Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim To Step Down

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim Tuesday announced he will be stepping down next month.

The 33-year-old mayor, who made history in 2019 when the former Wesleyan student became the youngest mayor ever elected in Middletown, will be at town hall until June 16. He is in the midst of a second four-year term, won during his 2023 re-election bid.

Council President Gene Nocera will become acting mayor at noon on June 16 and the Common Council will then declare a permanent vacancy in the office and schedule a special election, which will likely coincide with the regular municipal election on Nov. 4, Florsheim said.

He released the following statement Tuesday evening:

"To my fellow Middletown residents:

"I’m writing to share some news with you all. After a challenging, gratifying, life-changing experience over the last five and a half years, I will be stepping down as mayor next month. I am making this announcement now in the hopes of facilitating a smooth transition over the next few weeks; my last day will be June 16, when Council President Gene Nocera will become Acting Mayor at 12:00 p.m.

"The Common Council will then declare a permanent vacancy in the office and schedule a special election, which I hope will coincide with the regular municipal election on November 4, 2025.

Doing this job has been the greatest honor of my life. As proud as I am of everything we have achieved during my time in office, that sense of accomplishment is exceeded only by the optimism I have for Middletown’s future.

"There are a number of personal and professional reasons why I’ve come to the decision to move on, not least of which is my faith in Gene and the entire team here to keep our city moving forward. For now, I’ll just say that the time has come for me to pursue a new career direction, one that will keep me in service to the community, but allow me more time and opportunity to focus on building the family and the future that I envision for myself here in Middletown. To put it another way: I’m not going anywhere, and I look forward to making myself of service to the community in the future.

"Holding political office in these times is a solemn duty, one which I have taken seriously from the day that this community vested that trust in me. It is also a deeply weird situation that takes its toll on those of us who ran to serve the needs of ordinary citizens by making it difficult, sometimes impossible, to live ordinary lives. At age 33 and after nearly six years in my role as mayor, the best thing for me and for Middletown is to return to a more ordinary life in a city that we all know to be extraordinary. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to work with and for you all, and I am looking forward to a smooth transition of leadership and continued forward progress for our community in the weeks, months, and years to come.

"In the immortal words of Bob Dylan, and with a tip of the cap to my very first political inspiration and mentor, Russ Feingold:

“My heart is not weary; it’s light and it’s free. I’ve got nothing but affection for those who have sailed with me.”

With thanks, love, and solidarity,
Ben