
Photo by Eugene Driscoll
Mayor Rich Dziekan.
DERBY — Praising his bipartisanship and efforts to point the city in the right direction, the Derby Town Republican Committee unanimously endorsed Mayor Rich Dziekan to run for a second, two-year term Monday.
“It was eye (opening) to me two years ago when I started on the Board of Aldermen to see how this administration runs,” said Charles Sampson, the president of the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen. “It is not a party-line administration. There is very little bickering. It is more about the people, and the citizens of the City of Derby. It is about moving Derby forward.”
Dziekan, a retired Hamden police officer, was elected mayor in 2017. He brought in fresh faces to Derby politics, such as Andrew Baklik, his chief of staff. And he reached across party lines to hire Carmen DiCenso as part-time economic development liaison.
During his acceptance speech in front of about 30 people in a meeting space at the Hotchkiss Hose firehouse in east Derby, Dziekan said he’s been concentrating on the downtown redevelopment zone, a long under-utilized section of Derby between Main Street and the Housatonic River.
In addition to working with developers who want to get a project off the ground downtown, the incumbent mayor highlighted lesser-known but equally important efforts, such as working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to come up with a plan to repair levees along the river — something that must be done to support development, he said.
He noted his administration encouraged a fuel-cell company to build on Roosevelt Drive, which, when completed, will be a major boost to the tax base.
“It’s a piece of property that usually brings in $1,500 a year in taxes, now it will bring in over $200,000 a year,” Dziekan said.
“Together, as a group, we’re really putting this city in the right direction,” he said.
Dziekan concluded by saying he was looking forward to knocking on doors to make his case to the people.
The rest of the Derby GOP slate contained many familiar names, including several incumbents who are seeking another term.
The GOP endorsed Keith McLiverty for city treasurer, something they had not done in 2017. Two Republicans opposed the endorsement of the long-time treasurer. All other nominations were unanimous.
Rob Hyder was nominated to run for Third Ward Alderman. Hyder previously ran mayoral campaigns for Democratic candidates, including DiCenso.
The Republicans started the meeting with a moment of silence to remember Tony Szewczyk, who passed away in June.
The Democrats will endorse a slate at a meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday (July 23) in Derby City Hall. Brian Coppolo is expected to be endorsed to run for mayor.
Here is the Derby Republican slate:
Mayor:
Rich Dziekan
Treasurer
Keith McLiverty
First Ward Aldermen/Alderwomen
Bev Moran
Joseph Szewczyk
Ralph Cappiello
Second Ward Aldermen/Alderwomen
Evelyn Browning
Jerry Borrelli
Ron Luneau Jr.
Third Ward Aldermen/Alderwomen
Rob Hyder
Jim DiMartino
Charles Sampson
Board of Education
Laura Harris
Jim Gildea
Janine Netto
Casey Picheco
Rebecca O’Hara
Tara Hyder
Tax Board
Judy Szewczyk
Sam Pollastro, Jr.
Mike Gray
Rob Forte
Ray Bowers
Chris Carloni
Constable
Peter Duhaime