East Haven Republican Town Committee Chairman Robert Parente and Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. announced Jan. 10 that long-time Second District Democratic Town Councilman Gary DePalma filed the paperwork to join the Republican Party, tipping the composition of the present legislative Town Council 11 to 4 in favor of Mayor Maturo and his Republican team.

Parente explained, “Councilman DePalma has been a staunch advocate for the residents of District Two and they have routinely rewarded him for his hard work by making him one of the top vote-getters each election in his district. We are thrilled to have him joining our team.”

DePalma is a former sergeant of the East Haven Police Department who retired in 2013 after 26 years of service. DePalma won election to the Town Council in 2007 and has served four terms—three from 2007 to 2013 and his current term which began in 2015. In 2013, DePalma threw his hat into the ring in the race for mayor, but was narrowly edged by Jack Stacey who was eventually defeated by Maturo in the 2013 general election.

DePalma explained, “Over the past several years, I have become frustrated with the national political dialogue of the Democratic Party, especially as it concerns law enforcement and fiscal responsibility. I still remain proud of the ideals I fought for as a local Democrat, and I intend to keep fighting for those ideals as a Republican. However, I believe my views on a host of issues now align more closely with the Republican Party and I feel I will be most effective advocating on those issues for the people of East Haven as a member of the local Republican Party.”