Dems endorse Ayash to fill vacancy on ticket

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Democratic burgess candidate Jimmy Ayash addresses the Naugatuck Democratic Town Committee Monday night in Town Hall. –LUKE MARSHALL
Democratic burgess candidate Jimmy Ayash addresses the Naugatuck Democratic Town Committee Monday night in Town Hall. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Democratic Town Committee chose Jimmy Ayash Monday night to fill an empty burgess slot on the November ballot.

Ayash, 37, fills the spot on the Democratic ticket vacated by Peg Sheehy, who stepped down in August due to health reasons.   

Ayash, who has lived in the borough for eight years and owns Ayash-Man Restaurant on Rubber Avenue, was already on the ballot as a candidate for Board of Education. Ayash said he had originally wanted to run for burgess. However, at the time of the endorsements this summer all the positions had been filled and he was told there was an opening on the ballot for the school board.

“So I said my pleasure, anywhere I can help out to start would be wonderful. Now that the burgess spot has opened up that’s the reason I’m asking to possibly switch over,” Ayash said.

Ayash said his personality makes him suited to be a burgess.

“I’m not a very aggressive person. I’m not a fancy sales type of person like I was in my younger days when I owned a chain of retail stores in the mall. But I do have a drive to be number one,” Ayash said. “I have a very nice balance of joking around and having fun sometimes and let’s get serious because in the modern day you have to look at both.”

For Ayash serving on the Board of Mayor and Burgesses is about giving his time back to the borough.

“As a citizen I feel that it’s my duty to help out the town. So I want to spend time helping out and trying to get the ship back in the right direction,” Ayash said.

While the committee has now filled all five of its allotted burgess slots, Ayash’s move created an empty spot on the ballot for Board of Education. No name was put forth at the meeting Monday to fill the slot. A candidate can be named up to 10 days before the election.

The committee also endorsed former school board chairwoman Kathleen Donovan to fill a vacancy on the ticket for the Zoning Commission.