Nicholas Panuzio
{{Short description|American politician (1935–2019)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nicholas Panuzio
| image =
| image_size =
| order = 46th
| office = Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut
| term_start = 1971
| term_end = 1975
| predecessor = Hugh Curran
| successor = William Seres (interim), John C. Mandanici
| state_house1 = Connecticut
| district1 = 134th
| term_start1 = January 6, 1971
| term_end1 = December 14, 1971
| predecessor1 = Agnes E. Giannini
| successor1 = Richard W. Pinto
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|10|28}}
| birth_place = Bridgeport, Connecticut
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|5|3|1935|10|28}}
| death_place = Easton, Maryland
| party = Republican
| spouse = June Panuzio (divorced), Gretchen Panuzio
| children = 3
| alma_mater = University of Bridgeport
}}
Nicholas A. Panuzio (October 28, 1934 – May 3, 2019) was an American politician who was Mayor of Bridgeport from 1971 to 1975.{{Cite web |title=Nicholas A. Panuzio - View Obituary & Service Information |url=https://www.fhnfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Nicholas-Panuzio/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Nicholas A. Panuzio Obituary }}
Early life and career
He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Nicholas and Carmela (née Petrucelli) Panuzio. He graduated from Bridgeport Central High School and later earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Bridgeport. Following graduation, he became an assistant dean of admissions at the college, and later worked his way up to becoming the university's administrator.
After a stint in the Connecticut House of Representatives, Panuzio ran for mayor in 1969, losing to incumbent Hugh Curran in a landslide.{{Cite news |last=Knight |first=Michael |date=1974-05-26 |title=Bridgeport Mayor Seeks Connecticut Governorship |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/26/archives/bridgeport-mayor-seeks-connecticut-governorship-party-to-meet-in.html |access-date=2024-01-18 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} Two years later, he beat Curran in a rematch by a very narrow margin - just nine votes.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=512355 |title = Our Campaigns - Bridgeport Mayor - Nov 02, 1971}} He was the first Republican elected mayor in Bridgeport since William Behrens in 1929.{{Cite news |last=Dixon |first=Ben Lambert and Ken |title=Former Bridgeport Mayor Nick Panuzio dead at 83 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Former-Bridgeport-Mayor-Nick-Panuzio-dead-at-83-13819059.php |access-date=2024-01-18 |work=SFGATE }}
He ran for governor in 1974, but lost the Republican primary to Representative Robert Steele, who would later lose the general election to Representative Ella Grasso.
Panuzio later served in the Presidential administration of Gerald Ford as Commissioner of Public Buildings for the General Services Administration.{{Cite web|url=https://talbotspy.org/panuzio-steps-down-as-chair-of-talbot-county-gop/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710152808/https://talbotspy.org/panuzio-steps-down-as-chair-of-talbot-county-gop/|url-status=live|archive-date=10 July 2019|title=Panuzio Steps Down as Chair of Talbot County GOP|work=Wayback Machine|access-date=22 February 2024}} He also served as Chair of the Talbot County Republican Party from 2009 until he stepped down in February 2019.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Panuzio, Nicholas}}
Category:Mayors of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Category:Republican Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Category:20th-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly
Category:20th-century mayors of places in Connecticut
Category:University of Bridgeport alumni
Category:Politicians from Bridgeport, Connecticut
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