Derby Mayoral Candidate Richard Dziekan Appeals to Voters

(The following is a letter from Derby Republican Mayoral Candidate Richard Dziekan)


Now that the dust has settled from the Derby mayoral debate, I’d like to make my final public statement to the voters before next Tuesday’s election.

I first announced my intent to run for Mayor earlier this year on March 22^nd. For the past 7+ months, I have attended meetings, gone to public events, and most importantly, visited almost 3,000 Derby residents at their homes. I have lost almost 30 pounds due to these efforts and the stresses associated with running a campaign. In addition, my team has volunteered countless hours of time to gathering information, meeting with residents, and doing the necessary legwork. 

I’m proud that we have run a fact-based, grass roots campaign with nothing but Derby people at the core of the effort. At the end of the day, I know that Mayor Dugatto and the Democrats have Derby’s best interest in mind as much as the Republicans and I do. She has had four years to improve the quality of life for Derby residents, and now I think it’s my turn to lead us in the right direction.

I want to ensure Derby voters that I have a specific plan for economic development and it is multi-faceted with a lot of moving parts. I can tell you that the first thing I will do is get the city’s residential real estate holdings back onto the tax rolls. As a city, we should not be in the real estate business any more than we should be in the development business.

 

Our job in city hall is to assess and remediate properties so they are as attractive as possible to investors and developers, not to sit on 15+ properties and come up with a specific plan for each one. I understand we made calculated decisions to purchase some properties downtown in preparation for execution of a plan, but it is now time to move forward with not only the downtown project, but also get things moving in other stagnant areas.

I will work with surrounding municipalities, the State of Connecticut, and the federal government to secure all available funds and resources. I will consolidate services and combine efforts with anyone and everyone that will help to alleviate the tax burden for the citizens of Derby.

I will bring in a full-time professional staff and hold them accountable to the city. They will give a championship effort in moving Derby forward and they will bring results, not hypothetical plans and promises. I myself will focus on leading everyone in the city and getting maximum productivity out of each department. Being the Mayor of Derby will be both an honor and a complete lifestyle for me. It will be a 24/7 identity.

I want to be your Mayor and those who have pledged their support to me believe that I’m the right person to lead Derby into the future. I will conclude with a quote:

“Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions.”

 

Mayor Dugatto has no doubt had the best of intentions for our city, but unfortunately she has lacked the foresight and ability to make her plans a reality. I hope I can count on your vote on November 7^th.

Dugatto Thanks Derby Voters

(The following is a letter to Derby citizens from Mayor Anita Dugatto)

 Derby is Stronger Together

DERBY - Thank you to all the voters who took time out of their busy lives on September 12 to vote in Derby’s Democratic Primary for Mayor.  

 

I am honored and humbled to have received the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Derby with my victory on September 12.  I couldn’t have done it without the support and confidence of countless volunteers and community members. I am deeply grateful for their efforts.

 

Turnout was strong.  I think this was due, in large part, to the interest our residents have in the

success of our city.  Over the past four years, we have worked hard to engage our citizens, to let them know they truly have a voice in their community and that their opinions matter. September 12 was a demonstration that our message was heard loud and clear.

 

When I was a child, my father worked at Derby’s Hull Dye and my mother stayed at home caring for me and my seven siblings while trying to make ends meet.  My parents, my neighbors, and many others showed me at a young age what a hard day of work looks like.  While the livelihoods of Derby’s residents may have changed over the years, one thing hasn’t - their strong work ethic. I believe in this city because I know that, if given the opportunity, each and every Derby resident has the drive and ability to succeed. That is why it’s so important to ensure that we are providing opportunities in our community for our residents to thrive.
 

Rather than looking for differences in each other - whether it be our ancestry, our political affiliation, or our income - we need to unite as people who are proud to call Derby home and who are working together to move us forward.
 

As the primary campaign season progressed, one thing became more and more apparent to me:  Mr. DiCenso and I are more alike than we are different.  We share the same level of passion for the community we grew up in - our knowledge of the challenges and our ideas for the solutions are, in fact, quite complimentary.  This shared perspective is an inherent strength.
 

Tremendous progress is being made in Derby.  When I look around our city, I see more businesses opening here, I see better parks, better roads, and better schools. These accomplishments were the result of dedication, collaboration, and a shared interest in the common good by members of Derby’s diverse community.  That diversity is important to ensure all citizens are represented.  

I humbly ask for your support again on November 7. Together we control the progress of Derby.  We will show that a shared vision for our community will prevail. 

 

Gentile Thanks Supporters

Dear Editor:

I would like to thank all of the good people of the 104^th District for their support and confidence in my ability to represent them in Hartford for another term.  In a year where hard-working people were clearly looking for the best person to represent them, I am grateful for their overwhelming certainty in my competence to do so.

Although I was not able to reach as many voters as I would have liked due to a stress fracture in my left foot, I was able to speak to many.  They opened their homes and their hearts to me sharing their personal stories of challenges and struggles.  They pledged their support to me because they trusted me and they trusted my commitment.  In spite of their financial struggles, or maybe because of them, they opened their pocketbooks, contributing to my campaign enabling me to get my positive message out to all voters.  In fact, I raised my necessary campaign donations this election cycle faster and quicker than ever!

I will continue to represent Ansonia and Derby to the best of my ability.  I will work with all of my colleagues as I have always done, on both sides of the aisle.  I will continue to look for opportunities to create efficiencies in local government, while still being able to offer needed services.  I will continue to identify grant funding opportunities to bring home taxpayers’ hard-earned money, allowing local mayors the chance to control local taxes.  I will work with our technical schools and our community colleges to expand and promote good paying advanced manufacturing careers for all those looking to work hard to provide for their families and their futures.  I will look to maintain and support successful programs for businesses, both small and large, that will ensure retention and expansion here in Connecticut.  And, I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to identify programs and opportunities for seniors, veterans and working families, as well as working to realize equal pay for equal work.

I am motivated by this victory mandate to work even harder to improve the quality of life for all of the citizens of Ansonia and Derby.  As I have said previously, you are my family, friends and neighbors and I will always make myself available to you.  I am always willing to listen and learn and you have taught me well.  I will be grateful to you forever. 

Thank you.  

(This is a letter to the editor from Linda Gentile)