Nicholas Panuzio

Nicholas A. Panuzio (October 28, 1935 – May 3, 2019) was an American politician who was Mayor of Bridgeport from 1971 to 1975.

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. Two years later, he beat Curran in a rematch by a very narrow margin - just nine votes. He was the first Republican elected mayor in Bridgeport since William Behrens in 1929.

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. He also served as Chair of the Talbot County Republican Party from 2009 until he stepped down in February 2019.