PRESS RELEASE: Danbury Republican Town Committee:
Esposito is now the fourth in a growing list of very recent Danbury Democrats who have left the party over frustrations with the direction of the party under the current leadership of the town committee. For months, a growing number of Democrats in Danbury have expressed deep frustrations with the direction of the party under the leadership of chairperson Andrea Gartner; many accuse the current chairperson of placing too much emphasis on social issues and less emphasis on candidate recruitment while others accuse Gartner of creating a toxic environment in which Democrats who don't agree with the direction of the town committee are either alienated or accused of not being loyal to the town committee's vision.
While critics of Gartner's performance are nothing new the level of criticism has increased since the chairperson has been accused of not being receptive to Chris Setaro not running again as mayor and has been alleged of not doing enough to recruit the 2019 mayoral candidate in favor of current mayoral candidate Roberto Alves.
This latest defection will only increase the anger and worry among many Democrats in Danbury who believe that the town committee no longer represents the interest of residents and have probably ruined any realistic chance in taking back the City Hall in the first open seat mayoral election 20 years.