Dziekan Narrowly Re-Elected To Second Term In Derby

DERBY — Republican Mayor Richard Dziekan was re-elected to a second term Tuesday by a 38-vote margin over Brian Coppolo, his Democratic challenger.

It’s crazy that we only won by that much,” Dziekan said to supporters at his headquarters on Minerva Street. We should have won by more. We did so much great things. But we’re here, and they’re going to see what we’re doing. Our administration is doing great things.” 

The vote was 1,446 to 1,408, according to unofficial results.

Dziekan thanked his supporters, including several high school students who helped make more than 2,000 phone calls in the weeks leading up to the election. 

The win was bittersweet for the Derby Republicans, as the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen switched to Democratic control.

In a major upset, longtime Treasurer Keith McLiverty was ousted by Democratic challenger Walter Mayhew. 

The Board of Apportionment and Taxation, as well as the Board of Education, remained in Republican hands, according to unofficial results.

We put up a hell of a fight,” Coppolo told supporters at the Democratic headquarters at Olivia and Main streets. We had a lot of good people here to put all this effort in to make a change.” 

Photo by Jodie Gil

Mayor Richard Dziekan poses with high school students who helped his campaign, from left to right: Laney O’Hara, 15; Emily Gildea, 16; Brooke Uleano, 15; and Michael Hyder, 15.

Campaign Issues

The state of Derby finances was the top issue in the campaign.

The city’s credit rating has been downgraded twice in three years. The Board of Apportionment and Taxation raised taxes last spring. 

Finance officials also revealed last spring the city, starting in 2016, before Dziekan was mayor, the Dzeikan administration stressed, had mistakenly double counted state grant revenue, creating a multi-million budget hole.

The two campaigns traded jabs over who was to blame over the convoluted issue.

Contributed

McLiverty

After the results arrived Tuesday, several Republicans said the financial issues helped Mayhew win over McLiverty.

Mayhew, by the way, was also elected to serve on the tax board. The Valley Indy is checking to see if one person can serve both roles.

McLiverty’s institutional knowledge of city government can’t be understated. 

He’s on the capital planning committee, he was on the committee that supervised the construction of the city’s middle school — and he’s the go-to guy to answer questions from members of the Derby tax board while they craft a budget each year.

To lose that kind of wealth of knowledge that he has, that’s going to be some big shoes to fill,” Sam Pollastro, a Republican who was re-elected to the tax board, said of McLiverty. 

Contributed

Mayhew

Carmen DiCenso, the city’s economic development liaison, said McLiverty saved our city” with his plan to react to the budget shortfall. DiCenso was talking about an 8‑point plan McLiverty put together the get the city back on the path toward fiscal stability.

Dziekan called McLiverty a brilliant guy.”

But Derby residents are stretched thin — in addition to a 2.5 mill rate increase, the city’s WPCA also slightly raised sewer rates last spring.

Single-family homeowners are paying an extra $256 a year for a previously-approved sewer referendum.

Dziekan attributed the slim victory to some of these frustrations, and promised to communicate more in his second term. 

We didn’t put out enough information to let them know why [the tax rate] went up,” Dziekan said. That’s my fault. In the next two years, I’ll make sure more information gets out.”

Aldermen/Alderwomen Results

In the Aldermen/Alderwomen races, Republican Second Ward Alderwoman Evelyn Browning was not re-elected. Camille Grande Kurtyka, a Democrat was elected in the Second Ward, along with Democratic incumbents Ron Sill and Joe DiMartino.

Republican Alderwoman Bev Moran was not re-elected in the First Ward. Newcomer Sarah Widomski, a Democrat was elected in the First Ward, along with Democratic incumbents Thomas Donofrio and Barbara L. DeGennaro.

In his concession speech, Coppolo stressed the dissatisfaction with tax increases and what he described as a lack of economic development (a statement the Dziekan administration protests, saying they’re laying the groundwork for good things in the city). 

File Photo

Brian Coppolo, after the Democrats nominated him in July.

Coppolo said he hopes the seats won by the Democrats for the Board of Aldermen, as well as the treasurer’s position, will help inspire change at city hall. 

The great thing is it looks like our Democratic friends, the Aldermen, pulled it through,” said Coppolo. It looked like we had a lot of good wins for the Dems. I’m very proud of all of you.” 

Dziekan said in the next two years, he plans to continue work on downtown development and the Route 34 widening project, as well as development of a road behind BJs off Division Street.. 

We are going to grow the grand list,” Dziekan said. 

He added: I’m just hoping the Democratic board (of Aldermen/Alderwomen) is going to work with me and continue to move the city of Derby forward.” 

Here are the unofficial results from Tuesday

Source: These were the numbers distributed by the Town Clerk at 10:10 p.m. Tuesday. 

xx denotes winner

Mayor:
Brian Coppolo (Dem) 1408
Richard Dziekan (GOP) 1446 xx

Treasurer
Walt Mayhew (Dem) 1436 xx
Keith McLiverty (GOP) 1319

First Ward Aldermen/Alderwomen (vote for three)
Sarah Widomski (Dem) 320 xx
Barbara L. DeGennaro (Dem) 346 xx
Thomas Donofrio (Dem) 345 xx
Ralph Cappiello (GOP) 263
Joseph Szewczyk (GOP) 266
Bev Moran (GOP) 291

Second Ward Aldermen/Alderwomen (vote for three)
Camille Grande Kurtyka (Dem) 450 xx
Joseph L. DiMartino (Dem) 490 xx
Ronald M. Sill (Dem) 536 xx
Ron Luneau, Jr. (GOP) 399
Jerry Borrelli (GOP) 307
Evelyn Browning (GOP) 305

Third Ward Aldermen/Alderwomen(vote for three)
Irma Coleman (Dem) 455
Dan Blizman (Dem) 497
Samantha Burgan (Dem) 510
Jim DiMartino (GOP) 784 xx
Charles Sampson (GOP) 712 xx
Rob Hyder (GOP) 692 xx

Board of Apportionment and Taxation, vote for 10
James R. Butler (Dem) 1642 xx
Walt Mayhew (Dem) 1534 xx
Bhamini Patel (Dem) 1352
Christopher Larocque (Dem) 1444
Rose M. Pertoso (Dem) 1551 xx
Carlo N. Malerba, Jr. (Dem) 1628 xx
Rob Forte (GOP) 1511 xx
Mike Gray (GOP) 1508 xx
Judy Szewczyk (GOP) 1647 xx
Sam Pollastro (GOP) 1528 xx
Ray Bowers (GOP) 1482 xx
Chris Carloni (GOP) 1683 xx

Board of Education, vote for nine
Melissa L. Cannata (Dem) 1498 xx
George F. Kurtyka (Dem) 1531 xx
Kenneth R. Marcucio, Sr. (Dem) 1587 xx
Daniel P. Foley, Jr. (Dem) 1606 xx
Christine Robinson (Dem) 1376
Jennifer Desroches (Dem) 1380
Casey Picheco (GOP) 1413
Laura Harris (GOP) 1503 xx
Jim Gildea (GOP) 1561 xx
Rebecca O’Hara (GOP) 1475 xx
Janine Netto (GOP) 1431 xx
Tara Hyder (GOP) 1459 xx

Keep local reporting alive. Donate.ValleyIndy.org