Lorie Vaccaro Not Seeking Re-Election To Ansonia Board Of Aldermen

FILE PHOTO

Ansonia Alderman Lorie Vaccaro.

ANSONIA — One of Mayor David Cassetti’s staunchest allies and closest friends has opted not to seek re-election to the city’s Board of Aldermen.

It’s been coming for a few months, pretty much,” said Lorie Vaccaro, the current Aldermanic president who was first elected with Mayor Cassetti in November 2013.

I’d like to re-introduce myself to my wife, my children and my grandchildren,” said Vaccaro, a retired probation officer and grandfather of four.

Aldermen are elected officials, but they are not paid. Vaccaro’s involvement sees him at Ansonia City Hall just about every day. He’s on a number of committees, which means long and constant night hours.

Vaccaro thought he would sleep well after Tuesday’s GOP nominating meeting, where his decision not to run again was made official.

He didn’t.

I was very conflicted (about whether to run again). I still am,” he said. I think about politics day and night, and my decision.”

Even during an interview Wednesday Vaccaro seemed to have second thoughts. He pointed out there were several committees doing important work that he wants to stay on if he can, such as a committee looking at whether to consolidate Derby and Ansonia schools in some fashion.

Vaccaro said Team Cassetti” has improved Ansonia. 

Main Street is seeing a slew of new restaurants. Larger businesses are opening up, such as Better Packages, which relocated from Shelton. He said taxes overall are lower than when Cassetti first ran — an important campaign promise.

We’ve done a lot of good things for the city, and there is a lot more to do. Mayor Cassetti and I are both lifelong residents of Ansonia and we both want to make it a better place to live,” he said.

Vaccaro represents the city’s Second Ward on the Board of Aldermen, along with Phil Tripp, a former Republican who was just nominated by the Democrats to challenge Mayor Cassetti.

The Republicans have nominated Bob Soboilsky and Bobbi Tar to run in the Second Ward. The Democrats have nominated Tarek Raslan and William Phipps.

Election Day is in November.

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