Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

election-day-politics

Full Text:

Newtown Voters Poised For Election Day, Nov. 3

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Just over 12,500 Newtown voters will be eligible to cast their ballots next

Tuesday on Election Day. Those showing up at the polls will be asked to cast

their ballot for governor, US senator, US representative, state senator, state

representative, as well as secretary of the state, treasurer, attorney

general, sheriff and judge of probate.

Voting is from 6 am to 8 pm at the following four locations:

District 1, Newtown Middle School, Queen Street.

District 2, Sandy Hook Firehouse, Riverside Road.

District 3-A, Head O' Meadow School, Boggs Hill Road.

District 3-B, Middle Gate School, Cold Spring Road.

Absentee Ballots

Absentee ballots are available at the town clerk's office, which, in addition

to its regular Monday-Friday hours of 8:30 to 4:30 pm, will be open on

Saturday from 9 am to noon.

Those eligible to vote by absentee ballot are registered voters unable to vote

on election day due to illness or physical disability, absence from town

during voting hours, religious beliefs that forbid secular activity on

election day, active military service, or service as an election official.

Town Clerk Cindy Simon said absentee ballots can be turned in up until Monday,

and, under certain circumstances, can be submitted on Election Day.

Candidates

Republican Governor John G. Rowland and Lieutenant M. Jodi Rell are looking to

retain their seat in Hartford. Democratic candidate Barbara B. Kennelly and

her running mate, Joseph Courtney, are campaigning to unseat them. Other

gubernatorial candidates include Joseph Zdonczyk and Gary Garneau of the

Concerned Citizens party, Libertarians Ned Vare and Robert Loomis and

term-limit proponents Roberta Scaglione and James Powell.

For the US Senate, Democratic incumbent Christopher Dodd is being challenged

by Republican Gary Franks. Representing the Concerned Citizens Party is

William Kozak, with Libertarian Wildey J. Moore and term-limits advocate Lois

Grasso also on the ballot.

For Congress from the 5th district, Democrat Jim Maloney of Danbury is seeking

a second two-year term. Republican Mark Nielsen wants to unseat him in

Washington, as does Robert Strasdauskas of the Concerned Citizens Party.

In the election for state senator in the 28th District, which includes

Newtown, Fairfield, Easton and part of Monroe, Republican John McKinney and

Democrat Tom Ganim are trying to take over an open seat. Longtime GOP senator

Fred Lovegrove is not seeking reelection this year for health reasons. The

Republicans have had a stronghold on the district for nearly a quarter

century.

Voters in Newtown's first district (Newtown Middle School) and second district

(Sandy Hook Firehouse) will vote for a state representative from the 106th

District, which also includes Bethel's third and fourth voting districts.

Republican incumbent Julia B. Wasserman of Walnut Tree Hill Road is seeking a

fourth two-year term. Challenging her is Independent candidate Charles Noe of

Bethel.

District 3-A voters (Head O' Meadow) will elect a state representative from

the 135th District, which also includes Redding, Easton and part of Weston.

John E. Stripp, the Republican incumbent from Weston, is running unopposed.

In District 3-B (Middle Gate School), Republican Pat Shea of Monroe hopes to

take over the 112th District seat vacated by Bill Varese, who is not seeking

reelection. In her way, however, is Democrat Andrew Nunn of Monroe and Kenneth

B. Jones, a petitioning candidate.

In the race for secretary of the state, Democrat Ben Andrews and Republican

Susan Bysiewicz will go head-to-head, with Libertarian Kenneth F. Mosher

looking to pull off the upset. Miles Rappaport recently stepped down from the

position.

The four-way race for state treasurer is headed by Republican Paul J.

Silvester and Democrat Denise Nappier. Others seeking to fill the seat are

Concerned Citizens candidate Joseph J. Ciccomascolo and Libertarian Louis

Garofalo.

Democrat Nancy Wyman is campaigning to hold on to her seat as the state's

comptroller. She is being challenged by Republican Christopher Scalzo and

Libertarian Steven Edelman.

Democrat Richard Blumenthal is seeking reelection as attorney general. He is

being challenged by Democrat Santa Mendoza and Libertarian Richard J. Pober.

The Fairfield County sheriff's seat is currently open, but Republican Charles

M. Valentino and Democrat Stephen F. DeVito are both vying to fill it.

Newtown's judge of probate, Margot Hall, is running unopposed.