GOP gains ground in Groton

Groton - Republicans gained ground Tuesday, earning six of nine Town Council seats and a slight majority on the Representative Town Meeting.

Voters also elected Democrat Betsy Moukawsher as the town's first new clerk in 24 years, and rejected a $10.725 million upgrade to Thames Street in the city.

Moukawsher, the Democratic Town Committee chairwoman, beat out Republican Nicki L. Bresnyan, executive assistant to the town manager, in a vote of 2,364 to 2,292, but it was a rare victory for Democrats.

On the council, Republicans gained one seat, with incumbents Frank "Mick" O'Beirne Jr., Harry A. Watson Jr., Deborah B. Monteiro and Bruce S. Flax, along with City Councilor James L. Streeter, and newcomer Deborah L. Peruzzotti all elected. Democratic incumbents Catherine Kolnaski and Paulann H. Sheets were elected, along with political newcomer Bill C. Johnson, the general manager of Johnson's Hardware.

"I'm just so excited," said Peruzzotti, who is also head of the Republican Town Committee and an RTM member. "It's nice to know people were looking for a little bit of change."

Monteiro agreed, calling it "vindication" from two years ago, when Republicans took a hit.

Watson joked with Streeter, who barely beat him to be the highest vote-getter.

"I told him he had 17 more signs than me," Watson said.

Republicans also have a slight majority on the RTM, with 21 elected versus 20 Democrats, but the races were close and subject to change. Peruzzotti added Republicans were disappointed in Bresnyan's loss, but said the Moukawsher name was hard to overcome.

Two Democratic incumbents were not re-elected - Rita M. Schmidt and Kathryn M. Brown-Tracy, along with Republican Dean G. Antipas. Newcomer Republicans Matthew J. Morton Jr. and Bob Westhaver and new Democrats Mary E. Kelly, Lisa M. Luck, Meredith E. Russell and George J. Swift, also failed to earn seats.

Even though the Board of Education had five open seats, only four of them are for full four-year terms. The fifth seat has two years left of a four-year term and will have to be appointed by the board. Winners were Republicans Chaz Zezulka, Robert E. Peruzzotti, Kirsten E. Hoyt and Beverly H. Washington.

It's unclear whether the current economic situation contributed to the Thames Street project's demise, or its location in the City of Groton. But Streeter said the project would not be going away. It was defeated, with 1,963 votes in favor, but 2,490 votes against.

City Mayor Dennis Popp has said the street is "absolutely falling apart." Plans called for rebuilding the historic road, the drainage system and the retaining walls, and making streetscape improvements such as lighting, sidewalks and landscaping.