After decades of holding office as a Democrat, Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura is now a Republican.
The longtime Democrat made the announcement on Tuesday and attacked Democratic fiscal policies and the party's "coddling" stance toward criminals.
Jarjura said he will seek re-election as a Republican. He received word from Democrats that his renomination in the fall would be unlikely, he said, and switched parties because Democrats went in another direction.
Waterbury police chief Neil O'Leary is running as major and is seeking the Democrats are supporting
Bryan Baker, who has been campaigning to be the GOP candidate for mayor of Waterbury said he will no longer be running and has ended his campaign.
The Waterbury Observer first reported that Jarjura would be switching parties.
On Tuesday, Jarjura said he's beginning a new chapter in his political life with the GOP.
“I have always been one to put the people of Waterbury first as my record of fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets and reticence to raise taxes has shown,” Jarjura said in a news release from the Waterbury Republican Town Committee. “Those traits are generally considered ‘Republican ideals’ so in that regard I feel I am right where I belong.”
Local
Jarjura has been mayor of Waterbury since 2001, was a state representative and served in the state Legislature for 10 years before becoming mayor.
In 2010, he entered the race for governor, as a Democrat, then dropped out of that race to run for lieutenant governor but lost the Democratic primary.
The Observer reports that Jarjura will head the Republican ticket in November and that the party change comes after a battle in Waterbury’s Democratic party.
Jarjura, who lost the party's nomination for comptroller to fellow Democrat Kevin Lembo last year, was not expected to get the Democratic nomination for a sixth term.
Key Democrats have already thrown their support behind former Waterbury Police Chief Neil O'Leary.
Jarjura made national headlines in 2005 when he lost the Democratic primary for mayor, but won re-election as a write-in candidate.
