Linda Fusco, chairwoman of the Derby Democratic Town Committee, reads the rules at a meeting July 18.
The Valley political season officially kicked off July 18 when about 75 people packed the Veterans Memorial building to watch the Derby Democratic Town Committee chose a candidate for mayor.
The majority of the town committee chose Carmen DiCenso, the president of the Board of Aldermen, instead of two-term incumbent Mayor Anita Dugatto.
Dugatto said she’ll collect the signatures necessary to trigger a Democratic primary, at which point Derby Democrats citywide will have the chance to nominate either DiCenso or Dugatto.
Meanwhile, the Derby Republicans were expected to nominate Rich Dziekan July 19.
Immediately prior to the Democratic Town Committee’s vote Wednesday, six people had the chance to make the case for Dugatto and DiCenso.
The Valley Indy recorded speeches made by First Ward Alderwoman Barbara DeGennaro and Second Ward Alderman Art Gerckens.
DeGennaro endorsed DiCenso while Gerckens endorsed Dugatto.
DeGennaro’s complete speech is embedded below, as is the majority of Gerckens’ speech.
Please note Gerckens’ speech did not record in full, so the recording below is two parts of the speech edited into a single stream from an iPhone.
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