The Waterbury Times|Published Mar 18, 2026

WATERBURY, CT — The Waterbury Republican Town Committee has officially announced there new executive members and district chairs at last nights meeting and named Allen Leon as its new chairman, replacing outgoing Chair Dawn Maiorano.

Leon, who narrowly missed securing a seat on the Board of Aldermen after falling short in last year’s Republican primary, now takes the reins at a pivotal moment as local Republicans begin organizing for upcoming elections.

Waterbury City Hall & Local Government –

Maiorano’s departure comes amid growing speculation that she is preparing for a potential 2027 mayoral run, setting the stage for a possible rematch against current Mayor Paul Pernerewski.

Other Executive Positions Selected:

Faith Gocolowski- Secretary

Anthony Guerrera- Treasurer

Joe Bannon- Vice Chair

Allen Leon- Chair

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Republicans Announce Slate to Challenge Democratic Stronghold

At a recent town committee meeting attended by The Waterbury Times, party leaders also unveiled an emerging slate of candidates aiming to challenge the city’s Democratic-controlled delegation at the Connecticut General Assembly.

Among those expected to run:

• Pastor Ollie Gray, a well-known and respected community figure, in the 74th District

“It’s time to change the status quo”

• Mike Grosso, a current and newly elected member of the Board of Aldermen, in the 71st District [A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY!!]
• Faith Goclowki, a local resident, in the 75th District
• Terrance Lott– lifelong resident and community figure, in 73rd
• Ruben Rodriguez– will run against Joan Hartley ( a campaign for this seat for 1st time in 12 years )

No candidate has yet been announced for the 72nd District.

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Momentum Building Ahead of Election Cycle

With new leadership in place and early candidate announcements underway, local Republicans appear to be laying the groundwork for a more aggressive push in what has long been considered a Democratic stronghold.

The leadership transition and early slate signal that the 2026 election season in Waterbury is already heating up, with both parties expected to ramp up organizing efforts in the months ahead.

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What’s Next

As the political landscape begins to shift, attention will turn to:

• Additional candidate announcements
• Fundraising and campaign infrastructure
• Potential mayoral positioning ahead of 2027

For now, the focus remains on how effectively the new leadership under Leon can unify and mobilize the party moving forward.

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