BOS Reelected, Down Ballot Races Decided
On Election Day, Nov. 7, Old Saybrook voters made their voices heard at the polls. Not much will change at the top of the ballot as the entire Board of Selectmen (BOS) ran unopposed this year, but voters did decide several down-ballot races.
At the top of the ballot, Republican First Selectmen Carl Fortuna ran unopposed and received 2,428 votes. The two other selectmen also ran unopposed, with Republican Scott Giegerich getting 1,685 votes and Democrat Matt Pugliese getting 1,655 votes.
While the top race wasn’t contested, several races down the ballot were.
For the three seats on the Board of Finance, voters elected Democrats Meghan Brady (1,726 votes), George Chang (1,652 votes), and Republican Eric Dussault (1,670 votes). Democrat Justin Terribile received 1,557 votes, while Republicans Thomas Stevenson (1,599 votes) and Rick Swan (1,567 votes) were unsuccessful in the election.
For the four seats on the Board of Education, voters elected Democrats Jane Wisialowski with 1,976 votes and Jack Cardello with 1,712 votes, as well as Republicans Karina Julius with 1,787 votes and James Henderson with 1,765 votes. Democrat Earl Swain earned 1,598, while Republican Alan Hyla got 1,599 votes, but both were unsuccessful in the election. Republican Kelley Kennedy ran unopposed for a two-year term to fill a vacancy and got 2,222 votes.
In the race for the two seats on the Board of Assessment Appeals, voters elected Democrat Joan Strickland with 1,832 votes and Republican Peter Gallagher with 1,804 votes. Republican Matt Diamond received 1,693 votes but was unsuccessful in the election.
For the Planning Commission, Democrat Michael Bender received 1,870 votes, while Republicans Doug McCracken and Nick Prevost got 1,867 and 1,866 votes, respectively. Republican Jonathan Miles got 1,715 votes but was unsuccessful in the election.
For the three seats in the Zoning Commission, voters elected Democrat Laura Gray with 1,848 votes, along with Republicans Mark Caldarella with 1,770 votes and John Henry with 1,724 votes. Democrat Justin Terribile received 1,720 votes but was unsuccessful.
For the three seats on the Police Commission, voters elected Democrat Mark Ciliano with 1,871 votes as well as Republicans Jaqueline Prast with 1,807 votes and Carl Von Dassel with 1,742 votes. Republican Joseph Maselli got 1,710 votes.
For the Zoning Board of Appeals, Democrats Alfred “Chub” Wilcox got 1,795 votes and C. Marston Ladd got 1,750 votes. Republican Frank Keeney got 1,728 votes. Republican Erin Colwell ran unopposed for a two-year term and got 2,012 votes.
For the four seats on the Parks and Recreation Commission, voters elected Democrats Susan Esty with 1,947 votes, Rob LeMire with 1,803 votes, and Beth Soden with 1,744 votes, as well as Republican Star Rueckert with 1,535 votes. Republicans Alejandro Bertran got 1,523 votes, and Bror Ashe got 1,510 votes but were unsuccessful in the election.
For the three seats on the Harbor Management Commission, voters elected Democrat Paul Connolly with 2,047 votes, and Republicans Robert Murphy with 1,876 votes and Louis Vinciguerra with 1,951 votes.
Barbara Labriola ran unopposed for Town Treasurer and got 2,274 votes.
Marc Delmonico ran unopposed for Tax Collector and received 2,250 votes.