Mike Jarjura
State Representative David Aldarondo, middle, is facing a challenge today in a Democrat primary to control the 75th District town committee. Bottom line - Victor Cuevas is gunning to take Aldarondo's seat in Hartford.
Story and Photographs By John Murray
Super Tuesday might decide which Republican candidate squares of against Barack Obama for the presidency in November. Ten states hold primaries and caucuses today, and 419 delegates are up for grabs -- more than all the contests to date combined. In Waterbury, far from the media spotlight, another primary is being waged in the south end of the city that may have reverberations on local politics for decades to come.
| Login or register to post comments | Tags: 75th District State Representative, David Aldarando, Gerry Reyes, Latino Unidos, Mike Jarjura, Neil O'Leary, South End, Victor Cuevas
Ron Pugliese grew up in the Bucks Hill neighborhood of Waterbury and was a talented athlete at Wilby High School. Four decades later, Pugliese has returned to Waterbury to become the executive director of Economic Development under Mayor Neil O’Leary.
Story and Photographs By John Murray
Ron Pugliese was born and raised in Waterbury and is a firm believer in public service. His father was the assistant city clerk in the 1950s, and all three of his sons have forged a life in the public sector arena.
“My wife is a teacher and our entire family believes in volunteering and giving back,” Pugliese said. “If an organization asks me for help, I never say no. That’s who I am.”
Back in November, in addition to being the President of the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Pugliese was a board member of the Connecticut State University System, a board member of the Palace Theater, and a recently elected selectman in the town of Southbury.
And it’s that generous spirit of public service - and a love of Waterbury - that Ron Pugliese an easy mark when Neil O’Leary recruited him to be the city’s new economic development director.
| Login or register to post comments | Tags: John Rowland, Mike Jarjura, Neil O'Leary, Reggie Beamon, Ron Pugliese, Saranda Belica
Waterbury mayor, Neil O'Leary, right, watched as former mayor Mike Jarjura proceeded to the microphone to denounce O'Leary's plans to finance economic development out of the mayor's budget.
By John Murray
Former five-term mayor, Mike Jarjura made a surprise visit to the Board of Aldermen meeting tonight to speak out against transferring money to the mayor's office to fund two new economic development positions. Jarjura said the move would create a financial burden in tough economic times, and chided the aldermen that they would have opposed the concept had he proposed it last spring.
Mike Jarjura has enjoyed a magical run in Waterbury politics. He was elected five times as a State Representative in the East End, and has served five consecutive terms as mayor, tying him with Mike Bergin for the most consecutive terms in office, If Jarjura wins an historic sixth term in November he will establish a new record.
Interview and Photographs By John Murray
Observer: How do you define the role of mayor in Waterbury? Give a brief description of the job you’d like to be re-hired to.
Jarjura: The Mayor of the City of Waterbury is the chief executive officer of the corporation. It is a $400-million dollar budget corporation and has nearly 3,000 employees. The corporation provides a number of essential human services to over 110,000 people. In addition to being the CEO of the corporation, the mayor is also the chief elected official and really the number one public persona of the city. That’s really what the job as Mayor is best defined as.
Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura is a five-term incumbent, and after switching to the Republican Party in June, Jarjura is seeking a record sixth consecutive term in office. Last night while accepting the GOP nomination Jarjura was animated, engaged and fired up. For much of the past ten years his public speeches amounted to singling out local and state dignitaries in the crowd for acknowledgement. Last night, Mayor Jarjura uncorked a blistering speech that he wrote late Monday night after the Board of Aldermen meeting.
| Login or register to post comments | Tags: BetteJane Wesson, Carlo Palladino, Chick Spinella, Frank Burgio, Fred Luedke, Jason Van Stone, Jerry Padula, JoAnne D'Amelio, Lisa Margiotta, Lynette Piombo, Mike Jarjura, Politics, Steve Giacomi, Sundae Black, Valter Merolli and George Noujaim
Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura was all smiles as he announced his switch to the Republican Party.
Story and Photographs By John Murray
Life-long Democrat Mike Jarjura will have his official Republican coming out party tomorrow night at the GOP convention in downtown Waterbury, but he's not going to have the unbeatable fusion ticket he imagined seven weeks ago.
| Login or register to post comments | Tags: Community Bulletin Board, Larry DePillo, Mike Jarjura, Politics, Republican Party Convention
Spinach Pie and Politics
Malloy Touts Local Albanian Community, Endorses Neil O'Leary
The dance group "Besa" performed "Valle e Devollit" at the 6th Annual Albanian Festival at the Albanian- American Muslim Community Center, on Raymond Street, in the South End of Waterbury. Valle means dance, and Devolli is a village in Albania. Photographs by John Murray
| Login or register to post comments | Tags: Albanian- American Muslim Community, Governor Dannel Malloy, Mike Jarjura, Neil O'Leary, Saranda Belica
Former Waterbury police chief Neil O'Leary announced his candidacy for mayor in early February. O'Leary had agreed not to challenge Mike Jarjura in 2009 when the mayor promised to support him in 2011. Jarjura changed his mind, but the Democratic establishment, which had helped broker the arrangement in 2009, threw its support behind O'Leary. Without party support, and with philosophical differences with state and federal Democratic leaders, Jarjura announced on May 31st that he had switched parties and is now a Republican. Photo by John Murray
Party's Over
Story By John Murray
The Waterbury Observer has confirmed that Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura is switching political parties and will head the Republican ticket in November. The official announcement was originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 25th, but when two top GOP lawmakers – Tony D’Amelio and Selim Noujaim – couldn’t make it, the press conference was re-scheduled for May 31st, at Waterbury City Hall.