for another term. Two years ago the residents took back their city, he said, adding that Tuesday’s election results was another statement from residents.
“They like where it’s going. All the good things we did in the first two years; hiring a finance director, a tax collector, getting our finances back in order, doing all the things we needed to do,” DiMartino said.
Derby GOP
Republican challenger Scott Derby arrived at his headquarters at the Catholic War Veterans on Derby Avenue shortly after 8 p.m.
The mood quickly turned to nervousness as results began coming in around 8:20 p.m. from Irving School, showing DiMartino taking an early lead and Democrats sitting atop the down-ballot races.
The room was quiet as numbers from Bradley School were read, confirming the Democrats’ victory across the ballot. Some supporters commented about other towns, noting that Republicans seemed to be struggling in many races.
“I prepared two speeches for tonight, and this is the one I was hoping I wouldn’t have to read,” Derby said to the room of roughly 25 supporters around 9:20 p.m.
“We ran a campaign rooted in honesty, accountability, and respect. Our efforts brought necessary discussions about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and community, (and) at the end of the day, our community comes before politics,” he said.
Derby thanked his team for their hard work and dedication, and wished DiMartino success in leading the city.
“I thought it was going to be closer, but I guess the voters chose to continue with the known quantity,” Derby said in an interview. “I certainly hope the best for Joe, because (his success) is what’s best for Derby.”
The challenger also made the trip to DiMartino’s headquarters to congratulate him personally on the win.
Republican Town Committee Chairman Gino DiGiovanni, who lost his race for Town Clerk to Marc Garofalo and failed to win a seat on the Board of Aldermen, declined to comment.
Background
DiMartino was thought to be the favorite heading into Election Day. Derby voters tend to give first-term mayors a second term.
DiMartino also has deep roots in Derby and city government. He is a retired public works employee and was the longtime coach of the high school softball team. He previously served on the Derby Board of Aldermen.
His opponent was new to Derby and this was his first try at political office. DiMartino outpaced Scott Derby in the money race, raising about $24,000 to his opponent’s approximate $11,500. Scott Derby deliberately ran a self-funded race, according to his campaign.
This was, however, the first time DiMartino faced voters after his administration supported an 11.9 increase in the mill rate that was approved by the tax board in the 2024 budget. DiMartino said the mill rate increase was unavoidable after a bad budget forecast by Republican Mayor Richard Dziekan’s administration.
DiMartino supported the $6.5 million borrowing plan, saying the spending would benefit the purchase of emergency service equipment, a cost that had been kicked down the road for years by the city, he said.
Scott Derby first said he was on the fence about the spending, then came out against the borrowing referendum in the final weeks of the campaign. He said he agreed the new equipment was needed, but disagreed with the process and lack of explanation from the administration. He did not offer a plan of his own, saying he would work on one if elected.
In 2023, DiMartino was elected to his first term with about 44 percent of the vote, receiving 1,263 votes in a race that had four candidates.
The Derby race was one of the nastiest in years, with a few last-minute anonymous smear campaigns online.
However, the vitriol wasn’t in the mayor’s race: it was the town clerk race, which pitted incumbent Democrat Marc Garofalo against challenger Gino DiGiovanni, a Republican who also ran for Second Ward Alderman.
Garofalo was anonymously targeted.
An anonymous group or person presumably spent thousands on a campaign to create and advertise a website that accused Garofalo of corruption. The accusations were sent in the form of a printed newspaper, and an anti-Garofalo website was advertised on a billboard on Roosevelt Drive.
The material did not disclose who paid for or was behind the expenditures, which is potentially illegal under state law.
Garofalo sent at least two robotexts in response, calling the accusations lies. His robotexts were paid for by Garofalo for Town Clerk 25, according to a photo in the text.
Garofalo was re-elected by a wide margin.
UNOFFICIAL DERBY RESULTS
REFERENDUM QUESTION:
Shall the City of Derby appropriate $6,500,000 for the 2025 Capital Improvement Program?
YES: 1154
NO: 643
MAYOR
Joseph DiMartino {D} 1692
Scott Derby {R} 947
TOWN CITY CLERK
Marc Garofalo {D} 1704
Gino DiGiovanni {R} 904
TREASURER
Barbara J. Montalvo {D} 1479
Judy Szewczyk {R} 1052
BOARD OF ALDERMEN & ALDERWOMEN
First Ward
(Three spots open)
Sarah Widomski {D} 374
Amy L. Pettininichi {D} 349
Arthur Newberg {D} 339
Gary Collins {R} 192
Rich DiCarlo {R} 219
Paula Musante {R} 195
Second Ward
(Three spots open)
Roberto Santos {D} 462
Ronald Sill {D} 457
George F. Kurtyka {D} 460
Al Lotto {R} 247
Sal Coppola {R} 340
Gino DiGiovanni {R} 308
Third Ward
(three spots open)
Robert Hyder {D} 702
David Chevarella {D} 730
Robin Falcioni-Smith {D} 678
William Soderberg {R} 483
Ann Kimball {R} 471
Licia Soderberg {R} 472
BOARD OF EDUCATION
(Nine spots open)
Melissa Mongillo {D} 1514
Kimberly Tovar {D} 1441
Kenneth R. Marcucio Sr {D} 1547
Jim Gildea {D} 1577
Daniel P. Foley Jr {D} 1606
Erica Nuzzo {D} 1438
Holly Orazietti {R} 1204
Ryleigh Oliwa {R} 1019
Karla Malerba {R} 1092
Ivey Speight {R} 894
Ian Schroeder {R} 910
Rebecca O’Hara {R} 1143
BOARD OF APPORTIONMENT & TAXATION
(10 spots open)
Kristen Mancini-Wright {D} 1503
Jennifer Desroches {D} 1540
Michael Gray {D} 1554
Colleen Germain-Ezzo {D} 1537
Tina Parelli-Silkoff {D} 1493
Bhamini Patel {D} 1384
Laura Wabno {R} 1165
Heidi DiGiovanni {R} 1058
Burnease Ragin {R} 961
Ashley Simon {R} 1064
Jerry Borelli {R} 1081
Jimmy Silkoff {R} 1108