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11/07/2021 12:00 AMInformation certified by Branford Town Clerk Lisa Arpin shows that, of 21,224 registered Branford voters, 8,216 voted in the Nov. 2, 2021 municipal election, a turnout of just over 38.7 percent.
As previously reported (see related story) Branford voters backed Republican Jamie Cosgrove for a fifth consecutive term as First Selectman, with running mate Angela Higgins elected as Second Selectwoman. The GOP's impressive showing at the top of the ticket also included winning back Tax Collector and Town Treasurer seats from the Democrats as well retaining a Republican Town Clerk. The GOP won 19 of 30 seats to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and took four of five open Board of Education seats.
Branford's BOE uses staggered terms to maintain its 9-member board. Five seats were open in the 2021 election, with Republicans winning four of the five seats. In the race to fill three BOE six-year term seats, the winners were Republicans Peter A. Berdon with 4,067 votes and Tim Raynor with 4,122 votes, and Democrat Marie Watson with 3,876 votes. In the race to fill one four-year BOE vacancy, Republican Meghan DeLucia was elected with 4,057 votes. Republican Laura Kiernan Troidle won the race to fill one BOE vacancy for a two-year term with 4,057 votes. They will join four currently-seated BOE members including Democrats John Prins (chair, term expires 11/17/2023), Meredith Gaffney (term expires 11/21/2023), Ellen Michaels (term expires 11/18/2025) and Republican Dawn Perrotti (term expires 11/18/2025).
Voting for Branford's 30-member 2021-23 RTM created a 19-member Republican majority and an 11-member Democratic minority. The GOP gained two seats over the last term, when the GOP held a majority of 17.
Voting results for the RTM, by district, are:
District 1: Republicans Frank Twohill (756), Tricia Anderson (755), Lindsay Marottoli Greenberg (727), George David Wells (711) and Democrats Clare Torelli (671) and Judith Barron (578). Barron won a first term on the RTM in a vote that was tied with Democratic candidate Kevin Coughlin, who declined a recount.
District 2: Democrats Peter Hentschel (461), Josh Brooks (457) and Republican Chris Hynes (433).
District 3: Democrats Adrian Bonenberger (506), Linda Erlanger (567) and Republican Peter Black (320).
District 4: Republicans James Stepanenk(624), Victoria Verderame (634), Charles Witkowski (605) and Democrats Maryann Amore (581) and Ram C. Shrestha (584).
District 5: Republicans Ray Ingraham (798), Dennis Flanigan (778), Don Conklin (756), Carolyn Sires (725) and Democrat Tracy Everson (774).
District 6: Republicans Marc Riccio (622), Sean Kelly (610), Edward Prete (601), Anthony Alfone (591), and Democrat Chris Sullivan (473).
District 7: Republicans Barbara Maresca (509), Kevin Healy (503) and Democrat Chuck Teirnan (437).
Branford voters also voted on Nov. 2 to elect Republican Dennis Nardella and Democrat Walter Kawecki III to the Board of Assessment Appeals.
In addition, voters chose seven constables: Democrats Georgette Tootsie Laske, Chuck Teirnan, Francis Walsh, John R. O'Connor and Republicans Kyle Nelson, George Weted and Dennis Nardella.
This story has been updated correct an earlier error which left out the name of one Republican representative and to correctly note the GOP majority of 19 seats on the 2021-23 RTM.