By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The Republican Party’s newest leader is a relative newcomer to the city, but one whom party officials say is the right man to help bring the GOP back to political dominance.
The Republican Town Committee unanimously selected Thomas Jagodzinski as its party chairman. He succeeds former ChairmanWin Smith Jr., who decided against seeking re-election after one term.
Jagodzinksi moved to Milford from Shelton four years ago with his wife, Connie, and their three children. During last fall’s election, he and his wife managed the Republican campaign headquarters. Prior to his retirement, Jagodzinski was a senior vice president and the chief technology officer for People’s Bank.
Jagodzinski also is a lecturer and Eucharistic minister at St. Ann Church, and a volunteer at the Hospital of Saint Raphael.
As soon as he moved to Milford, he quickly caught the bug to get involved in politics.
“I was retired and have the time to devote to politics and volunteerism,” Jagodzinski said.
Jagodzinski inherits a party that lost the majority on the boards of Aldermen, Education and Planning and Zoning for the first time since 1985, but Republicans continue their almost two-decade dominance of City Hall.
“I’m looking to bringing people together. There is a lot of talent on the town committee. We need to get people together,” Jagodzinski said.
He said the party is already interviewing candidates for the upcoming state elections, and he said the main issue is that residents of Connecticut pay the highest taxes in the country.
Concerning the next local election, Jagodzinski said the party will develop a clear message for each board.
He said the problem is both Republicans and Democrats say the same thing concerning being committed to lower taxes and maintaining current services.
“People need to know what will happen when they vote Republican,” Jagodzinski said.
Former Republican Town Chairman Jack Fowler said Jagodzinski is “very detail oriented,” and “very hard working.”
“There’s not a lot of glitz but we don’t need glitz,” Fowler said. “We need someone who sweats, pays attention to the details and has common sense and does a great job.”
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr., a Republican, said he is excited about working with Jagodzinski. “He has a lot of new and fresh ideas. He’s very organized and a motivator,” Richetelli said.
Peter Vita, Joyce Charney and Scott Firmender were re-elected vice chairman, secretary and treasurer, respectively.