By D.M. Livingston

Published Nov 7 2023|Updated November 19 2025

Paul Pernerewski Clinches Narrow Victory in Waterbury Mayoral Race

Waterbury has a new mayor after a nail-biting election, as Paul Pernerewski, longtime Board of Aldermen President, narrowly defeated local businesswoman Dawn Maiorano. Pernerewski, a relative political unknown beyond his 21-year tenure on the Board of Aldermen, edged out Maiorano by just 571 votes, with Maiorano earning nearly 6,000 votes—the highest total for a losing candidate in over a decade. Pernerewski fell short of 7,000 votes, a milestone typically associated with victorious candidates in Waterbury.

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The close results come despite Waterbury’s 3-to-1 Democratic-to-Republican voter ratio, signaling that city residents may be ready for political change. Maiorano’s strong showing demonstrated a growing appetite for new leadership, though the city will now watch to see if Pernerewski will deliver on campaign promises. Key challenges facing the new mayor include addressing Waterbury’s struggling public schools and reducing violent crime in the city.

This tight race underscores the evolving political landscape in Waterbury and sets the stage for an important test of leadership and reform in the coming years.