Henry Vasel Will Run For Mayor At Top of Republican Ticket

Henry Vasel simply calls it "the next step in his service to the town of Rocky Hill" but his candidacy for Mayor, at the top of the Republican ticket, could shake up the make-up of the Town Council at election in November. 

The Town Council is led by a Democratic majority, including Mayor Timothy Moriarty. Vasel, 44, hopes that things change at the ballot box in November and Republicans can take over the majority.

"I am an R but I consider myself a true independent thinker and part of the biggest political party in the country, I'm a taxpayer," said Vasel, who has been a member of the Rocky Hill Fire Department for the past 13 years. "I don't consider myself a politician. I will do what's right for the town no matter what either party says. And I will listen." 

Vasel is the only member of the Republican Ticket that has been named so far, but he says it is not because of apathy.

"We have so many people interested in running that we have to take the time to interview them and see who will work the best together," Vasel said. "We're interviewing them and I'm not trying to find just people who think what I think but people who are creative and have great ideas." 

Vasel has been on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the last 10 years  and been the Vice Chairman for the past three years.  

"I have been talking to people and what I have heard is that the elected officials don't listen," said Vasel, who owns a construction company in Berlin and graduated from CCSU. "The overwhelming majority of the people I've talked to look at the Town Council and they don't see themselves. They don't see working class younger people, they see senior or career politicians and people who are out of touch. 

"The people of Rocky Hill want to see a Town Council that is responsible to the taxpayers in town and a Council that will listen to them. The town has some problems. Those problems were made by people so why can't people solve them. I believe that I'm a guy that can come up with creative solutions to our problems." 

Current Mayor Timothy Moriarty will lead the Democratic slate in the fall. The Democrats have held majority power on the Council since 2005.