Photo by Eugene Driscoll
The Cassetti family.
ANSONIA — Republican Mayor David Cassetti declared victory for a fourth term Tuesday.
Cassetti, a Republican, defeated challenger Phil Tripp, a Democrat, 2,592 to 1,491, according to unofficial numbers from Republican headquarters.
That number does not include absentee ballots. The Registrar’s Office was still working on the results as of 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.
“Let me tell you something. There will be no complacency in this administration,” Cassetti told supporters at Republican headquarters on Main Street. “The way I felt on Dec. 1, 2013, I feel the same today. Progress forward together — this is what we need to do.”
Click the play button below to watch Cassetti’s speech, which was streamed live on Valley Indy Facebook.
This year’s race was bitter, especially on Facebook, where supporters for both sides argued in comment sections. Cassetti described his rival’s tactics as “dirty.”
Preliminary results as of 9 p.m. have incumbent Republicans Charles Stowe and Daniel King keeping their seats in the First Ward on the Board of Aldermen.
Democrats Tarek Raslan and William Phipps won Second Ward Aldermen seats, according to both campaigns.
Eugene Driscoll Photo
Mayor David Cassetti (left) and Second Ward Alderman Lorie Vaccaro, who opted not to seek re-election.
The two campaigns had different results for the Third Ward. UPDATE: Unofficial results from the Registrar have Democrat Joseph Jeanette Jr. and incumbent Republican Joseph Cassetti winning the Third Ward.
Scroll down for results, but keep in mind the number could change a bit by morning.
In the Fourth Ward, both campaigns had Democrat Diane Stroman and Republican Anthony Spigarolo winning.
Incumbent Republicans Chicago Rivers and Joseph Jaumann retained their seats in the Fifth Ward.
Republican Anthony Mammone was elected to represent the Sixth Ward, along with incumbent Republican Josh Shuart.
Incumbent Republicans Frank DiLibero and David Blackwell Jr. were re-elected in the Seventh Ward.
Heading into Tuesday’s election, Ansonia Republicans held a 13 – 1 majority on the Board of Aldermen, with Tripp, who gave up his seat in the Second Ward to run for mayor, being the lone Democrat.
In his concession speech, Tripp focused on the seats the Democrats gained on the Board of Aldermen. He said the Democrats put their hearts and souls into the contest, and that it was a valiant effort. The Democrats had one spot on the Board of Aldermen heading into Tuesday’s election. Now they have four.
“This is something to build on for 2021,” he said.
Laraine Weschler Photo
Phil Tripp (left) and Tarek Raslan (right) at the Democrats’ campaign headquarters.
Tripp said his campaign failed to communicate its message well enough and that his opponent had the benefit of incumbency.
Democratic Town Committee Chairman Tarek Raslan, who won a seat on the Board of Aldermen, said he felt optimistic about the ability of Democrats to work with Republicans where possible and hold city officials accountable when necessary.
Although the Democrats are still in the minority, the extra seats give them more of a platform to hold greater discussions and engage residents in local government, Raslan said.
Unofficial results from both campaigns have Beth Lynch defeating incumbent Janet Waugh for Town/City Clerk.
Laraine Weschler Photo
Beth Lynch, a Democrat, was elected town clerk, a position she previously held.
Unofficial Results
xx denotes winner
Source: Unofficial Results from Registrar’s Office
Mayor:
Philip Tripp (Dem) 1,599
David S. Cassetti (GOP) 2,729 xx
Aldermen First Ward (vote for two)
Nina Phipps (Dem) 286
Gary Farrar Jr. (Dem) 257
Charles Stowe (GOP) 308 xx
Daniel King (GOP) 293 xx
Aldermen Second Ward (vote for two)
Tarek Raslan (Dem) 278 xx
William Phipps (Dem) 281 xx
Bobbi Tar (GOP) 250
Robert Sobolisky (GOP) 248
Aldermen Third Ward (vote for two)
Leslie Navarrete (Dem) 268
Joseph Jeanette Jr. (Dem) 279 xx
Joseph Cassetti (GOP) 273 xx
Domenico Filippone 270
Aldermen Fourth Ward (vote for two)
Diane Stroman (Dem) 154 xx
Rohan Brown (Dem) 131
Anthony Spigarolo (GOP) 147 xx
Aldermen Fifth Ward (vote for two)
Millie Rios (Dem) 229
Sennea Raslan (Dem) 202
Chicago Rivers (GOP) 280 xx
Joseph Jaumann (GOP) 299 xx
Aldermen Sixth Ward (vote for two)
Thomas J. Finnucan (Dem) 339
Valerie Sorrentino (Dem) 298
Anthony T. Mammone (GOP) 477 xx
Josh Shuart (GOP) 491 xx
Aldermen Seventh Ward (vote for two)
Steven Erlingheuser (Dem) 355
Paul Lucuk (Dem) 412
Frank DeLibero (GOP) 548 xx
David Blackwell (GOP) 552 xx
Town and City Clerk (vote for one)
Beth Shortell Lynch (Dem) 2,216 xx
Janet Vitarius Waugh (GOP) 2,026
Town and City Treasurer
Gary Farrar Jr. 1,614
Judy Larkin-Nicolari 2,604 xx
Board of Education (vote for two)
Christopher Phipps (Dem) 1,975
Fran DiGiorgi (Dem) 1,819
Sharon Voroschak (GOP) 2,158 xx
Richard Bshara (GOP) 2,292 xx
City Sheriffs (vote for any three)
James Malloy (Dem) 1,911
Sean Rowley (Dem) 2,212
Crystal Jaumann (GOP) 2,189
Richard Kaslaitis III (GOP) 2,034
Patrick Henri (GOP) 2,587
