A contributed photo of Thomas Egan.
ANSONIA – Local attorney Thomas Egan recently announced his intent to challenge incumbent Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti.
Egan, 35, a Democrat, said his displeasure with the current administration prompted him to throw his hat into the ring.
Egan owns Egan Law, LLC, a private law firm in Ansonia. He hopes to get the endorsement of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee and unseat Mayor Cassetti during the municipal election scheduled for November.
Ansonia Democrats have been on the decline in city elections. They didn’t run a candidate for mayor in the last election, and the party lost seats on the Board of Aldermen.
Egan said there’s new blood in the party who want to turn the once dominant party around.
Egan said he’s especially unhappy with the deal the city struck last year with Bridgeport-based Primrose Companies to build a sports training facility on Olson Drive. Egan said the developer, John Guedes, got a sweetheart deal with large tax breaks. Egan represented a resident in a lawsuit against the city last year, which a judge dismissed, regarding the Olson Drive sale. The case is now on appeal.
Egan is also concerned about projects — such as the new senior center going into the new police station downtown — going over budget.
“I won’t sell city assets for pennies on the dollar, give sweetheart tax breaks that sell our city short, and I won’t allow city projects to run millions over budget, like is currently happening,” Egan told the Valley Indy via an email. “I’m a very methodical and detail-oriented person, and will always carefully examine the short and long-term benefits of proposals to make smart and carefully considered decisions.”
If elected, Egan said he’ll focus on attracting smart economic development to Ansonia that will benefit residents, look for solutions to deter crime, and work to keep projects on budget.
“I am very worried taxes are going to go up again on residents because of the poor choices being made by City Hall insiders,” Egan said. “We need smart economic development that actually benefits the residents of this town, not Fairfield County millionaire developers who seek to build facilities our residents will have to pay to use.”
Egan said something needs to be done to tackle crime.
“I had the very sad experience of watching a young man die in broad daylight outside of my office, right near City Hall last year,” Egan said. “This winter, another shooting occurred in broad daylight near Main Street, hitting businesses and a vehicle with people inside. In 10 years, I’ve seen nothing of substance from this administration to address the issue, just a lot of puffery and smoke and mirrors. If they haven’t made meaningful change by now, I think it’s time to bring in people who will take it more seriously.”
Egan said he’ll be a mayor who listens to the people.
“I will take your concerns seriously and I have strong plans to tackle long-neglected issues,” Egan said. “I’ll implement sound business practices for this town that benefit all the people of this community. We need vision, not platitudes, and a fresh set of eyes. Put frankly, we can’t afford the current administration selling off our city assets for pennies on the dollar, running projects millions over budget and belligerently attacking residents, earning the city bad press. I expect better and will do much better for this community.”
A graduate of UCONN, who worked in construction for several years before switching career paths, Egan earned his law degree from Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. As a member of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Pro Bono Volunteer Program, Egan said he often takes cases in eviction defense, estate planning and to help victims of domestic violence.
An elected member of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee, Egan said in his spare time he likes to build and give away computers to children in the community, help with citywide Earth Day cleanups and enjoys working in his garden.
As a single guy with no kids, Egan said he can focus his time on making Ansonia better.
“I’m not a smooth-talking politician or glad-handing backslapper who uses gimmicks to distract from the issues,” Egan said. “I’m like a football coach who studies reels to plot smart, effective plays. I’ll work to build bridges between groups, promote collaboration, keep our residents informed, and include you in the decision-making process. We need to bring honesty back to City Hall, and this campaign is about shedding light on the reckless mismanagement taking place and doing just that.”
John Feddern, chairman of the Ansonia DTC, lauded Egan for stepping up.
“Egan is in tune with what’s really happening in this town and is a stand-up, down to earth guy,” Feddern said in a prepared statement. “I have gotten to know Tom over the past few years not only as Chairman of the Ansonia Democrats, but as a friend, and it is obvious how much he cares about this city. His intelligence, character, and composure are top notch and I know he would make the entire city proud to call him mayor.”
Cassetti, 62, who in February announced his plans to seek re-election to a sixth term in office, said he welcomes the challenge from Egan.
“I welcome an opponent and a chance to discuss the issues as always,” Cassetti told the Valley Indy via email. “Obviously Mr. Egan has set himself apart as opposing economic development projects that bring in needed jobs so therefore there is a clear difference between the two of us. I appreciate his stepping forward to challenge, but we are very far apart. We can continue to progress or go down a different path. He is probably the largest opponent of development in our city, even going so far as to sue the City of Ansonia (Egan represented a city resident in a lawsuit). Hopefully residents will see that and continue to support our efforts to recharge the great City of Ansonia.”
Egan represented Ansonia resident Matthew McGowan in a lawsuit filed in June 2022, alleging the process by which the city acquired and then sold Olson Drive flew in the face of local and state laws. The city filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit not long after it was filed, saying the lawsuit was politically motivated since McGowan and Egan are involved in the local Democratic Party. A judge tossed the lawsuit last December, ruling the city followed proper procedure. The case is being appealed.
