Cassetti: Progress With Purpose Creates Pride In Ansonia

ANSONIA — City Republicans on Wednesday unanimously endorsed David Cassetti for a fifth term as mayor.

The mayor said the Republicans have Ansonia on the right track by investing in education, public safety and infrastructure.

“The purpose of progress is the enhancement of the quality of life for the people of Ansonia. And progress with purpose has given people pride in Ansonia again. But now is not the time to stop,” Cassetti said during his acceptance speech after remarks by Alderman Joseph Jaumann and Alderman Chicago Rivers.

The GOP formally endorsed a slate of candidates during a caucus at The Ansonia Armory.

The Cassetti Renaissance

The Cassetti administration is presiding over a resurging Main Street, now home to a variety of restaurants. 

Hundreds of new housing units are under construction on Ansonia’s Main Street, within buildings where redevelopment once seemed like a political pipe dream. Two office buildings on Main Street have approvals to become apartment buildings. A new police station caps the ​“recharged” Main Street.

Federal and state grant money has been arriving to deal with massive municipal headaches such as the former Ansonia Copper & Brass and surrounding old industrial zone downtown. 

In the past year alone, Ansonia has received $3.5 million in grants for things like demolition and environmental cleanup. Gov. Ned Lamont has twice appeared in Ansonia to highlight the grants and bring attention to what’s happening.

When PBS NewsHour aired a report on federal earmarks, the news agency chose Ansonia as a place where federal dollars are being put to good use.

And the caustic infighting between the GOP — and between the Cassetti administration and the board of education — has dramatically improved .

In fact, Cassetti pointed to the GOP endorsement of Ansonia Town Clerk Beth Lynch, an incumbent Democrat, as an example of bipartisanship.

The mayor called his underticket on the Board of Aldermen ​“an engine of progress, moving our city forward.”

Is There A Challenger?

In 2019, Cassetti received a whopping 63 percent of the vote. Ansonia Democrats this year opted Tuesday to not run a challenger against him, and instead concentrate on the under-ticket races.

Cassetti said some — emphasizing ​“some” — members running for office with the Democrats blindly oppose initiatives because his name is attached.

“When we proposed lowering taxes, they wanted to spend more. When we proposed spending on public projects, they turn around and they want to spend less,” Cassetti said.

While the Democrats did not nominate a mayoral candidate, Cassetti could face a challenge from a petitioning candidate. A resident who works for public works is apparently interested, according to Republican and Democratic officials, but The Valley Indy was unable to reach the potential candidate Wednesday night through phone or social media to confirm.

The GOP slate contains many familiar names, including a bunch of incumbents. 

A notable newcomer: Steve Adamowski, a longtime educator who recently retired as superintendent of Norwalk Public Schools. He was nominated to run for Second Ward Alderman.

Here is the list of candidates endorsed by the Ansonia Republican Town Committee:

Mayor:
David Cassetti

First Ward Alderman:
Charles Stowe (incumbent)
Dan King (incumbent)

Second Ward Alderman:
Steve Adamowski
Bobbi Tar (incumbent)

Third Ward Alderman:
Joe Cassetti (incumbent)

Fourth Ward Alderman:
Anthony Spigarolo (incumbent)

Fifth Ward Alderman:
Chicago Rivers (incumbent)
Joseph Jaumann (incumbent)

Sixth Ward
Josh Shuart (incumbent)
Anthony Mammone (incumbent)

Seventh Ward
David Blackwell, Jr. (incumbent)
Frank DeLibero, Jr. (incumbent)

Town Clerk:
Beth Lynch (an incumbent Democrat endorsed by both parties)

Treasurer:
Judy Nicolari (incumbent)

Board of Education:
Tracey DeLibero
Beth LeBerge

Sheriffs
Bobbi Tar
Crystal Jaumann