Paul Pernerewski, a Democratic prot茅g茅 of retiring Waterbury Mayor Neil O鈥橪eary, is now mayor-elect in the city.
Pernerewski, the president of the Waterbury Board of Aldermen, defeated Republican Dawn Maiorano and petitioning candidates Karen Jackson and Keisha Gilliams Tuesday night in an open mayoral election.
Continuing with a Democrat at the helm of city leadership could support Waterbury鈥檚 efforts to decontaminate and then redevelop at least 30 brownfields.
鈥淥鈥橪eary has been seen as a state leader on brownfield remediation and has been lauded by the EPA and DEEP for his work on brownfields,鈥� Waterbury Republican-American reporter Livi Stanford said on 黑料新闻鈥檚 鈥淭he Wheelhouse鈥� on Wednesday. 鈥淢any in the state, including the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor, and others, have said that they believe Mr. Pernerewski will continue that important transition.鈥�
There are currently a dozen brownfields in Waterbury actively being remediated, Stanford said.
Pernerewski, 62, is a former general counsel for the 黑料新闻 Airport Authority. He won Tuesday鈥檚 election by 577 votes.
O鈥橪eary, the city鈥檚 mayor since 2011 鈥� and, before that, the chief of police in Waterbury 鈥� announced earlier this year that he wouldn鈥檛 run for re-election.
