With a plethora of decisions before them, Newtown electors voted to keep the Board of Finance, approved the rest of the proposed Town Charter revisions, came out in favor of early voting, and leaned slightly Republican in other tallies across a number of seats on the local ballot.
Statewide, as polls generally indicated, Democrats racked up victories from the governor’s office to the US Senate, and across a raft of statewide offices including Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of the State. Connecticut voters also approved a Constitutional question authorizing an early voting amendment.
In Newtown, 13,117 of the community’s 24,948 registered voters cast a ballot — registering a 52% turnout according to the final registrars’ report.
Newtown’s ballot also included three questions. The first, a statewide Constitutional question on whether to approve early voting in future elections received 5,450 yes votes versus 5,064 voting no. According to reports, the measure passed handily statewide by almost a 20 point margin.
A local Charter question asking if voters wished to eliminate the Board of Finance saw 3,161 favoring and 7,678 against, meaning the Board of Finance will continue to exist as it is currently framed in the local constitutional document. However, a second local Charter question asking voters to approve a raft of other procedural revisions was approved on a slim margin, 5,291 yes to 4,793 no.
State Rep Mitch Bolinsky, the Republican 106th District incumbent running unopposed received 7,374 votes.
In Newtown’s section of the State House District 107 race, local voters favored Republican Marty Foncello, with 496 votes, a slight lead over Democrat Phoebe Holmes, who received 402 votes. Foncello reportedly captured the open seat by 54%.
For State Senate District 28, Newtown favored Republican Tony Hwang, with 6,693 votes, over Democrat Tim Gavin, with 5,773 votes. With more than 95% of votes counted Wednesday morning, it appeared Hwang narrowly retained his seat by just over 800 votes.
In the governor’s race locally, Democrat Ned Lamont topped challenger Robert Stefanowski 6,536 to 5,797, with Independent Party candidate Robert Hotaling receiving 100 votes. On Wednesday morning, Lamont emerged as the declared winner as Stefanowski conceded the race in a press statement thanking voters for their support.
For the US Senate seat, Newtown voted for Democrat Richard Blumenthal, with 6,737 votes over Republican Leora Levy, with 5,740. Statewide, Blumenthal emerged victorious as Levy issued a statement conceding her loss shortly after polls closed November 8.
For the US 5th District House seat, Democrat Jahana Hayes had a very narrow, district-wide lead at press time for The Newtown Bee’s November 11 print edition. Locally, Hayes registered a total of 6,425 votes to GOP challenger George Logan, who captured 6,028 votes.
For Secretary of the State, Democrat Stephanie Thomas had 6,298 votes, to Republican Dominic Rapini’s 5,740, and Independent Party candidate Cynthia Jennings’ count of 300. Thomas captured the win statewide with over 54% of the vote, according to reports.
For Attorney General, Democrat William Tong bested his challengers in Newtown, with 5,720 votes — while Republican Jessica Kordas had 5,438, Independent Party candidate AP Pascarella had 143 votes, and Green Party candidate Ken Krayeske had 46 votes. As of Wednesday morning, this race had been called in favor of Tong who received more than 56% of the vote.
For Treasurer, Republican Harry Arora was leading in Newtown, with 6,014 votes, while Democrat Erick Russell received 5,942 votes, Independent Party candidate Jennifer Baldwin tallied 293 votes, and Libertarian Party candidate JoAnna Laiscell received 75 votes.
Statewide however, Russel captured the seat with over 51% of the vote, making him the first Black out LGBTQ+ person ever elected to statewide office in United States history.
For Comptroller, Democrat Sean Scanlon had the most Newtown votes, with a 6,271 tally, while Republican Mary Fay received 6,010 votes. Scanlon’s results were similar statewide as he captured the Comptroller seat with nearly 55% of the vote.
For the 45th district Probate Judge seat, Newtown voters preferred Republican Jennifer Collins, with 6,435 votes, over Democrat Steven Boa Demoura, with 5,787 votes. However, at about 11 am on Wednesday morning, Collins conceded the race on her campaign’s Facebook page, saying: “I am proud of the Jennifer Collins for Probate Judge campaign and very thankful for all of the support we received and the new friends I made along the way. I congratulate Steven Boa DeMoura on the result of the election and wish him the very best of luck serving in this important role.”
Elsewhere, all of Connecticut’s US House seats were retained by Democratic incumbents, returning John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, and Jim Himes to Washington representing Connecticut in their respective districts.
Charter Question #2
The approved Charter revision Question #2 will codify the following changes in Newtown:
The approved explanatory text states that, “Approval of Question #2 accepts the rest of the proposed changes in their entirety, comprised of organizational, non-substantive, and substantive changes made to the document including but not limited to:
“a) Section 1-25(a)(7). This provision redefines the term “Town Department” as the term applies to the Board of Education by exempting the Board of Education from certain duties and functions of Town Bodies which would violate other provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes applicable to the Board of Education.”
“b) Section 2-01(c). The Connecticut General Statutes shall prevail over the provisions of Section 2-01(c), which allows Town Bodies to make their own rules of conduct.”
“c) Section 2-05(d) eliminates the Building Appeals Board from the Charter, as does Section 2-15(d)” and “h) Section 2-210 eliminates the Building Appeals Board.”
“d) Section 2-25(a) excuses members of a Town Body from voting on the minutes of a previous meeting at which they were not in attendance.”
“e) Section 2-31(c)(1-5) describes the procedure for filling vacancies on the Board of Education.”
“f) Section 2-135(a) states Town Clerk shall also be the Registrar of Vital Statistics.”
“g) Section 2-160(a) states Board of Police Commissioners shall also act as the Civilian Police Review Board.”
“i) Section 3-15(e) describes the election process for the Board of Education.”
“j) Section 6-20 delineates the duties of the Legislative Council relative to the Budget.”
“k) Section 6-20(f)(2) defines the process subsequent to a failed annual budget referendum.”
“l) Section 6-35(b) & (d) revises the requests for emergency appropriations.”
“m) Section 6-35(g) modifies the procedure for emergency and special appropriations.”
Volunteers from both major parties were plentiful across Newtown’s polling sites, displaying signs endorsing candidates as well as encouraging a “No” vote on the elimination of Newtown’s Board of Finance. —Bee Photos, Taylor
State Rep Mitch Bolinsky chats with a supporter at his Election Day watch party at Edmond Town Hall November 8. The incumbent Republican had an easier than usual campaign season and Election Day as his statehouse race had no opposition.
Voter turnout was steady locally for most of Election Day with a little over half of the community’s registered voters casting ballots. Here electors are pictured entering the polling place at Newtown Middle School.
—Bee Photo, Taylor
US Senator Richard Blumenthal joined local Democratic volunteers at Newtown High School on Election Day. The incumbent lawmaker captured another term outpacing his GOP challenger in the race.
—contributed photo
State Rep Mitch Bolinsky shakes hands with a Republican party member in attendance at an Election Day watch party at Edmond Town Hall. The incumbent Republican was unopposed this election season. —Bee Photo, Taylor
