Recount Triggered in Derby Mayoral Race as Candidate Charged in Jan. 6 Riot

Derby Mayoral Primary Recount Imminent as Race Heats Up

In Derby, the Republican mayoral primary contest is reaching a boiling point as incumbent Richard Dziekan and alderman Gino DiGiovanni, Jr. go head-to-head in a nail-biting race that is too close to call. The intense competition has led to anticipation for an upcoming recount.

A Close Race

DiGiovanni, who faced federal charges for his involvement in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, has a slim lead of only 10 votes based on the official final tally released by City Clerk Marc J. Garofalo. DiGiovanni secured 202 votes, while Dziekan received 192. With the margin of victory falling within the recount threshold of 20 votes, the recount is expected to take place later this week.

Recount Date

The anticipated date for the recount is set for Friday, September 15, 2023, at 12:00 noon at Derby City Hall, as announced by Garofalo via email.

Voter Turnout

The small town of Derby saw approximately 400 Republicans actively participate in the primary, which took place about 10 miles west of New Haven.

Voters walk outside the polling station at Bradley Elementary School in Derby Conn. on Sept. 12, 2023 after casting ballots in a Republican primary race between incumbent mayor Richard Dziekan and Gino DiGiovanni. DiGiovanni is currently facing federal charges for his participation at the January 6 riot inside the U.S Capitol. Eddy Martinez / Connecticut Public

DiGiovanni’s Defense

DiGiovanni, aged 42, was elected as an alderman 10 months after the Capitol attack. While he admits to being present at the Capitol on January 6, he firmly denies any wrongdoing. According to him, he merely attended the event to witness what he believed would be then-President Trump’s final speech.

“People ask me, ‘Do you have any regrets of going that day?'” he said. “And, you know, that is so hard for me to answer — if it was just substantially on that day? Well, maybe.”

Endorsement and Future Prospects

DiGiovanni had the endorsement of the local Republican Party committee, while Dziekan opted not to seek it. The winner of the primary will go on to face Democrat Joe DiMartino, a former alderman, in the general election scheduled for November. Given the history of close races, the general election is expected to be fiercely competitive. In 2021, Dziekan narrowly secured re-election over DiMartino by a slim margin of 48 votes.

This story was first published on September 12, 2023, by Connecticut Public. Connecticut Public’s Patrick Skahill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read More of this Story at ctmirror.org – 2023-09-14 12:00:00