Drugonis To Announce Re-Election Bid, Conroy A Potential Challenger

(Left to right) Drugonis and Conroy.

SEYMOUR – Republican First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis is seeking re-election to a third term in office.

Drugonis, 55, is scheduled to make a formal announcement 6 p.m. Thursday at Cast Iron Pizza, 15 Klarides Village Drive.

“I enjoy working directly with the residents and resolving any issues they may have,” Drugonis said. ​“Community always comes first. This job is not just about sitting behind a desk. I’m a boots-on-the-ground person. I lead by doing. And I have a track record of delivering results and effectively addressing community needs.”

Seymour was hit with a devastating flood in August 2024. For several months, flood-ravaged businesses, including nearly all of Klarides Village Plaza, remained closed due to damage. Drugonis worked with her administration, state and local officials and rallied volunteers to help those businesses get back on their feet.

“My validation was when I put out that call to help (after the flood) and the residents came together,” Drugonis said. ​“We collected food and clothing, we cooked meals for families at our local churches and we worked hand in hand with our food banks to make sure the needs of our communities were being met. It’s always been about putting our residents first. Yes, it’s about keeping taxes low and the mill rate low, too, but it’s always community first.”

Looking ahead, Drugonis said she is looking forward to a reconstruction of Bungay/Botsford roads and West Church Street (to begin in early March); providing more recreational opportunities for residents including an outdoor movie theater; enhancing open space; lighting the dog park, expanding recreational trails; and making improvements to the community center.

She first became a member of the Board of Selectpersons in 2007. She was initially appointed as First Selectwoman by her fellow selectpersons in October 2020 when former Republican First Selectman Kurt Miller vacated the office to take a job in Ansonia government. He’s now Seymour’s chief administrative officer and town treasurer.

Drugonis then ran for the seat unopposed in the November 2021 municipal election. In 2023 she defeated Phil Wilhelmy, III to gain re-election.

Democratic Selectperson Theresa Conroy, a former state representative for the 105th district, is a potential challenger. 

“It is well known that I have been unhappy with the direction our town has taken,” Conroy told the Valley Indy via an email. ​“I am carefully evaluating my options and considering how I can best serve our community moving forward. The decision requires a lot of reflection and discussions with my family, friends and trusted colleagues. I want to make sure that the choice I make is rooted in what’s best for the residents of Seymour that I care deeply about, and also for my family.”

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