Registrars Release Official Ballots For Election Day 2023
UPDATE (Friday, September 29; 12:15 pm): This story has been updated to correct the name of Board of Assessment Appeals candidate Rob Hawley.
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The Registrar’s Office has released the official ballots for Election Day, so voters will know what to expect and be familiar with who is seeking specific office when they reach the voting booth on Tuesday, November 7. At the same time, for voters who qualify, absentee ballot applications are being accepted at the Town Clerk's Office.
(Click here to view the four available ballots for the districts in Newtown. NOTE the reverse of the ballot is the same for all four districts.)
Any electors who have turned 18, become a US citizen, or moved to Connecticut before November 1 of this year are invited to register to vote during a special voter registration session on Tuedsay, October 31, from 9 am to 8 pm, in their local registrars' office. The Office of the Registrar for Newtown is within Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.
Then, on Monday, November 6, all Registrars of Voters' offices in Connecticut will hold a statewide voter registration session from 9 am to 5 pm.
This is the last registration session for admission of electors who have turned 18, become a US citizen, or moved to Connecticut since November 1 of this year. This registration session is also open to members of the Armed Forces, and former Armed Forces members who have been discharged within the calendar year.
Call the local registrars office at 203-270-4250 for details.
Democratic Registrar LeReine Frampton recently reached out to The Newtown Bee to remind voters that there are two extra races than normal on this year’s ballot, to fill vacancies on the Board of Education.
Newtown has four different versions of the ballot, depending on each voter’s district; 1-6, 1-7, 2-6, or 3-6. The main variance across the districts on the 2023 ballot is which Legislative Council candidates are competing to serve their own local district.
While Newtown has four voting districts, there are only three Legislative Council districts.
In some races, voters will be able to make more than one selection. For example, for Legislative Council, a voter can vote for up to four candidates. They don’t need to choose four candidates if they want to vote for fewer, but they may not make more than four selections.
For First Selectman, voters will be able to chose either Democrat Dan Cruson or Republican Jeff Capeci. For Selectmen, voters will be able to chose either Democrat Michelle Embree Ku or Republican John Madzula II.
District 1-6 and 1-7 voters will be able to make up to four selections for Legislative Council from Democrats Laura Miller, Chris Gardner, and Steven Hinden; and Republicans Derek Pisani, Jim Landy, and William DeRosa.
District 2-6 voters will be able to make up to four selections for Legislative Council from Democrats Eric Paradis, Jordana Bloom, and Keith Alexander; and Republicans Matthew Mihalcik, Bryan Atherton, and Jennifer Nicoletti.
District 3-6 voters will be able to make up to four selections for Legislative Council from Democrats Doria Linnetz, Heather Dean, and Chris Smith; and Republicans Tom Long, Benjamin Ruben Sr, and John Zachos.
For Board of Finance, voters will be able to make up to six selections from among Democrats John Fletcher, James Gaston, and Janette Lamoureaux; and Republicans Stephen Csordas, Bryce Chinault, Bernard Molloy, and Steven Goodridge.
For Board of Education full term, voters will be able to choose up to three of Democrats Alison Plante, Chris Gilson, and John Vouros, and Republican Brennan Coakley.
For Board of Education two year term, voters will be able to choose up to two of Republicans Todd Higgins and Shannon Tomai, or Independent Bruce Walczak.
For Board of Assessment Appeals, voters will choose one of Democrat Ed Randall or Republican Rob Hawley.
For Planning & Zoning, voters will choose up to three of Democrats David Rosen, Ross Carley, and Barbara Manville; and Republicans Connie Widmann and Brian Leonardi.
For Planning & Zoning Alternates, voters will choose up to three of Democrats Jill Soderholm and Peter Schwartz; and Republicans Pete Radzwilla and David Landau.
For Zoning Board of Appeals, voters will choose up to three of Democrats Don Mitchell and Prerna Rao; and Republicans John Robinson, Stephen Riccitelli, and Tiffany Hawley.
For Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates, voters will choose up to three of Democrat Joe Bojnowski; and Republicans James O’Connor and Peter Wlasuk.
For Police Commission, voters will choose up to three of Democrats Philip Cruz, Julia Conlin, and Stephen Sedensky; Republican Rance Thompson; and Forward Party member Neil Chaudhary.
For Board of Managers of Edmond Town Hall, voters will choose one of Democrat Jennifer Guman and Republican Armel Romeo Kouassi.
The ballots are slightly different than the lineups that came from the Republican and Democratic caucuses a few months ago. At that time Democratic and Republican sources told The Newtown Bee both parties utilized placeholder candidates — individuals agreeing to hold a spot on the ballot. The final ballots contain the official candidates.
Republican Charlie Gardner for District 2 Legislative Council has been replaced by Bryan Atherton; Carey Schierloh and Mary Atkinson who were named for Board of Finance at the GOP caucus were replaced by Bryce Chinault and Bernard Molloy; and Robin Buchanan and Scott Reiss who were ratified at the GOP caucus as Planning & Zoning Commission alternates were replaced by James O’Connor and Peter Wlasuk.
David Landau moved from Zoning Board of Appeals to Planning & Zoning alternate; and Stephen Riccitelli was made a Zoning Board of Appeals candidate.
Democratic placeholders Dan Honan, who was chosen at caucus for Board of Finance was replaced by John Fletcher; and Mary Carr for Zoning Board of Appeals alternate was removed from the ballot with no replacement.
Ross Carley, who was initially on the ballot as a Democratic council candidate in District 1 was replaced by Steve Hinden on the final ballot, with Carley shifting to become a Planning & Zoning Commission candidate, replacing Corinne Cox, who has dropped from the final ballot. Jeanette Lamoureaux, initially named as a placeholder for Board of Finance, has remained on the ballot. Lynn Hungaski was dropped as a BOE candidate with no replacement, and Trey Hazard was dropped as a Board of Assessment Appeals candidate with no replacement.
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Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.