Danbury’s Roberto Alves Says He Laughed at Mayor Esposito’s Critiques

In January, Danbury Democrat Roberto Alves announced he'd run for Mayor of Danbury, CT.

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In February, Mayor Dean Esposito announced he would seek re-election. This meant, the two would meet in a rematch of the 2021 election. Things got off to a fast start in the local press. Last week (2/28/23) Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito was a guest on the I-95 Morning Show. We covered a variety of Hat City topics including his campaign for re-election. I asked the Mayor about his Mayoral opponent Roberto Alves, this is what he had to say.

"Roberto, I don't know him personally very well, I know he was on the council for one term. He seems to be a nice guy, he's got a nice young family but he makes statements I don't agree with and he seems to twist things up a little bit. You know there is him who is looking for the nomination and the rumor mill is out there that there is another guy looking to run as well on the Democratic side." 

We questioned the Mayor on that statement and asked if he knew who this other potential candidate was, he replied:

"Again it's all rumors but Farley Santos is getting feedback that he might want to run. I don't know, those guys seem pretty close so it might be incorrect but I don't know." 

On Wednesday (3/8/23) we asked Democrat Roberto Alves what he had to say about the rumors that Farley Santos would also run for Mayor, this was his response:

"It must be a Brookfield rumor. I don't think anybody who lives in Danbury, knows Danbury politics would ever say that. Farley is one of my closest friends and closest supporters. Him, his wife, his daughter, they're at everything with me, he's donated, he's fundraising for me so I just thought that was rather funny. I don't know if that was a tactic to distract anybody? It would not distract us, we laughed about it."

Next, we asked Alves about Esposito's comment that he "twists" things, Roberto responded:

"I hope that it leads to a nice campaign where they don't put out any lies about me, that effect my family like what happened in '21. If he wants to be a stand up guy, he can make a commitment to run a clean campaign with no lies, no stretching the truth especially when there is, you know, receipts on my stance on things, so I challenge him to that. Now, I don't think I twist anything at all, I think our supporters would say that is not the truth either. What we do is call out the facts and the facts are what they are, here in Danbury. We believe that there is a city that has been challenged for years, a city that has been challenged under Republican leadership." 

Listen to the entire interview below to hear what Alves believes the challenges are.

I reached out to Farley Santos for comment who said:

"It's disappointing that the Mayor would spread unfounded rumors. As State Representative, I'm working hard to deliver the resources that this administration so desperately needs. My family and I are 100% behind Roberto Alves for Mayor because he has the experience, temperament, and the ability to lead Danbury and make our city even better for every resident!"  

Want more Danbury news? Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the same show we do on the radio but with limited commercials and no music. Or, listen live by streaming the show on the I-95 Rock Mobile app, or tune into I-95 (95.1FM).

Below you can hear me tell a brief story about my most recent interaction with Esposito and Alves, the same night, in the same place.

My awkward moment took place at a fundraising event for a Danbury war memorial to honor our veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq. The memorial has bipartisan support and both candidates have thrown great effort behind it.

It is pretty hilarious to be me.

People I talk to on the street, seem to be convinced I'm working to help one candidate or the other and I don't know where that comes from?

I've been tough on both men when I feel it is necessary, I've socialized with them and I like to think I have a good relationship with Esposito and Avles.

It just goes to show you, no one trusts anyone, anymore.

People think I am in the pocket of "Big Red" or "Big Blue" but the truth is, I just want to make great radio and write interesting articles. These two men are deft politicians, bright people and passionate humans. But for me, they also represent the most valuable resource in America, content. I'm in the pocket of "Big family", mine.

P.S. I do love and care about the City of Danbury but I don't think pushing my agenda is what is best nor do I think it would/should change anyone's mind.

Below is a breakdown of I-95's coverage of the 2021 Mayoral race in Danbury. 

This Danbury flag hangs in the I-95 studio as a reminder of who we are talking to.