State Rep. Dorinda Borer, who is scheduled to be sworn in as the new mayor of West Haven Sunday, has submitted her letter of resignation from her General Assembly seat, according to Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.
Borer’s resignation is effective at noon Saturday, according to Thomas.
Thomas said Gov. Ned Lamont has 10 days “from the occurrence of the vacancy” to issue a writ of election to choose a successor for the 115th House district that Borer held for three terms.
The special election must be held on the 46th day after the issuance of the writ of election, Thomas said in a statement. Further, major party conventions must be held by 36 days before the special election.
Borer will serve as West Haven’s second female mayor and will be sworn in at 11 a.m. Sunday, according to a spokesman for West Haven.
The spokesman said Friday that State Attorney General William Tong will swear in Borer in a ceremony in the West Haven High School auditorium, 1 Circle St. The mayor will serve a two-year term.
The public is invited to the inauguration and the city will livestream the ceremony on its YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/szcIiJNjoOc?feature=share.
State Rep. Treneé McGee, D-West Haven, will serve as the master of ceremonies and interim University of New Haven President Sheahon Zenger will be keynote speaker, the city spokesman said in a statement.
Borer beat Republican Barry Lee Cohen for mayor in an open seat as incumbent Democrat Nancy Rossi did not seek reelection. Rossi had been under sharp scrutiny for nearly two years as the city was thrown into political turmoil with the arrest of then-city employee and state Rep. Michael DiMassa for stealing $1.2 million in federal COVID relief money by billing the city for pandemic-related consulting services that federal officials said he never performed. Cohen lost to Rossi in 2021 by only 32 votes in a harsh battle that went to a recount.
Borer will become West Haven’s 13th mayor since the city’s incorporation in 1961, the spokesman said.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz will administer the oath of office to elected Democratic City Clerk John W. Lewis, elected Democratic Treasurer Ronald M. Quagliani and elected Democratic Tax Collector Eric Murillo.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., will swear in the five incumbents and eight newcomers on the West Haven City Council.
Per the West Haven spokesman:
- Returning council members are Sarah J. Ackbarali, D-3; Gary Donovan, D-4; Katherine Tucker, D-7; Steven J. Johnstone, R-10; and Meli Garthwait, R-at large.
- New to the council are Anne Heffernan, D-1; Michelle Coletti, D-2; Edward McMillian, D-5; Dawn Callahan, D-6; Christopher E. Vargo Jr., D-8; Kathleen Mueller, D-9; Brian Laucks, D-at large; and Nicholas A. Pascale, D-at large.
- State Treasurer Erick Russell will administer the oath of office to members of the Board of Education, including incumbent Democrat Caryll “Cebi” Waterfield, incumbent Republicans Robert J. Guthrie and Patricia B. Libero, and elected Democrats Heather Shea and Jonathan E. Jones.
- Russell will also swear in incumbent Democrat Joseph W. Harvey III, incumbent Republican David Riccio Jr. and elected Democrat Suzanne Mink to the Board of Assessment Appeals.
Borer, was elected to represent West Haven’s 115th General Assembly District in a special election in February 2017. She is a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairwoman of the General Bonding Subcommittee of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
A longtime resident of the 8th District, Borer is the former wife of former seven-term West Haven Democratic Mayor H. Richard Borer Jr., who served from 1991 to 2005. They have a son, Drew, 22, according to the spokesman.
