Patch Candidate Profile: Joseph DiMartino For Derby Mayor

DERBY, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:

Joseph DiMartino

What office are you seeking?

Mayor

What town do you live in?

Derby

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:

Democratic

Occupation:

Mayor, City of Derby

Family:

My wife Lori, My four daughters, Karissa, Jordyn, Lacey & Kaelyn. My 3 grandsons Joey, Jaxson & Cameron

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Yes currently as Mayor of Derby for the past 2 years. Previously, I was on the Board Aldermen & Alderwomen, in Derby, for 10 years.

Why are you seeking this office?

Our administration has made real progress, but there’s more to accomplish. I’m running for reelection to continue delivering smart investments, strong leadership, and results for Derby.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the city’s finances, and this is what I intend to do about it. When I took office, Derby faced a $1.9 million deficit and serious financial challenges. By hiring a skilled Finance Director and working side by side with my team, we restored stability to City Hall and put our city back on solid ground.

Since then, we’ve attracted new businesses, secured critical grant funding, modernized city services, and launched projects that are breathing new life into Derby. My plan moving forward is to continue building on this progress, presenting honest budgets without gimmicks, maximizing resources, and ensuring our city remains financially stable while growing opportunity for all residents.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The major difference between myself and my opponent is proven results versus promises.

While others talk about what they plan to do, I can point to what’s already been accomplished. When I took office, Derby was facing a $1.9 million deficit and a city government in disarray. Today, our finances are stable, our credit is improving, and we’re moving forward responsibly, not by making excuses, but by making tough decisions and delivering measurable progress. I respect anyone willing to step forward and run for public office, but my opponent has never even held an elected position before, and this job requires both experience and a steady hand on the pulse of the city.

As a lifelong Derby resident, I’ve lived and worked in this community my entire life, raising my family here, spending 34 years with the Derby Public Works Department, and serving 10 years on the Board of Alders, including two as President. I understand this city from the ground up.

Another key difference is our commitment to public safety. My opponent has openly opposed the city’s referendum to replace two fire engines, a rescue truck, and update our fire radio system, referring to it as a “money grab.” That view shows a lack of understanding about the importance of maintaining critical life-safety equipment, equipment that protects our firefighters and every resident of this city. I believe investing in the safety of our community is not optional; it’s a responsibility.

Leadership is about accountability and that’s exactly what my administration has delivered. We’ve taken on blight, attracted new businesses, increased revenues, improved public safety, and invested in infrastructure all while being transparent and accessible to the people we serve.

My opponent speaks about plans. I speak from a record of real accomplishments and a clear plan for continued progress: stabilizing taxes, expanding our Grand List through smart development, and continuing to make Derby a safer, stronger community.

At the end of the day, talk doesn’t move Derby forward results do. And that’s the difference.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

During this campaign, we've been addressing the plan for our next term. The focus will be on building on the progress we’ve made and continuing to strengthen Derby’s financial stability, public safety, and quality of life.

Economic Development will remain a top priority. We’re already seeing new businesses choose Derby, and we’ll continue to attract more to foster growth and opportunity. Advancing the Downtown Master Plan, assessing the best uses for the recently acquired Scrapyard property, and exploring potential development at Fountain Lake are all key steps in expanding our Grand List and creating new jobs right here in our community.

We’ll also continue our work on stabilizing taxes. That means collaborating closely with the Board of Education to maximize resources, identifying shared service opportunities with neighboring communities, and presenting honest budgets without gimmicks or hidden costs, ensuring Derby taxpayers get value for every dollar spent.

Another major focus is a renewed commitment to life and safety. We’ll continue funding the police vehicle replacement program, upgrade fire department radios to improve communication, and procure essential equipment for our fire and ambulance services. Keeping all life-safety equipment updated and compliant isn’t just a goal it’s a duty to our residents and first responders.

Finally, we’ll keep investing in Derby’s infrastructure. That includes launching the next phase of our road repaving project, repairing the chiller at Derby Middle School, upgrading the elevator at the Senior Center for accessibility, and installing air conditioning at the Derby Public Library. We’ll continue maintaining and investing in our city buildings to ensure long-term value and usability.

These priorities are about one thing, continuing Derby’s momentum. We’ve turned the corner financially and operationally; now it’s time to build on that success and keep moving Derby forward.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I believe my administration has shown that I not only understand the challenges Derby faces but have the experience and determination to solve them. When I took office, I inherited a $1.9 million deficit and a city in financial disarray. Through responsible leadership and teamwork, we turned that around.

Under my administration, we restored fiscal stability by hiring a qualified Finance Director, reorganizing the Tax Office to increase collections, and cracking down on blight to generate new revenue. We even built a new salt shed at no cost to taxpayers and launched a City Employee Wellness Plan that cut costs and improved health, all while delivering balanced, transparent budgets.

In economic development, we’ve brought new life to Derby by attracting businesses like Splash, Portobellos, Umi, Hi-People, and Cosmic Black Cat. We acquired the Scrap Yard property and secured $200,000 in Brownfield Grants to advance recreational development at O’Sullivan’s Island. We also began the Sterling Opera House study and saw construction and occupancy begin on 200 new housing apartments, marking real progress in revitalizing our city.

I’ve also prioritized public safety and city infrastructure. We installed modern security systems at key public buildings, acquired a new street sweeper, and improved our emergency readiness. I led the effort to bring before voters a plan to replace two fire engines, one rescue truck, and update our fire radio system, all critical, decades-old equipment that keeps our residents and first responders safe.

And beyond the numbers, we’ve strengthened Derby’s community spirit and quality of life. Together, we replaced the Bradley School Playground through city, school, and parent collaboration, reignited our Sister City relationship with Puglianello, Italy, celebrated Derby’s 350th Anniversary with inclusive events, and launched the Inaugural Charity Ball, benefiting local nonprofits.

These accomplishments prove that I can, and have handled the responsibilities of this office. I’ve made the tough decisions, delivered results, and kept Derby move forward with integrity and accountability.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I ever received was simple but has guided me throughout my life: be honest, and do what you love.

Honesty builds trust, whether you’re leading a city, coaching a team, or raising a family. People may not always agree with every decision, but if you’re transparent and genuine, they’ll respect you for it. And doing what you love keeps you driven. I’ve dedicated my life to Derby because I truly love this community, its people, its spirit, and its potential. When you lead with honesty and passion, good things follow.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want voters to know that myself and the individuals running on my ticket care deeply about Derby. This isn’t just where we work or serve — it’s our home. We’ve raised families here, built our lives here, and we are committed to making sure Derby continues to thrive for generations to come.

We lead with honesty, integrity, and a focus on results. Every decision we make is guided by what’s best for our community.

Together, we are committed to making Derby safer, stronger, and an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.