Mirroring State Primary Votes—

Newtown Supports McMahon, Foley, Malloy

By John Voket

Voters registered with the two major political parties trickled into four Newtown polling places on Tuesday to cast ballots for a number of high-profile federal posts, as well as a few hotly contested state races. And when all was said and done, the local outcomes closely mirrored voter trends across Connecticut, where voters on Tuesday set the ballot for five statewide races, four congressional races, and 19 state House and Senate seats.

The outcome of the only primary immediately affecting Newtown, the regional probate contest among three Republican municipal probate candidates, involved tallying GOP votes from the four communities making up what will be a future regional probate district.

As those primary numbers from Ridgefield, Redding. and Bethel were tallied, Newtown Judge Moira Rodgers proved unsuccessful against her challengers. Judge Rodgers received 737 votes to Bethel Judge Daniel O’Grady’s 1,919 and Ridgefield Judge Joe Egan’s 2,274. The local vote tally for the probate race had Judge O’Grady in the top position with 660 votes, Judge Rodgers with 559 votes, and Judge Egan trailing a distant third with 238.

But Judge Egan finished with an overwhelming 1,611 votes in his home town of Ridgefield, boosting his standing districtwide to outpace Judge O’Grady by a total of 355 votes.

Judge Egan will face Newtown Democrat Timothy Holian, who is his party’s sole nominee for the regional post in the November elections.

This and numerous other primary races, from the US Senate to state offices including the governor and comptroller, apparently failed to motivate many registered Newtown Democrats and Republicans, however, as voters trickled to the polls, which were open from 6 am to 8 pm. According to the registrars’ records, only about 28 percent of eligible primary voters turned out.

Of 4,928 registered Republicans, 1,548 were checked off voting lists as having appeared at the polls, and even fewer of Newtown’s 4,221 registered Democrats were represented with 1,005 appearing to cast ballots.

Local registered Republicans came out strong for Linda McMahon as Newtown’s candidate for the US Senate, casting 881 votes for the former World Wrestling Entertainment executive versus 324 for Peter Schiff, and 304 for Rob Simmons.

Statewide, Ms McMahon defeated both Mr Simmons and Mr Schiff, a Weston financial expert, in the statewide GOP primary.

Mr Simmons had led the race back when US Senator Chris Dodd was still planning to seek reelection. He suspended his campaign in May after losing the party’s endorsement to Ms McMahon, then restarted his efforts in recent weeks with TV ads reminding voters his name was still on the ballot.

But Ms McMahon, who spent more than $20 million of her own money on the primary race, largely ignored his reentry and garnering just under 50 percent of the vote in a three-way race. She now faces Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in November.

Ms McMahon said Wednesday she is ready to spend whatever it takes to beat Mr Blumenthal. Appearing on a network news program, she brushed off accusations she made millions by promoting an industry allegedly rife with violence and steroid abuse.

Asked about this on ABC’s Good Morning America, Ms McMahon said the entertainment model “will continue to evolve.” She has said she plans to spend up to $50 million of her own money in the fall, telling the network: “It’s money I’ve earned. It’s money I’m willing to invest.”

In other races, Newtown Republicans chose Tom Foley as the party’s gubernatorial candidate, with 677 votes against 609 for current Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele and 210 for Nelson “Oz” Griebel. The local choice for GOP lieutenant governor was a landslide for Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who received 1,138 votes versus 314 cast locally for Lisa Wilson-Foley (no relation to Tom Foley).

Statewide, Mr Foley edged out Lieutenant Governor Mike Fedele in a campaign that grew increasingly negative in recent weeks. Mr Fedele’s running mate, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, defeated political newcomer Lisa Wilson-Foley, a businesswoman, and will appear on the ticket with Mr Foley in November.

Democrats narrowly supported former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy 508 to 491 over Ned Lamont for governor, and put current State Comptroller Nancy Wyman on the November ballot for lieutenant governor. Ms Wyman received 596 votes versus the 375 received by Mary Messina Glassman in Newtown.

Statewide, Mr Malloy, the party-endorsed Democrat who had lagged in the polls, wound up defeating businessman Ned Lamont. Mr Malloy’s running mate, Comptroller Nancy Wyman, won the lieutenant governor primary, beating Simsbury First Selectwoman Mary Glassman.

It was Mr Lamont’s second try for statewide office and far quieter than his first. He won a Senate primary four years ago in one of the standout races of the 2006 campaign, upsetting Senator Joe Lieberman, who then won a new term in the fall as an independent.

Local Republicans chose state Senator Sam Caligiuri as their GOP US Congressional candidate with 530 votes, versus Justin Bernier who received 479 votes, and Mark Greenberg who received 455 votes. Voters across the Fifth District, gave state Sen Caligiuri the victory against Mr Bernier, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, and Mr Greenberg, a Litchfield real estate developer.

The Newtown GOP’s attorney general choice locally was Martha Dean, with 916 votes versus only 475 cast for challenger Ross Garber, a Glastonbury lawyer. Ms Dean, an Avon attorney, won the statewide GOP primary for attorney general and now faces Democrat and former Senate Majority Leader George Jepsen in November.

The winner of that general election will replace US Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal, who has held the office for 20 years.

“I think the voters of Connecticut today were looking for a candidate that was serious, substantive, and on message,” Ms Dean said Tuesday. “And I believe they saw that in me.”

Mr Jepsen said in a statement that he looked forward to his faceoff against Ms Dean.

“I am working to win this fall, but for tonight, my message to Martha is: Congratulations, enjoy the win and get some rest,” he said.

Local Democrats chose Denise Merrill as their secretary of the state contender, with 579 votes versus 363 votes cast locally for Gerry Garcia.

Across Connecticut Ms Merrill and Kevin Lembo won their respective primaries for secretary of the state and comptroller. Mr Lembo overwhelmed Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura in polling locally for the Democratic comptroller post with 665 votes to 272 cast for Mayor Jarjura.

Statewide, he also defeated Mayor Jarjura.

Ms Merrill, the state House Majority Leader, now faces state Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Ferrell, Jr, who defeated former New Haven alderman Gerry Garcia on Tuesday.

“I like my chances in November,” Ms Merrill said. “I plan to run a race of integrity and positivity; I think that’s what the people want.”

Mr Lembo, the state health care advocate, will go up against Republican fashion executive Jack Orchulli in November.

“Every step of the way, we’ve made a point of comparing my record with my opponent’s and making sure voters know that they have a choice,” Mr Lembo said Tuesday. “I’m just very pleased and grateful that the people have been willing to support me and that they believe in my vision.”

Also in November, Democrat Denise Nappier, the only incumbent in the statewide races running for reelection, goes against Newington Mayor Jeff Wright for state treasurer.

(Associated Press writers Pat Eaton-Robb and Susan Haigh contributed to this report.)