Montville ― Residents on Tuesday elected retired Montville police officer Leonard “Lenny” Bunnell as the next mayor.

Bunnell, 73, who describes himself as a conservative Democrat, defeated Republican Town Council member Tom McNally by about 180 votes at Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial vote totals.

Bunnell celebrated with friends, family and fellow Democrats during a gathering at the Uncasville Diner sharing hugs and some tears with fellow Democrats who secured five spots on the seven-member Town Council.

“Naturally, I feel good to be a winner in such a hard-fought campaign,” Bunnell said. “I was able to do this because of the team, my family and everyone that was behind me.”

McNally, 47, the owner of T&S Lawn Care and Property Management, ran for both mayor and for council and fell short of the necessary votes in both races.

Bunnell spent 42 years with the Montville Police Department and retired in 2018. He went on to serve two terms on the Town Council and worked as an account manager for Securitas Security at Pfizer in Groton, but has since left his job to focus on his campaign and running the town.

Both McNally and Bunnell said growth of the town’s tax base would be a key focus if they were elected.

Bunnell said he thinks that growth must be balanced with responsible spending. That message likely resonated with voters concerned about a rise in taxes.

“I’m a senior citizen, so I find it is becoming less affordable to stay in my own home. We need more business in town,” said Barbara Thompson, who voted Tuesday at Mohegan School.

Don Wycoff, a Driscoll Drive resident, said along with taxes, his biggest issue is a personal one.

“A lot of the roads need repairs in my area,” Wycoff said.

It was McNally’s third unsuccessful run at the four-year term as mayor.

McNally’s message to voters was similar to Bunnell’s, but he blamed stagnation in economic development on Democratic leadership. While campaigning outside Town Hall on Tuesday, McNally said he worked hard on his campaign, making calls, attending forums and going door-to-door to try and get his message out.

“We’ve done everything we can do to get the word out,” McNally said.

Bunnell said he would be willing to work with the Republican members of the council if elected.

“My priorities for Montville will be to attract development and maintain our current facilities and to listen to what the townspeople have to say,” Bunnell said prior to his win.

g.smith@theday.com