DERBY — A key player in Mayor Rich Dziekan’s administration announced Monday he intends to leave soon.
Andrew Baklik, a Derby resident, is the mayor’s chief of staff and has been since Dziekan was first elected in 2017. Baklik, who just turned 40, said he is not leaving on bad terms, though he said it’s been a long four years, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s just time for me, personally, to move on to whatever is potentially next,” he said.
Baklik says he’ll likely leave at some point in January. He said he may stay on as a consultant to help whomever Dziekan hires as the next chief of staff.
Andrew Baklik (left) and Mayor Rich Dziekan participated in a Valley Indy livestream about the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Andrew Baklik (left) with state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria during a fundraiser for Team Inc's Toys 4 Kids in Seymour.
Baklik, who worked as a bartender prior to taking a role in Dziekan’s first election campaign, is known for a tireless work ethic and respectful manner. In his four years under Dziekan, Baklik wore many hats, something he said is common in Derby government due to the small staff. He was a de facto human resources person. He met with potential developers looking to invest in the downtown. He attended countless municipal meetings. He was the administration’s liaison with state officials. He was often the voice of the administration to the local press.
Politics can be combative, but Baklik, a Derby native and Derby High School graduate, said he didn’t lose any friends over local politics. He’s still close friends with Aniello Malerba III, the Derby Democratic Party head who has been critical of Baklik’s Republican boss. Baklik is so respected in Derby Joe DiMartino, Dziekan’s mayoral opponent in November, said that had he won the job he would have kept Baklik employed as chief of staff.
Baklik isn’t jumping to a new job. His family owns a small apartment complex (Indian Ridge Apartments) on Roosevelt Drive in west Derby. He plans to focus on the family business before he decides his next career move.
“Drew has been an invaluable asset and friend to me,” Mayor Dziekan said in a prepared statement. “I have very much enjoyed working in partnership with him. I respect his decision to look at what is next for him in his life and wish him nothing but the very best. With him leaving, I want to publicly thank him for all his hard work and efforts.”
That same statement contained quotes attributed to Alderman Charles Sampson, who described Baklik as ‘The Little Engine That Could.”
“Once he got rolling, he climbed mountains, and didn’t stop till he got to his final destination,” Sampson said.
Aldermen Rob Hyder and Ron Sill also offered kind words for Baklik upon his impending departure.
“Andrew was the ‘go to’ guy for all things Derby. Dependable, reliable and always got back to you. He will be missed,” Sill said.
