Dziekan and his supporters said economic development would be a priority over the next two years.
“I think the residents see where we’re going, and we got a lot going on,” Dziekan said in his victory speech, referencing projects underway, including the redevelopment of Main Street. The city is opening bids Wednesday to award a contract for the widening of Route 34 downtown.
“It took a lot of years to get Derby going in the right direction,” he said, thanking supporters and campaign volunteers. “What we’re doing with my staff, we’re doing a great job and we’re going to continue.”
The unofficial results had Dziekan at 1,430 votes, and DiMartino with 1,382. DiMartino had more absentee votes than Dziekan, something Republicans noted would be an area to watch for future campaigns.
“We have to do a better job adjusting to the fact that more people are going to be voting by absentee ballot,” said Jim Gildea, a senior campaign adviser to Dziekan who was re-elected to the Board of Education. “Not to be afraid of it, but to embrace it and respond to it.”
Dziekan boasted of a clean campaign, where they “took the high road.”
“We ran a positive campaign, a fact-based campaign,” said Dziekan’s campaign manager Rob Hyder, who was re-elected to the Board of Aldermen.
Photo By Jodie Gil
Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan reading early election returns Tuesday night.
The Democrats gained control of the Board of Education and kept positions as the Town/City Clerk and Treasurer, according to unofficial numbers from the campaign.
Democrats also retained the majority of seats on the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen, with Republican Gino DiGiovanni picking up DiMartino’s open seat in the Second Ward, and Democrat Linda Fusco replacing Republican Jim DiMartino in the Third Ward.
Dziekan said he’s looking forward to seeing more progress over the next two years.
“We’re just going to keep moving forward. We need to keep moving forward,” he said. “We’ve got traction. Thank god we didn’t get derailed on this. So I’m very excited for my third term.”
During his concession speech from Democratic headquarters on Olivia Street, before a crowd of more than 50 supporters, DiMartino fought back tears as he spoke.
“I worked really hard and I gave it everything I had, I have no regrets,” DiMartino said. “The people have spoken. They want him (Dziekan) for another two years. I want to thank my family for supporting me throughout this whole campaign; I couldn’t have done it without them. My campaign team was the best, and I can’t thank them enough. Sorry we didn’t get the job done, but we tried our best. No regrets, I did my best; I left it all on the table.”
As for the closeness of the race, DiMartino’s campaign manager Linda Fusco doesn’t believe the margin of loss is big enough to call for a recount. She said two years ago when fellow Democrat Brian Coppolo lost to Dziekan by just 38 votes, a recount didn’t happen.
“I’m 98 percent sure it doesn’t call for one, but I will check with (Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo) tomorrow just to be certain,” Fusco said. “Joe could not have done any more than he did. He walked for months, going door to door, talking with the residents.”
DTC Chairman Aniello “Owney” Malerba encouraged his fellow Democrats to not give up hope for the future.
“I know this isn’t the result we were hoping for,” Malerba said. “I know it’s disappointing, but it’s just another excuse for us to work harder, get back on our feet, take this as a learning lesson and get back out there. The work starts tomorrow.”
Longtime Alderman Ron Sill, who has sat on the board for an incredible 36 years, was disheartened by the low voter turnout, with just about 40 percent of Derby’s registered voters casting ballots.
“It’s disappointing that 60 percent of the registered voters didn’t come out and vote,” Sill said.
Haljit Basuljevic contributed to this report.
Unofficial results below are from the City of Derby
Bold denotes winner
Mayor
Democrat
Joseph DiMartino: 1382
Republican
Richard Dziekan (incumbent) 1430
Town/City Clerk
Democrat Marc Garofalo (incumbent): 1766
Republican Michael Shea: 1007
Treasurer
Democrat Maria Conlon (incumbent): 1531
Republican Judy Szewczyk: 1217
Constable
Democrat “Owney” Malerba Jr. 1473
Republican Peter Duhaime 1215
Board of Aldermen First Ward
Democrat Anita Dugatto (incumbent): 322
Democrat Barbara DeGennaro (incumbent): 307
Democrat Sarah Widomski (incumbent): 295
Republican Lorie McCormack: 257
Republican Rich DiCarlo: 278
Republican Jason Miller: 248
Board of Aldermen Second Ward
Democrat Brian Coppolo: 441
Democrat Ronald Sill (incumbent): 503
Democrat Camille Grande Kurtyka (incumbent): 412
Republican Gino DiGiovanni, Jr.: 434
Republican Alvin Holmes: 278
Republican Jim Petrino: 343
Board of Aldermen Third Ward
Democrat Kevin Sharkey: 609
Democrat Linda Fusco: 657
Democrat Rita Reilly Pelaggi: 572
Republican Charles Sampson (incumbent): 700
Republican Bob Kling: 599
Republican Rob Hyder (incumbent): 692
Board of Apportionment & Taxation
Democrat Bhamini Patel (incumbent): 1260
Democrat Roberto Santos: 1328
Democrat Samantha Burgan: 1304
Democrat Jennifer Desroches: 1364
Democrat Ryan Toffey: 1229
Democrat Rose Pertoso (incumbent): 1367
Republican Kristen Mancini Wright: 1547
Republican Rob Forte (incumbent): 1417
Republican Mike Gray (incumbent): 1432
Republican Holly Orazietti: 1616
Republican Chris Carloni (incumbent): 1617
Republican Jeff Polis: 1426
Board of Education:
Democrat Kenneth Marcucio Sr. (incumbent): 1449
Democrat George Kurtyka (incumbent): 1345
Democrat Melissa Mongillo: 1417
Democrat Daniel P. Foley (incumbent): 1518
Democrat Veronica DiLullo: 1243
Democrat Melissa Cannata (incumbent): 1380
Republican Jim Gildea (incumbent):1501
Republican Laura Harris (incumbent):1459
Republican Tara Hyder (incumbent): 1334
Republican Joe Iorfino (incumbent): 1195
Republican Jennifer Caruso: 1449
Republican Rebecca O’Hara (incumbent): 1426
