Unless a petitioning resident or interested local independent candidate surfaces in the coming weeks, it appears the race for the 106th state legislative district seat is on.The Newtown Bee that she was not only happy that the contest ended with the two contenders giving each other a big hug and congratulations, but for the number of local Democrats they were able to draw to the caucus.

After a very close contest and machine balloting by local Democrats at their annual caucus May 24 at Newtown Middle School, former one-term Legislative Council member Eva (Bermudez) Zimmerman captured the support of her party by a five-vote margin over challenger Kyle Lyddy.

One night earlier at Edmond Town Hall, incumbent Republican State Rerpesentative Mitch Bolinsky received the unanimous endorsement of the local Republican Town Committee.

After all votes were counted at the Democratic caucus, which welcomed all local registered party members to participate, Mr Lyddy was narrowly outpaced by Ms Zimmerman, 91 to 86. Following the vote, Mr Lyddy vowed he would not seek to primary for the ballot spot this November.

"Whenever you lose something that you put so much time into, it's of course difficult," he acknowledged, while at the same time recognizing that Ms Zimmerman "worked hard, as she always does, and did what she needed to do to come out on top Tuesday night."

Mr Lyddy, who currently chairs the appointed Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission, observed that some in the community may have seen the Democratic contest for the nomination as divisive.

"I see it as unifying," he countered. "I'll do my part in assisting Eva and the Newtown Democrats in the months leading up to Election Day in November. I wish her the best of luck as she pounds the pavement over the next several months to gain the trust of the voters to win back the seat in November; a seat last credibly held by my brother, Chris Lyddy."

Ms Zimmerman told

"My campaign will be focused on November," Ms Zimmerman said. "We have a lot of issues we have to face, and I'm glad I have a lot of time to get to know voters and to let them know I'm their candidate."

Ms Zimmerman is a state labor union organizer and support liaison for AccessHealthCT. She said through her work at the state level and in Hartford, she believes she already has established relationships with legislative and other state leaders that will give her a distinct advantage, if she is successful in November.

"This year I testified supporting maintaining state municipal aid, as well as for a cancer bill for firefighters, which benefits not only paid firefighters but all our Newtown volunteers as well," she said.

She said traditionally most Newtown voters identify with the candidate versus the party.

"Putting aside party affiliation - more people need to turn out to vote," Ms Zimmerman said. "This election is not about focusing on old ideas, it's about change and motivating people to support that change. If they have complaints [about state government] they need to come out to vote."

In his acceptance speech May 23, Mr Bolinsky said he takes seriously his responsibility to serve all residents and the needs of the Newtown community.

"At the Capitol, I work well with other legislators and leaders, and advocate successfully to create, maintain and recover state resources on our town's behalf, an accomplishment about which I am very proud," he said. "Considering the state's economic woes, Newtown has done well getting its fair share on my watch."

He said for both local voters and all state residents, the 2016 election is about fixing economic problems and returning to prosperity.

The incumbent lawmaker said 20 years of fiscal mismanagement, undisciplined spending, borrowing, questionable accounting practices, and "taxing everything but the kitchen sink at the hands of a Democrat legislature has put us in a deeper hole every year."

"A vote for Mitch Bolinsky is a vote to end this destructive cycle and start healing Connecticut by balancing budgets without raising taxes, cutting education and cutting core services to our state's most vulnerable," he said. "With my lifelong commitment to caring, responsive, personal constituent service, I am definitely Newtown's best choice for state rep in November. [And] as Newtown's representative, I enjoy very strong local support across party lines and among unaffiliated voters. I get things done."

After serving on the Legislative Council in Newtown, Mr Bolinsky is in his second term in the House of Representatives, serving as the ranking member of the Aging Committee, as well as on the Education Committee and on the powerful, budget-writing, Appropriations Committee.

The 106th District encompasses about 90 percent of Newtown homes.