2017 Local Election News
Groton charter proposal petition has more than 800 signatures
A group of residents seeking to petition the Charter Revision Commission report to referendum has collected more than 800 signatures, nearly half the number needed to place the question on the ballot.
New London Democrats plan caucus for committee membership
The New London Democratic Party will hold a caucus at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the Senior Center located at 120 Broad St. to select members of the 2018-2019 Democratic Town Committee.
Groton Republicans recommend Weitlauf to fill vacant Board of Education seat
Tasked with recommending an appointment for a vacant Board of Education seat, the Republican Party in Groton had two candidates: one with experience on the board, and a would-be newcomer who received...
Sen. Murphy weighs in on Russia probe, North Korea tensions
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., sat down with the editorial board at The Day on Tuesday afternoon for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on threats from North Korea, defense spending, gun control...
It's never too early to shop for Christmas
Some people around here might deserve more than stones in their stockings.
Recount confirms school board seat for Green Party in New London
A recount of votes cast in the Nov. 7 municipal election has confirmed Green Party member Mirna Martinez as the winner in a tight race for the seventh seat on the Board of Education.
Montville Town Council elects Republican leadership for 2017-18 term
The council also unanimously appointed liaisons to 11 town commissions and boards, including a new liaison to the Commission on Aging, a position held for the past eight years by Democratic councilor...
Montville Democrats struggle to understand Election Day defeats
The final result of the Town Council election, confirmed Thursday after a recount, was a reversal of two decades of Democratic majority in Montville.
New London Democrats celebrate victories, reassess party

The Democratic Party in New London is changing, and some say that has a lot to do with a more progressive faction helping to blur traditional party lines.
Linares joins wide-open field exploring bid for statewide office
State Sen. Art Linares, the Westbrook Republican whose district includes Lyme and part of Old Saybrook, announced this week that he’s considering running for a statewide office next year.
Stonington Town Clerk Cindy Ladwig says this will be her last term
After winning her 11th consecutive term Tuesday, Democratic Town Clerk Cindy Ladwig said Wednesday this will be her last term as she plans to retire when it ends in four years.
Groton Republicans assess election losses

Republican Town Committee Chairman Dean Antipas stepped in front of his shocked colleagues at Republican headquarters Tuesday night after the election returns came in. “I’m the author...
Green Party wins leave state, town officials scrambling to accommodate them
"We weren't really expecting this kind of success, but we didn't know what to expect," said Waterford Green Party co-chairman Joshua Steele Kelly, who was elected to one of the RTM seats Tuesday with...
Norwich Mayor-elect Nystrom ready to return to former seat
Fresh off his election victory Tuesday night, Republican Mayor-elect Peter Nystrom said he is ready to start taking on the role of economic development with a learning curve that’s a lot...
Recount scheduled for New London school board race
A recount is slated to take place Nov. 15 for two school board candidates separated by nine votes in Tuesday’s election.
Stonington administrative services director loses bid to become Essex first selectman
The town will not have to hire a new administrative services director after Vincent Pacileo lost his bid to become first selectmen in Essex in Tuesday’s election.
Listed as deceased, Montville 92-year-old votes from the dead
A longtime town resident and politician who lives next door to the Montville house where he was born in 1925 found he was accidentally listed as deceased when he went to vote in the town election...
Republican wins spot on Democrat-controlled New London City Council

Voters returned five of six incumbent Democrats to the City Council on Tuesday, and added one Republican to the mix.
Urgo beats out young farmer for North Stonington first selectman

Michael Urgo, a Farmers Insurance agent who is unaffiliated but ran with the endorsements of the Democratic Town Committee and the Independent Party, won his bid for first selectman.
Simmons defeats Crouse for second term as Stonington first selectman

Just as he did two years ago, Republican First Selectman Rob Simmons defeated former Democratic First Selectman George Crouse.
Democrats seize control of the Groton Town Council

Democrats swept the Groton Town Council on Tuesday, winning all nine seats and ousting seven incumbents.
Mattson becomes first Democrat to lead Lyme
In the first contested race for first selectman in 16 years, voters chose Steven Mattson to lead this residential and rural community of about 2,500 people for the next two years.
Reemsnyder wins fourth term as first selectwoman in Old Lyme

Democrat First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder won a fourth term as Old Lyme's top elected official Tuesday, staving off a challenge from Republican Judith "Jude" Danenhower Read in a race that...
Waterford Green Party wins a seat in all four RTM districts
Members of the town's nascent Green Party won a seat in all four Representative Town Meeting districts, and Green Party-endorsed candidates also won seats on the school board, Board of Assessment...
Nickerson re-elected to first selectman

Incumbent First Selectman Mark Nickerson was re-elected to his second full term on Tuesday, winning 3067-1296 against challenger Wes Firmin.
Five new faces join New London school board

Five new faces join New London school board. A recount between two of the candidates is expected.
In Ledyard, 19 of 22 candidates are winners
A little more than a quarter of the town's registered voters elected nine Town Council members and nine Board of Education members in Tuesday’s balloting.
Cold Election Day winds whistle in, from all directions
Connecticut municipal elections seem disconnected from state and national trends
Republican Nystrom takes Norwich mayoral seat with apparent Republican council majority

Former Republican Mayor Peter Nystrom will return to that seat in December following his victory in Tuesday’s five-way race for mayor, and preliminary numbers show he will have a 4-3...
Montville Town Council flips to Republicans
The town's Republicans, who waged a campaign urging voters to either "drain the swamp" or "keep it" if they were satisfied with the five incumbent Democrats on the Town Council, got their answer:...
Democrats seize control of Norwich Board of Education
While losing the mayor's seat and the majority of the City Council, Democrats took control of the Board of Education Tuesday, with the maximum 6-3 majority, fueled by longtime incumbents and...
Election Day quiet in Preston
Election Day passed without fanfare in Preston, where of the 13 races in this year's election, only three were contested.
Lyden earns fifth term as first selectman
In a more than two to one ratio, incumbent First Selectman Kevin Lyden secured his seat for a fifth term, beating Democratic challenger Sue Spang 765 to 341.
Norwich referendum questions win approval
Voters overwhelmingly approved two referendum question Tuesday, one calling for bonding $3.2 million to purchase five firetrucks and possibly other fire equipment and the second to bond $5 million...
Today is Election Day: Follow our live coverage

Follow our live Election Day coverage from around southeastern Connecticut.
Registrars predict voter turnout to be up in some towns, down in others Tuesday
Municipal elections do not garner the turnout of presidential or even gubernatorial races, but some registrars are at least hoping that turnout this year will be higher than the average municipal...
Still voting after all these years

Three centenarians talk about why it's important to cast a ballot.
Montville Town Council candidates face pressure to bring taxes down despite hurdles
In Montville, a town where political parties are more like teams than reflections of political philosophy, voters' decisions on Tuesday will answer question the two parties have posed over the last...
Six running for five open spots on Montville school board
The school board, fresh off a year when it faced tough decisions about education spending amid shrinking state aid, and a controversial proposal to hire a private busing contractor, could see a...
Opinion
Alabama Senate race leaves anti-abortionists no choice
As far as anti-abortionists are concerned, Alabama's Democratic candidate, Doug Jones, is wrong on our country's premier human-rights issue.