Like many races across the state and nation, Republicans vying to represent Newtown in Hartford claimed victories in the mid-term elections November 4.

With 4,660 votes, incumbent 106th District lawmaker Mitch Bolinsky overcame an enthusiastic challenge by Democrat Matt Cole, who received the backing of 3,753 Newtown voters.

Shortly after 10 pm on election night, 112th District GOP candidate J.P. Sredzinski posted a one-word note on his Facebook page: “Elected.” In Newtown the Monroe Republican received 658 votes to Democratic candidate Jen Aguilar’s 483.

Ms Aguilar, who virtually disappeared from the public eye locally in the weeks leading up to the election, still managed a good showing locally in a wide open race following Rep DebraLee Hovey’s decision to withdraw from politics.

Around the same time Tuesday evening, incumbent Rep Dan Carter was claiming victory over his challenger, Democrat Candace Fay. In the relatively small section of the Second District overlapping Newtown, Rep Carter received 232 votes versus 179 cast for Ms Fay.

In the 28th Senatorial District, which saw the departure of veteran Senator John McKinney after a failed gubernatorial primary against Tom Foley in August, State Rep Tony Hwang outpaced his Democratic statehouse colleague Rep Kim Fawcett to win the open senate seat.

Rep Hwang, who received powerful endorsements from Sen McKinney and former Governor Jodi Rell also posted a brief note on social networks saying: “I’m honored that the people of the 28th District have placed their trust in me.”

In Newtown, Rep Hwang received 5,219 votes to Rep Fawcett’s 4,536.

Regarding his 106th District race against Democrat Matt Cole for the 106th District, State Representative Mitch Bolinsky, at roughly 9 pm said, “it’s over,” noting that he was ahead by a significant unofficial tally.

Dominating Newtown

The Newtown lawmaker, standing beside his wife, Luisa, turned to those gathered at The Villa restaurant saying, “Thank you. We have reelected our state representative tonight. We ran on hopes and love for Newtown. It worked; that’s what I’m about.”

Turning attention away from his success, Mr Bolinsky pointed out to supporters that Rep Hwang “dominated Newtown,” adding, “I am proud to have the chance to continue working with Tony — it’s people like him who helped protect the privacy of families of Sandy Hook.”

Before the voting results began coming in, Mr Cole’s campaign manager, Bill Taylor, said, “Matt’s run a very grassroots campaign. He’s had a lot of support throughout the community.”

Democratic Town Chairman Jim Juliano said that Mr Cole waged a good campaign for elective office and was well received in the district.

As voting results were listed on a tally sheet, it slowly became clear that Mr Cole had lost his bid to unseat the incumbent. He told his supporters at Democratic Party campaign headquarters, also nearby in Sandy Hook Center, “Thanks for all your efforts ... It just wasn’t in the votes.

“In two more years, we’ll be at it again,” he added, hinting at another possible run for elective office. “We’ll work our way up ... It’s not the end. It’s the beginning.”

Following his remarks, Mr Cole said that he plans to pursue elective office again in the future. He then telephoned Mr Bolinsky, and congratulated his opponent on his election victory.

Incumbent Republican Judge of Probate Joe Egan outpaced challenger Steven DeMoura in Newtown voting with 5,858 votes to his Democratic challenger’s 3,748.

Newtowners narrowly rejected the single ballot question that would have potentially authorized changes to the way Connecticut handles pre-Election Day balloting by a margin of 4,509 to 4,480.

For the first time, electors were able to register to vote at the polls, including one voter who fought to cast her ballot upon arrival at the registrars office one minute before polls closed Tuesday night. In all, 66 voters used the same day registration privilege in Newtown.

The mid-term race also represented a good overall voter turnout, with 10,264 of the community’s 17,125 electors casting ballots, including 493 residents who voted absentee.

Llodra Telegraphs ‘Change’

First Selectman Pat Llodra, who joined the Bolinskys and GOP supporters Tuesday evening, said she was glad to see Republican candidates receive the support they needed in Newtown, especially in the state senate and treasurer’s seat.

She said Rep Tony Hwang and Trumbull State Treasurer candidate Tim Herbst were slated to fill two positions where “we needed change.”

Regarding Rep Bolinsky, Mrs Llodra said, “He learned a great deal” in his first term, adding that she believed Rep Bolinsky would be even “more effective” in his return for a second term.

The first selectman also offered encouraging words for Mr Bolinskyh’s young Democratic challenger.

“I hope [Matt] continues in politics,” she said, mentioning the possibility of seeing him run for local positions. “He has a wisdom that belies his years.”

Earlier that evening, before 8 pm, Republican Town Committee members struggled to get their laptop working properly, where the first selectman and others soon were able to watch the races. This, however, was not the only technological glitch that plagued election night in Newtown.

By 9 pm, it became apparent that something had gone wrong at the Head O’Meadow polls. According to Election Moderator Willie Frampton, a sorting device within the computerized voting counter malfunctioned, resulting in the number of ballots not agreeing with the registered ballot counter on the decade-old device.

With the rest of the town’s polling precinct tallies balancing out, District 3 workers were forced to re-scan every ballot cast, finally producing verified results at around 2 am Wednesday morning. Early on during the process, Republican Registrar Karin Aurelia told The Newtown Bee that it would be her last election, and that she planned to retire from office by year’s end.

Bee reporters Andrew Gorosko and Kendra Bobowick contributed to this report. All polling results quoted in this report are unofficial until accepted by Connecticut’s Secretary of the State.