Stonington — For the first time in nearly two decades, the 43rd House District has new state representative.

On Tuesday, Democrat Kate Rotella of Mystic defeated Republican Shaun Mastroianni of Stonington, 5,663 to 4,922 to win the seat that was held by Democrat Diana Urban of North Stonington for the past 18 years. Urban decided not to seek re-election.

Rotella defeated Mastroianni 4,640 to 3,559 in Stonington where she won all five districts while Mastroianni defeated Rotella 1,363 to 1,023 in North Stonington. The results did not include absentee ballots and same-day voting. 

When an emotional Mastroianni arrived at Stonington Town Hall Tuesday night he hugged Rotella and congratulated her with a bouquet of flowers.  

Heidi Simmons, the wife of Stonington Republican First Selectman Rob Simmons also congratulated Rotella, telling her, "You learned to be bipartisan. Please promise me you'll practice it."

"I will, I will," said Rotella who has worked closely on the Stonington Board of Selectmen with Rob Simmons and Republican Selectman John Prue.  

Rotella said she was humbled and honored by the win as she thanked family and friends for their support.

"I'm looking forward to supporting this community in Hartford," she told them. "I promise you I'll do a great job."

Rotella said she felt voters supported her because of her budgeting experience, community involvement and willingness to work across party lines to get things done. She acknowledged the task ahead of her in Hartford will be tough.

Mastroianni declined comment before leaving Town Hall. 

Rotella is the purchasing manager for the Capital Region Education Council in Hartford. In addition to serving the past three years on the Stonington Board of Selectmen, she serves on the town’s K-12 School Building Committee, which is in the midst of renovating Deans Mill and West Vine Street schools.

Mastroianni works for Benchmark Senior Living, where he manages the company’s Crescent Point senior living community in Niantic and oversees another in New Haven.

He serves as a member of the Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission and is a Stonington Borough burgess, where he is also the commissioner of buildings. He chairs the Stonington Borough Charter Revision Committee, is the town’s blight citation appeals officer and serves on the town’s Beautification Committee.

j.wojtas@theday.com