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Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti
ANSONIA-DERBY — Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti is the Republican candidate trying to get elected to represent Ansonia and much of west Derby in District 104 in the state House of Representatives.
There are two other candidates. State Rep. Kara Rochelle, a Democrat, is the incumbent. Tom Egan, an Ansonia resident, is the Independent Party candidate.
Click here for everything The Valley Indy has published on the race.
The Valley Indy sent eight questions to each candidate and gave them 18 days to respond. The Valley Indy is publishing the candidates’ answers in alphabetical order.
The following answers were submitted by Cassetti:
1. Why are you running?
Ansonia and Derby need a fighter in their corner. The price of living and doing business in Connecticut is obscene. We have a state-wide issue with crime that nobody even wants to talk about. Meanwhile, our representatives in Hartford are busy spending millions and millions on their own employees, growing the State government with no end in sight.
Who is fighting for us?
As State Representative, I will put the focus back on the people of Connecticut. As Mayor of Ansonia, I faced identical problems on a smaller scale and achieved success. For over a decade, I’ve kept taxes responsible while still supporting vital services like schools and police (including a new Downtown Police Station). I’ve recharged the economy and downtown district through public-private partnerships and obliterating the red-tape and business-killing bureaucracy. I’ve tackled the biggest challenges Ansonia has faced, including the remediation of the Copper and Brass facility, which is now being prepped as a 60-acre revenue generating engine for the City and its residents.
Imagine what that same fighting spirit could do in Hartford? It would be a knockout victory for the entire Valley and beyond. We would recharge Connecticut.
2. What are three accomplishments that matter the most to you while you’ve been in elected office?
The ongoing revitalization of the 60-acre Ansonia Copper and Brass facility, which will once again roar as an economic engine for the Valley. The plans I set in motion 11 years ago have cleared a blank canvas on which the future of Ansonia will be written. We are in the process of bringing a city-owned fuel cell to the site, which will literally charge business development at the site for decades to come.
The reinvigoration of Ansonia Schools, achieved through my administration’s willingness to stand up for financial accountability and transparency. Our school system’s new leadership — in the Superintendent’s office and Board of Education — has led to a new outlook and reputation for our school system, with a brand new Middle School on the way.
Defying gravity with a tax rate that is lower today than when I took office over a decade ago. This has contributed to the explosion of development in Downtown Ansonia, and has helped many long-time Ansonia residents afford staying in Ansonia (and in Connecticut).
3. What are the top three issues in Ansonia and Derby?
The State has pulled support for local law enforcement, and the results of that can be seen all over the Valley, including Ansonia. A top issue for Ansonia and Derby is restoring State support for law enforcement and putting criminals back on notice.
Prices, prices, prices. The Valley needs price relief, from the cost of utilities to the cost of homes and apartments.
Both Ansonia and Derby deserve flourishing, economically successful downtown districts. The State should be doing much more to help.
4. If elected, what will you do to tackle these issues?
The Police Accountability Act must be revisited. I will start by working with local law enforcement, State prosecutors’ offices and legal experts to fully spotlight the disastrous failure of this legislation, and the deadly impact it is having on our communities. I will work with my colleagues — regardless of political affiliation — to rewrite the law.
Vulnerable residents need protection from outrageous price increases. The millions and millions earmarked for new State salaries, pensions and benefits will need to find its way to regular people who desperately need price relief. The residents of Connecticut cannot go bankrupt while the State government irresponsibly grows and grows.
State dollars must flow into downtown redevelopment projects for both Ansonia and Derby. The reason millions have flowed into our Ansonia Copper and Brass project is actually quite simple: my administration crafted a fundable plan for redevelopment over a decade ago, and put skin in the game: we took the unprecedented step of taking ownership of the 60 acre parcel. We can do the same for Derby by working to craft a master development plan to bring Downtown Derby back to life.
5. List prior elected office: title and years served:
David S. Mayor Cassetti was elected the 7th Ward Alderman in 1995. Mayor Cassetti was re-elected as alderman in 1997 to 1999. He was chairman of the Hilltop water main expansion for residents.
6. List local community or civic engagement:
Mayor Cassetti was appointed to the Police Commission in 2002 and served through 2012. He was also appointed to the Economic Development Commission and authorized the tax incentive program that currently exists in Ansonia. Mayor Cassetti was part founder and the President of the Ansonia Derby Unico from 1997 – 2017, where scholarships were awarded to students of Italian heritage. These scholarships totaled about $70,000 throughout the 20 years Mayor Cassetti was President. Mayor Cassetti is the founder and director of the Pinky Silverberg Boxing club, celebrating its 8th year. He is also the director of the Naugatuck YMCA Golden Gloves, serving 17 years. He is widely known for his 49 – 6 boxing record holding a state middle weight boxing championship, from 1982 – 1983, 165 lb. weight division.
7. List prior work experience:
Mayor Cassetti began his construction journey in 1980 through 1986 employed by CJ Fucci Construction Co. of New Haven. In August of 1986 he furthered his construction journey by starting his own business and founder of Birmingham Construction Services Co. In 1995, Mayor Cassetti founded Birm 1 Construction LLC, where he continued sewer installations and contracts. Birm 1 serviced permanent paving all over the State of Connecticut. Mayor Cassetti closed Birm 1 in 2013 shortly after he was elected as Mayor of Ansonia. His son Anthony took over ownership and management of the company once he was elected Mayor in November of 2013. Anthony later founded Birmingham Construction Company.
8. Education:
Mayor Cassetti attended Ansonia Public Schools up until high school where he attended Emmett O’Brien Technical School. He earned a degree in Carpentry in 1979. He attended Gateway Community College from 1994 and received a certificate in business administration.
