Republicans dominate Waterford's down-ballot races
Waterford — With few exceptions, Republican candidates for the Board of Finance, the Board of Education and the Representative Town Meeting dominated Tuesday's voting here.
All three Republicans running for the finance board — Kevin Reardon, Kevin Petchark and James Reid — were elected, as was J.W. "Bill" Sheehan, the only one of four Democrats on the ballot to break through. Similarly, all four Republicans seeking school board seats — Pat Fedor, Craig Merriman, Michele Devine and Amanda Gates-Lamothe — won election. They were joined in the winners' circle by Marcia Benvenuti, the only one of three Democrats to win.
Republican Marilyn Lusher won a seat on the Board of Assessment Appeals, and Republicans Cathy Newlin and Warren Mackenzie won election to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Town Clerk David Campo and Tax Collector Alan Wilensky, both Republicans, were unopposed for re-election, while Abbas Danesh, a Republican, was unopposed for town treasurer. Jason Maryeski, endorsed by both the Democratic and Green parties, was unopposed for an alternate seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals seat.
Thirty-five candidates, including 14 incumbents, vied for 24 RTM seats. Winners were:
1st District — Republicans Robert Swansen, Timothy Condon, Valerie Muckle Metivier and Danielle Steward-Gelinas, and Democrat Nick Gauthier.
2nd District — Democrats Baird Welch-Collins, Greg Attanasio, Margaret Welch and Ted Olynciw, and Republicans April Cairns and Liam O'Leary.
3rd District — Republicans David Lersch, Jennifer Antonino Bracciale, Paul Goldstein, Richard Morgan and Richard Muckle, and Democrats Kathy Kohl and Tim Fioravanti.
4th District — Democrats Susan Driscoll, Sally Ritchie and Steve Elci, and Republicans Mike Bono, Michael Rocchetti and Thomas Dembek.
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