Mayhew
DERBY – A veteran city politico who was previously a pastor at a local church is Mayor Rich Dziekan’s new chief of staff.
Walt Mayhew was scheduled to start in the position this week, according to a press release sent by the mayor’s office on Dec. 28.
Mayhew is being paid $78,221, and he left his job as a math teacher at a school in Danbury to take the new job. Mayhew moved from Derby to Danbury over the summer.
Mayhew replaces Andrew Baklik, who served as chief of staff during Mayor Dziekan’s first two terms. Baklik is still employed by the city, helping with the transition to his replacement. Baklik’s last full-time day is Jan. 14.
Mayhew was most recently Derby City Treasurer, a position he was elected to as a Democrat in 2019. Mayhew opposed Mayor Dziekan’s re-election in 2019 and worked on challenger Brian Coppolo’s campaign. Dziekan, a Republican, won that election by a small margin.
However, after resigning as treasurer in July, Mayhew worked on Dziekan’s most recent re-election campaign in November, which Dziekan also won.
In a prepared statement, the mayor said Mayhew has good qualifications for the job.
“I looked at a number of possible candidates to serve as Chief of Staff. Out of all of them, I felt Walt brought a skill set and experience both in business, the community and within city government that uniquely qualified him to serve in the role of Chief of Staff,” Dziekan said.
In Derby, the chief of staff is a position appointed by the mayor and, with Baklik in the role, has played a key role in day-to-day city governance.
The mayor’s office touted Mayhew’s resume, which includes 25 years in the private sector where he oversaw the development of financial software and worked as a technical director for a consulting firm based in New York City.
Mayhew was head pastor for 20 years at Christian Community Church at the corner of Smith and Ninth streets. The church is now part of Walnut Hill Community Church.
Mayhew has tons of local government experience, having served over the years as an Alderman, a member of the tax board, and a member of the school board.
In the prepared statement from the mayor’s office, Mayhew was quoted as saying “I am grateful for the opportunity Mayor Dziekan has given me, as his Chief of Staff, to play a significant role in shaping the future of my hometown and working with the various people in city government, regardless of party affiliation, to accomplish what is best for Derby.”
Mayor Dziekan also has a new administrative assistant on the job in Derby City Hall. Fran Pepe, a previous City Hall employee, has replaced John Board, who worked in the position since July. Pepe is being paid $55,652 annually. She is a Derby resident married to Frank Pepe, a well-known Derby contractor who does lots of work locally.
In an email, Baklik said the city, after a long search, has hired a new assistant finance director, Angela Gencarelli, who starts Jan. 25. The city is searching for a new, part-time zoning enforcement officer because its previous ZEO left for a full-time job with another municipality.
