New London - Democrats met in their first official gathering Tuesday night since a newcomer defeated the committee's chosen candidate in a primary and went on to become the first elected mayor in the city in 90 years.

Daryl Justin Finizio, who beat out five other candidates for mayor - including Democrat Michael Buscetto III who ran as a write-in candidate after losing the primary - became part of the Democratic Town Committee along with dozens of other fresh faces.

"I think we have a good mix of seasoned and new people,'' said Jane Glover, a long-time party member who is now the mayor's chief of staff.

Buscetto did not attend the caucus. Chairman William Satti said Buscetto had resigned from the party earlier in the day.

More than 120 Democrats showed up Tuesday night and 70 were elected during an orderly two-hour caucus at the Richard R. Martin Center. Representatives from each of the city's three voting districts met in corners of the auditorium and emerged with their slates of candidates. Voting was done by secret ballot.

Dozens were selected to serve on the committee for the first time alongside those who have been around for decades.

"There are a lot of new people who helped get the mayor elected,'' said Margaret Curtin, who has been a committee member for 56 years. "I think this is really going to bring the party together."

Some of the newcomers are Delanna Muse, who was elected to the Board of Education in November, and Zak Leavy, the mayor's executive assistant.

But missing from the new roster were some committee members who supported Buscetto in his bid for mayor, including Jay Wheeler and Donna Bailey.

Others who opted not to seek re-election included former Chairman Anthony Basilica, Ronald Nossek and Mathew Greene. Jay Levin, a longtime committee member, resigned several months ago, Satti said.

"I'm very pleased to see new energy surging into the Democratic Town Committee,'' Finizio said after the voting. "I see familiar faces from our campaign, both the primary and the election. It is a very unified Democratic Town Committee and I'm looking forward to working with the new committee.''

Curtin said the new members seem excited about being part of the committee and want to work to help move the city forward.

"Maybe we'll start to have district meetings once a month, like we used to,'' she said.

Registered Democrats have five days to file petitions to run in a primary for a spot on the committee. A chairman will be elected in March from the membership.

The committee changed its by-laws last year to reduce the number of members from about 80 to 60, with 20 people representing each of the city's three voting districts. But Tuesday, Satti announced that the changes had not been processed through the Democratic State Central Committee, so were not yet in effect.

k.edgecomb@theday.com