Most Voters Stay Home –

Democrats Gain A Seat On The Council In ‘99 Election

By Steve Bigham

The shock that rang out at Democratic headquarters Tuesday night had nothing to do with politics. At about 8:45 pm, a transformer exploded just outside the party headquarters at 1 Glen Road, lighting up the sky in a bright blue and sending sparks flying.

Seconds later, a large tree fell across the road, taking down power lines, which fell on top of cars. Then, after flickering once or twice, the lights went out. Moments later, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal pulled in with the final election results. What had been a quiet election season ended with a bang as 60 mph winds roared through town.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Earl J. Smith wasn’t sure what to think as election night drew to a close. Standing in the dark, he was asked what he thought of the results.

“I’m going home to absorb it,” he joked, indicating that all the excitement of the storm had turned the election results into a momentary afterthought.

When the dust settled, the Democrats had secured another seat on the Legislative Council, one of only two boards that actually featured a race this year. Democratic winners were Peggy Baiad and Tim Holian (District 2), Melissa Pilchard and newcomer Dan Rosenthal (District 1) and newcomer Ruby Johnson (District 3).

Seven Republicans won council seats, including six incumbents. They were Brian White, Will Rodgers and John Kortze (District 3), Donald Studley and Pierre Rochman (District 1), and Joe Borst (District 2). Doug Brennan, also from District 2, won in his first bid for a council position.

Republican Town Committee chairman Marie Sturdevant was calling it a victory for the GOP Wednesday morning.

“I think the Republicans showed this is still a Republican town. We maintained control of every board and commission in town and I think it’s wonderful,” she said, forgetting momentarily that the Democrats still control the Board of Selectmen.

Mr Rosenthal took an entirely different slant, wondering how the Republicans could have considered Tuesday a victory. “How can it be a loss for the Democrats when the first selectman runs unopposed and the Democrats picked up a seat on the Legislative Council?” he asked, rhetorically.

Democrat Lisa Schwartz and Republican Ed Lucas both lost in their bids for reelection. Both parties expressed disappointment in losing the incumbents. Mrs Sturdevant said it is tough to beat the “Rosenthal” name, pointing out that Dan Rosenthal’s win cost Mr Lucas the election.

Some observers felt the GOP might have cut its losses by not running a first selectman candidate. Had it run a “weak” candidate, they suggested, more voters might have turned out and Mr Rosenthal’s victory could have pulled along others on his coat tails.

Mrs Schwartz, who was seeking her third term on the board, lost by just 15 votes to Mrs Johnson. She fell to John Kortze by just 25 votes. In District 3, Republican Andrew Buzzi lost by just 15 votes to Republican Robert Brennan in District 2. Both races are eligible for a recount next week.

Donald Studley was the council’s top overall vote-getter with 640 votes.

The real landslide in Tuesday’s election was for those who elected to stay home. Only 3,410 (27 percent) of the town’s 12,742 registered voters turned out. It is believed to have been the lowest voting percentage in a town election in Newtown this century. The lack of a contest at the top of the ticket may have kept people home.

“I’m disappointed in the turnout of voters. Regardless of the fact that there was no race for first selectman, it was a poor turnout,” noted Mr Rosenthal, who collected 2,345 votes on his way to a second term. Selectmen Bill Brimmer and Joe Bojnowski will join him on the Board of Selectmen. They, too, ran unopposed.

 

The Impact Of

Fairfield Hills

Those searching for meaning in the 1999 election results may find some significance in the vote for the ultimate disposition of Fairfield Hills. Take, for example, newcomer Ruby Johnson, a winner in District 3. She has been a leader in the citizens’ campaign in support of purchasing the 186-acre campus. On the other hand, Ed Lucas, who lost in his bid for reelection, expressed a reluctance to support the town purchase of the property. Mrs Schwartz, who won easily two years ago, indicated an uncertainty over what the town should do. She lost by just 15 votes to Ruby Johnson.

But as some candidates pointed out, this year’s low voter turnout made it hard to draw any conclusions

In the election’s only other race, incumbents Stephen Koch and James Boylan, both Republicans, and Democrat Michael Osborne, all retained their seats on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Democrat Lilla Dean fell just short in her bid to move up from alternate to regular member. Democratic newcomer John Cunningham also lost.

There had been a call for a return of all Legislative Council incumbents, and 11 of the 12 members were reelected. Republican Karen Blawie chose not to seek another term.

“It’s going to be a good council,” said Joanne Rochman, wife of council chairman Pierre Rochman. “You have some new people, you have some experienced people. I can breathe easy knowing some of our finest, most experienced people got reelected.”

Town Clerk Cindy Curtis Simon, running unopposed, was the top overall vote-getter, pulling in 2,469 votes.