Lone Democrat on Ansonia Board of Aldermen switches parties

ANSONIA — As the saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

Such is the case in Ansonia as the lone Democratic member of the city’s Board of Aldermen recently switched political allegiances and is now a Republican. By switching Joseph Jeanette, who represents the city’s Third Ward, has handed the Ansonia Republicans complete control of the city’s legislative body.

Jeanette said he switched because he believes Mayor David Cassetti is an indispensable part of the city’s economic rebound and the Democratic Party had changed in ways that clashed with his political beliefs.

“I’m a firm believer, if the mayor fails, the city fails. And I don’t want that to happen. I think he’s doing a good job. Him and the administration,” Jeanette said.

His switch also means there is no opposing party with any presence on the board. The local Democratic Party ran candidates in November partly on a platform that the board should not be a rubber stamp for Cassetti’s economic policies. However, Jeanette said his new-found political affiliation would not influence how he votes.

Jeanette said he wanted to switch for a while and previously made overtures to the Republican Party. But the decision to change parties was his alone, he said.

“No one made me switch. This is totally something that I wanted to do. And they accepted me and I’m proud to be part of it,” he said.

His nephew, Garry Farrar who is the former chairman of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee, also switched parties although he does not occupy any elected office.

He made the switch partly due to issues he had with the direction of the party and bickering between members. But, he was also motivated to switch allegiances due in part to the perceived futility of campaigning against an administration that’s doing a good job, he said.

“The losses that we have faced over the past three elections, since I’ve been a member of the DTC, are a result of the Republicans doing a good job,” he said. “I don’t think anything that the Democrats have done would necessarily, influence their records. I just think it’s more of a what the environment that the city is in.”

Brian Perkins, who recently ran for an alderman seat and is now the interim chair of the Ansonia Democratic Town Committee, said he wished Jeanette and Farrar well, but pointed out the two jumped to the opposition party after Farrar failed in his bid to remain on the DTC.

Their departures won’t hurt the party Perkins said.

“The older members didn’t get kicked off or alienated. They simply left,” he said. “Political landscapes change so vastly and constantly that I don’t necessarily feel like we’ll be losing anything, but rather gaining new direction and effective messaging.”