Mayor Cassetti and his family.
ANSONIA — After taking the stage to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” David S. Cassetti took the oath of office to start his six term as mayor during a ceremony Monday at Ansonia High School.
During his inaugural speech, Cassetti reflected on his ten years in office and outlined what the next two have in store.
“Tonight, we mark one decade into our fight to recharge and revitalize our city,” Cassetti told the crowd. “From the bottom of my heart — and on behalf of my family, my staff, and entire team — thank you for believing in me once again.”
Judge Theodore Tyma administered the oath of office to about two dozen elected officials at the ceremony. City Corporation Council John Marini served as master of ceremonies, introducing Cassetti with the verve of a high school football announcer: “Making the way to the stage with his family, fighting out of the Charger Blue corner, wearing a black suit with white trim, your Mayor: David S. Cassetti!”
Cassetti, a Republican, highlighted his administration’s ongoing efforts to revitalize Ansonia’s downtown, including the construction of a multi-sport complex on Olson Drive, the repurposing of vacant office space into a new police headquarters, and the ongoing demolition of a long-vacant lot which once contained Farrel Foundry, Ansonia Copper & Brass, and SHW Casting Company.
“Downtown Ansonia looks very different than it once did: from new businesses and apartments going up, to acres of old, blighted buildings being torn down,” he said.
Referencing the demolitions, Cassetti called the 60-acre lot “a blank canvas upon which the future of Ansonia will be written.”
The State Bonding Commission recently approved $9.2 million for environmental cleanup of the site, part of a multi-year economic recovery plan which Cassetti hopes will revitalize the site as a manufacturing center. Cassetti also celebrated the city’s new senior center and splash pad, both of which opened to the public last summer.
Cassetti won just under 72 percent of the vote to best Democratic challenger Tom Egan during the municipal election on Nov. 7.
Down the ballot, Republicans retained unanimous control of seats on the Board of Aldermen, which they have held since the board’s only Democratic Alderman switched to the Republican Party last year. Democratic Party officials have blamed internal dysfunction for their poor showings in recent elections in Ansonia, which has twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans.
Cassetti is the former owner of a construction company, as well as a former Alderman and member of the Ansonia Board of Police Commissioners. He is the father of five grown children and grandfather to two grandchildren. His oldest son, Anthony, was formerly Alderman for Ansonia’s Fifth Ward, before moving to Southbury in 2017, where he now owns Birmingham Construction Co. LLC. The mayor’s brother, Joseph Cassetti, was reelected as an Alderman for the Third Ward.
Father Jeff Gubiotti of Assumption Church delivered the invocation, and Joseph DiBacco, superintendent of schools, led opening remarks.
“He has fully funded public education every year that I’ve been with him,” DiBacco said of Cassetti. He credited Cassetti with reduction of class sizes and development of career programs at Ansonia High School. He also thanked the audience for voting to pass a referendum which will allocate $105.5 million to education improvements in Ansonia, including a new middle school.
Members of the Ansonia High School Choir led the crowd in the National Anthem. Peter Roditis provided a musical interlude, performing several Neil Young covers on acoustic guitar and harmonica.
Ansonia candidates sworn into office this evening were:
ALDERMEN
Ward 1 — Daniel King {R}, Gary Farrar Jr. {R}
Ward 2 — Steve Adamowski {R}, Bobbi Tar {R}
Ward 3 — Joseph Cassetti {R}, Joseph Jeanette Jr. {R}
Ward 4 — Nathaniel Hardy {R, not present}, Robert Knott III {R}
Ward 5 — Joseph Jaumann {R}, Chicago R. Rivers {R}
Ward 6 — Joshua Shuart {R}, Anthony T. Mammone {R}
Ward 7 — Anthony Levinsky {R}, Mario Durante {R}
Town and City Clerk: Beth Shortell Lynch {nominated by both parties}
Treasurer: Judy Larkin-Nicolari {nominated by both parties}
Board of Education: Christopher Phipps {D, not present}, Stephanie Ocasio-Gonzalez {D}, Richard Bshara {R}, Sharon L. Voroschak-Papcin {R}
Sheriffs: Chriss Grizzle {not present}, Sean P. Rowley, Joseph Jeanette Jr., Rasheem Gonzalez, Frank Appleby
