Republicans Sweep Old Saybrook in Nov. 8 Election

OLD SAYBROOK – After 12 years of the Michael Pace/Bill Peace Republican team, town voters chose to stay the course, electing another Republican team of Carl Fortuna, Jr., and Scott Giegerich, to lead the Board of Selectmen.

The moderate turn-out in favor of the Republicans fueled a Republican sweep in many contested races.

The only key Republican loss was of current Planning Commission Chairman Robert McIntyre who, along with other Republican Planning Commission members, was targeted by opponents to the Preserve project for his past votes on the Preserve project.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Cal Caldarella said of the overall Nov. 8 results, "We're absolutely thrilled. It's a sweep across the board by significant margins. It validates what Pace and the Republican Party did in the past 12 years."

Board of Selectmen

Winning the majority on the Board of Selectmen, were Republicans Carl Fortuna, Jr., the town's new First Selectman with 2250 votes, and Selectman Scott Giegerich with 2168 votes.

Except for the two candidates elected to fill vacancies – Brad Thorpe on the Board of Finance and David Cole on the Harbor Management Commission – candidates will start in their new posts on Nov. 22. Thorpe and Cole begin their terms immediately after being sworn in.

Fortuna said, "As I went door to door, I said I was running on my record as did Scott. As Chair of the Board of Finance for the last ten years – and being in partnership with the current Board of Selectmen and their policies – people know this town has been run well. Scott and I offer continuity and a bridge to the next ten years."

Newly-elected Selectman Giegerich said, "My role is to support Carl as Selectman. I will continue to interact with and listen to people. We want to make good decisions that are fiscally responsible. Reval, the WPCA, the windows at Goodwin, the police station, the roof at the middle school are big issues. The idea is put them together in a comprehensive plan to address all of those issues without overburdening the taxpayer."

Democrat Steve Gernhardt, with 1270 votes will be the third member of the town's Board of Selectmen. Gernhardt displaced current Democratic Selectman Carol Manning because he won 1270 votes compared to Manning's 1236 votes. Said Gernhardt after learning of his win, "It's disappointing that Carol wasn't elected but I'm honored to be [voted] Selectman and look forward to working with Scott and Carl.

Disappointed by the loss but upbeat, Manning said, "My team could not have done any better and I'm glad I was able to do my two years as Selectman. I will be looking to continue to do good things for the town."

Board of Finance

Two Republicans, Thomas Stevenson and Derrik Kennedy, and one Democrat, John O'Brien, will fill the three full-term openings on the town's Board of Finance. Another Republican, Brad Thorpe, will fill the vacancy on the Board left when George "Sonny" Whelen resigned in September.

Stevenson was the top Finance Board vote-getter winning 2112 votes; he was followed by Kennedy with 2012 votes, and O'Brien with 1824 votes. Losing their bids to win seats on the BOF were Hank Conti with 1388 votes and John Duhig with 1235 votes. For the BOF vacancy, Republican Brad Thorpe won election with 1733 votes compared to Democrat Craig Cooke's 1536 votes.

Board of Education

In contested races on the Board of Education, all three Republicans running and one of the three Democrats won seats. Republican Chairman Mario Gaboury logged 2028 votes followed by two Republican newcomers to the Board, Kelley Kennedy with 2088 votes and Vito Savino with 1923 votes. The Democrat re-elected to the Board with 1784 votes was George Chang. Not elected were Kimberley Lacey with 1588 votes or Salvatrice Keating with 1414 votes.

Police Commission

In the race for the Police Commission openings, the three Republican candidates beat out the three Democratic candidates to win seats on the town's Police Commission. Winning the most votes was Republican Bob Finch with 1718 votes followed by David Dunlap with 1705 votes, and incumbent Ernest Sparaco with 1650 votes. Not winning seats on the Commission were Democrats Adam Stuart with 1550 votes, John DeCristoforo with 1463 votes or Emilio Scamparino with 1181 votes.

Said Dunlap of his goals, "I hope to establish a stronger voice for the community, more transparency in police business, and a more collaborative relationship between juveniles and the Police Department."

Planning Commission

The three openings on the town's Planning Commission were won by two Republicans, Robert Missel, with 2174 votes and David Shearer, with 2276 votes, and one Democrat, Cathryn Flanagan, with 1877 votes. Not winning his bid to return by just 20 votes, current Chairman Robert McIntyre was disappointed.

"There was a concerted effort to unseat me. I'm a firm believer in property owner rights but those who voted against me had different ideas," said McIntyre.

Other Boards

Three of the four candidates for the Board of Assessment Appeals, won the right to serve: Republican Sharon Tiezzi with 2065 votes, Republican Ruth FitzGerald with 1877 votes, and Democrat Cornelius McCrudden with 1248 votes. Not winning a seat was Democrat Julien Brookson.

Elected to fill the three Zoning Commission spots are Madge Fish with 2263 votes, Charles Sohl with 2087 votes, and John Talbott with 1758 votes. Not winning a seat was Elizabeth Steffen with 1588 votes.

The other town races were all uncontested which means that all candidates will win their seats. Re-elected as Town Treasurer and earning the most votes of any town candidate was Bob Fish with 2532 votes.

Elected to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals were Democrat Adam Stillman and Republican Philip Broadhurst, as Zoning Commission Alternate, Republican Thomas Farnham, Jr., as Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate, Democrat Carl Garbe, and on the Harbor Management Commission, Republican Leslie Bowman and Democrats George Wall and Richard Goduti. David Cole was elected to fill the Harbor Management Commission vacancy.

Four members were elected to serve on the town's Parks and Recreation Commission: Democrat Susan Esty and Republicans Thomas Boland, Susan Cummins, and Steven Murphy.