Tarek Raslan, in a still shot from a video meeting held in May.
ANSONIA — A former Democratic Party leader and candidate for mayor released a written statement Wednesday saying he has resigned from the Board of Aldermen.
Tarek Raslan “recently had to relocate outside of the City of Ansonia for work,” according to the statement.
Raslan, a real estate investor who previously worked as a financial analyst for Citibank, moved to Ansonia in 2015. Ansonia Democrats nominated Raslan to challenge incumbent Republican Mayor David Cassetti in 2017.
It was a particularly ornery campaign, one that ultimately saw the Republicans take all 14 seats on the Board of Alderman and the newcomer Raslan be defeated by Cassetti in the mayor’s race by almost 1,800 votes.
Raslan made quite the splash in local politics, despite the fact he only lived in Ansonia for six years.
After becoming the chairman of the Ansonia Town Democratic Committee (he was succeeded as Democratic Party chair by Leslie Navarrete), Raslan was elected to represent the city’s Second Ward in 2019. He was one of four Democrats elected to the 14-person legislative body.
As an Alderman, Raslan has played an important role, at least on the local level, in the U.S. concept of checks and balances. Example — Raslan hosted his own online forum about Ansonia borrowing an additional $3 million to renovate a building at 65 Main St. into a police department.
To replace Raslan, Mayor Cassetti will make a recommendation that must be confirmed by the Board of Aldermen.
Raslan’s full statement is posted below.
Dear Members of the Board of Alderman and Residents of Ansonia,
I have recently had to relocate outside of the City of Ansonia for work. While the Mayor’s son Anthony Cassetti continued to serve as Alderman for several months after moving to Southbury, CT and current 7th Ward Alderman Frank Delibero Jr currently resides as a student in Storrs, CT, I believe that residents deserve to have an Alderman that resides in their district full time. Since leaving Ansonia I have not voted on or participated in any meetings, as I believed it would be unethical to do so. Accordingly, I must formally submit my resignation to the Board of Alderman. To maintain a balance of representation on the board and to honor the choice of 2nd Ward voters in electing me, I request that a Democratic Party member fill my vacancy.
When I moved to Ansonia in 2015, I was taken by what I saw as a small city with exceptional characteristics and features. I believed that a city still working to re-invent its postindustrial self carried enormous potential to do just that. I loved the history, the dense and walkable multifamily neighborhoods surrounding downtown, the river, the little neighborhood pocket parks and the two state forests that flank Ansonia to the East and West, most of all I was impressed by the people I met. Having family roots in the mid-west, the people I met in Ansonia had a familiar friendly feeling, it felt like the heartland in Connecticut, and it felt like home. I still believe in Ansonia.
I’m forever shaped by the people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made through volunteering and local government, we shared a common vision for what it means to be a good citizen and a steward of local democracy. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine how much life I’ve lived in this little city, I never could have imagined all that would take place in my short time here. In five years I welcomed my first son to the world, ran for Mayor, served as Alderman, invested over a million dollars into the community, donated hundreds of hours of time volunteering, and donated thousands of dollars to philanthropic efforts and community park initiatives. I gave my all to the city, and the city gave me back even more, I’m truly grateful.
I’ll leave you with a call to action. As we look out to the many challenges that face our society, believe in America, believe in Democracy, and believe that the future of our country will be decided by what communities like Ansonia do to ensure our way of life continues to be a guiding light for the world. Innovation in society works best when it comes from the bottom up, whether it’s investing in the next generation’s education and training, supporting businesses that are inclusive in developing good middle class jobs, looking after our environment, or working to build an efficient, transparent, representative government. Don’ wait for superman, be a superman or superwoman in your little corner of the earth, and if enough of us show up, there’s nothing that we can’t solve together. God bless you and this city that will always carry a piece of my heart. Thank you Ansonia.
Sincerely,
2nd Ward Alderman, Tarek Raslan
