Joe DiMartino, in a 2021 Valley Indy file photo.
DERBY — Former Alderman Joe DiMartino announced on Thursday he’s stepping in the ring for a second round against incumbent Mayor Rich Dziekan — though the sharpest of the first jabs from his new campaign were aimed at Walt Mayhew, the mayor’s chief of staff.
During a roughly six-minute speech at a gathering of Derby Democrats at Twisted Vine restaurant, DiMartino promised to replace Mayhew if elected, and referred to Dziekan as “Mayhew Dziekan” instead of “Mayor Dziekan.”
“I can and will do better for the residents of the City of Derby. We need a new way to do business because the Mayhew Dziekan way is not working at all,” DiMartino said.
DiMartino, a Democrat, ran against Dziekan, a Republican, in 2021 and lost by 48 votes.
Both the Democratic and Republican town committees usually formally nominate candidates in July. Election Day is Nov. 7, 2023.
DiMartino previously served as president of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen. He represented the Second Ward. He was a longtime Derby softball coach, and is retired from the Derby Department of Public Works.
During his Thursday night speech, the 56-year old father of four said his top priorities are to enact a forensic audit of city finances, and to immediately remove Mayhew from his job. The latter promise drew applause from a crowd of supporters at Twisted Vine.
Mayhew could not be reached for comment on Friday.
DiMartino criticized the Dziekan administration for eliminating Aldermanic subcommittees; for failing to hire a new tax collector and finance director, and; for delegating too many responsibilities to his chief of staff.
“Together we can change the culture of City Hall and the city — right now it’s not a good place,” DiMartino said. “I’m willing to fight for it again.”
“I will be at City Hall and on the job every day, unlike the mayor, and will run a transparent administration with an open-door policy. I will not hide inside locked doors,” DiMartino said. “I am the right guy for the job because of the love I have for the City of Derby. I ran two years ago and lost, but I am not giving up. I know this will be a team effort and I plan to have the right team to fix what this administration has left us with.”
DiMartino is currently employed as an in-school suspension monitor at Derby High School, and is an assistant basketball coach at Oxford High School.
Dziekan Plans To Seek A Fourth Term
Dziekan said on Friday (Jan. 6) that he is running for re-election and submitted paperwork to the state last month.
Dziekan said DiMartino’s focus on Mayhew shows the Democrat is out of touch.
“If Mr. DiMartino thinks replacing my Chief of Staff, should he win, is a major campaign issue, clearly he lacks the understanding of what is important to move Derby forward,” Dziekan told the Valley Indy via a text. “Apparently, he hasn’t learned the lesson from his loss. Derby voters aren’t interested in his negative campaign tactics. They want a leader with a vision to move Derby forward who is working on steps necessary to achieve that. I am hard at work to do just that, in spite of continual opposition by the Democrats on the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen.”
The Democrats hold the majority on the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen. Clashes with the mayor are routine. The Democrats say Mayhew and Dziekan ignore decades of established protocols and procedures, while Dziekan says the Democrats are naysayers who have tried to paralyze Derby government in advance of the next election.
The upcoming election could be tricky. Jim Gildea, the chairman of the school board who helped run Dziekan’s prior re-election campaign, has criticized Dziekan administration policies. Rob Hyder, an unaffiliated member who last ran under Dziekan, has also been challenging Dziekan and Mayhew initiatives.
Gino DiGiovanni, the city’s GOP chairman, said he was unaware of DiMartino’s intentions to run again. Both live in the Second Ward. He said he respects both candidates.
“I’ve known Joey all my life, he’s a great person,” DiGiovanni said. “He was my coach in wrestling at DHS. Joe was the president of the Board of Aldermen for a year or two and it sounds like he’s going to turn things back to the way it was when he was there. As far as getting rid of Walt, that’s his choice. That would be his prerogative to get someone in there with the same agenda as him. If it was me and I was running, that’s something I would do, as well. If Joe wins, I would think he would want to change things the way he wants it and have a comfortable work environment, surrounding himself with like people.”
DiGiovanni said he was away during the week of Christmas through New Year’s and wasn’t aware that Dziekan had filed paperwork to run. Regardless, he’s hopeful the city’s top board, the BOA/BOAA can come together on behalf of getting things done for Derby.
It remains to be seen whether other Republicans or Democrats will throw their hats into the ring.
DiGiovanni said he’s not planning to run for mayor. He said the Dziekan administration has been trying to move Derby forward, only to be hampered by Democrats who drag their feet at every policy change.
“We need both sides to come together and make some compromises to move the city forward,” DiGiovanni said. “Everything we try to do, it’s gridlock on the board. The administration wants to move forward and we try, but the Democrats always vote no.”
