Dems Dominate Police Commission in an Otherwise GOP-Led Election
While there was no drama at the top of the Old Saybrook races as the incumbent Board of Selectmen (BOS) all ran unopposed, Republicans took top vote tallies in all races except for one: Democrats swept the Police Commission race.
Republican Carl Fortuna ran unopposed and received 2,555 votes. The BOS will once again be composed of Fortuna and incumbents Republican Scott Giegerich and Democrat Matthew J. Pugliese, who also ran unopposed. Giegerich received 1,845 votes while Pugliese got 1,535.
The highlight of the night was the race for the seats on the Police Commission, where Democrats won all five seats up for grabs. For the full-term, Democrats Renee Root Shippee got 1,869 votes, Jill Notar-Francesco got 1,755 votes, Jessica Calle got 1,775 votes, and Alfred “Chub” Wilcox got 1,857 votes. Republicans Susan Quish got 1,448 votes, Katie Toolan got 1,677 votes, and Jeff Jordan got 1,549 votes.
For the Police Commission two-year term, voters chose Democrat Carol Manning over Republican Eric Dussalt by 1,739 votes to 1,588 votes.
For the position of town clerk, Republican Sarah Becker ran unopposed and won 2,472 votes.
For the position of tax collector, Republican Barry Maynard ran unopposed and won 2,484 votes.
Voters chose Republican Barbara Labriola over Democrat John M. Gamble for town treasurer with 1,837 votes to 1,538 votes.
For the Board of Finance, voters seated Democrats Bruce Carlson with 1,705 and John O’Brien with 1,776 votes as well as Republicans Paul Carver with 1,848 votes and Brad Thorpe with 1,842 votes. Democrats Lynn Dallas and Nicole Phaneuf each got 1,641 and 1,617 votes respectively.
For the Board of Education, voters chose Republicans Tara Nolin Barros with 2,003 votes, Trevor Nichols with 2,012 votes, and Steve Beeler with 2,003 votes as well as Democrats Eileen Baker and Karen Brodeur with 1,950 votes and 2,052 votes, respectively.
For the Board of Assessment Appeals, voters chose Democrat Joan Strickland with 1,638 votes as well as Republicans Matt Diamond who got 1,637 votes and Peter Gallagher with 1,733 votes. Democrat Jeffrey Gibson will not be seated with 1,462 votes.
For the full terms on the Planning Commission voters chose Republican Paula Kay with 1,768 votes and Democrat Kathleen Sugland, who got 1,824 votes. Democrat Michael Bender will not be seated with 1,713 votes.
For the Planning Commission two-year term, Republicans Nick Prevost and Douglas McCracken ran unopposed and got 2,153 votes and 2,074 votes each.
For the full term on the Zoning Commission, voters chose Republicans Gerri Lewis, who got 1,613 votes, and Robert Friedmann, who got 1,684 votes. Democrat Laura Parker Gray got 1,603 votes and Elizabeth Steffen got 1,542 votes and will not be seated.
For a two-year term on the Zoning Commission, voters chose Republican Marc Delmonico over Democrat Justin Terribile with 1,624 votes compared to 1,615 votes.
For the Zoning Board of Appeals, voters chose Republicans Kevin Danby with 1,712 votes, Charles Gadon with 1,690 votes, and Paul Delmonico with 1,739 votes. Democrats Carl Garbe got 1,633 votes and C. Marston Ladd got 1,596 votes and will not be seated.
For the Parks & Recreation Commission, voters chose Republican James Henderson with 1,779 votes as well as Democrats Nancy Shepard Gatta with 1,985 votes and Jane Wisialowski with 1,851 votes. Democrat Rob LeMire will not be seated with 1,753 votes.
For the Harbor Management Commission, voters chose Democrat Robert Soden and Republican David Cole with 1,895 votes and 1,990 votes respectively.
Turnout was 3,472 total votes, up from the 2,919 who voted in the 2019 election.