DERBY – The members of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen chose a new elected official to become the board’s president at a meeting on Jan. 9.
Alderman George Kurtyka, a Democrat, was chosen by a 5 – 4 vote over incumbent president Sarah Widomski, a fellow Democrat.
Kurtyka has lived in Derby for about 55 years and has a long track record of community service.
Kurtyka represents the city’s Second Ward on the west side of Derby. He was previously an elected member of the Derby Board of Education and, prior to that, the Derby Board of Apportionment and Taxation.
A retired Derby police officer and a former investigator with Yale-New Haven Health, Kurtyka has also volunteered with the AM Club, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, and the Elks Club.
Kurtyka told The Valley Indy he is proud to have been named Aldermanic president and looks forward to working with Mayor Joseph DiMartino. He said he plans to meet regularly with the mayor, school board chairman Jim Gildea and tax board chairwoman Colleen Ezzo.
“It is very important to have great communication within all the city boards and departments,” Kurtyka said.
Widomski, a scientist, was first elected to the board in 2019. She represents Derby’s First Ward. She had been president of the board since 2021. She was often the public face of opposition to procedural changes at board meetings ushered in during Mayor Rich Dziekan’s tenure.
Widomski said the top accomplishment during her time as board president was the administration’s hiring of Brian Hall as finance director, an important first step in getting Derby’s finances straightened out.
She said she was disappointed to learn a few days before the Jan. 9 meeting that her leadership position would be challenged.
Nevertheless, she promised to continue “to work with tenacity and integrity representing the people of Derby and my fellow board members.”
The Derby Charter says that the president of the board can act as mayor if the mayor can’t perform the duties. In Derby, the president traditionally plays a role in placing discussion items on the agenda.
The Alders are the city’s legislative body. Its members make leadership decisions every January.
The members right now are all Democrats, according to the Derby website.
At the Jan. 9 meeting, Alderwoman Jessica Barrios-Perez nominated Kurtyka for the role. Alderman Arthur Newberg nominated Widomski.
Kurtyka received votes from Barrios-Perez, Alderwoman Amy Pettinicchi, Alderman Ron Sill and Alderman Rob Hyder. Kurtyka voted for himself.
Widomski received votes from Newberg, Alderman David Chevarella and Alderwoman Robin Falcioni-Smith. Widowmski voted for herself.