NOTE (Wednesday, November 8, 2017): This story was updated at 10:15 am to modify and correct details related to the Board of Education candidates. Ballot results were added at 2:25 pm.

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Bee Reporters Kendra Bobowick, Andrew Gorosko, and Alissa Silber contributed to this election coverage.

Democrat Dan Rosenthal will lead a new administration after capturing the first selectman's seat in local voting November 7, outpacing his Republican opponent Will Rodgers by about a 1,400-vote margin.

This win brings a third generation of the Rosenthal family to Newtown's top elected seat. Mr Rosenthal's father Herb served from 1997 to 2007, and his grandfather Jack held consecutive terms from 1976 to 1987.

Dan Rosenthal's running mate Maureen Crick Owen was also successful as the top vote-getter for the Board of Selectmen's race. She will be joined by Republican selectman candidate and former Legislative Council Chairman Jeff Capeci.

"Wow, I have work to do," exclaimed the incoming first selectman as unofficial polling numbers began to reveal his win along with Ms Crick Owen.

Speaking quietly to The Newtown Bee moments before he addressed the crowded Democratic Headquarters Tuesday evening, Mr Rosenthal said he was "feeling great. This is humbling. We worked hard."

His win, he admitted "wasn't all because of me." The incoming town leader credited the effort of many volunteers who made phone calls, knocked on doors, and lent their support in some way to his campaign.

"I certainly didn't expect anything like this," said Mr Rosenthal.

Champagne corks flew as toasts "to our new first selectman" rang out in the packed party headquarters at 30 Church Hill Road.

Mr Rosenthal turned to his closest supporters and confided, "I'm at a loss for words.

"When I committed to [running for office] I never expected anything like this," he added, as his numbers revealed a higher vote count than he had imagined.

Nodding to Ms Crick Owen, Campaign Chair Joan Plouffe, Candidates Chair Rebekah Harriman-Stites, Democratic Town Committee Chair Eric Paradis, and all his other supporters, Mr Rosenthal said, "People got behind us, and how do I thank people for giving in ways that I never asked them to? How do I repay, except to say I love you all."

With his family edging closer to him, he turned to his wife Meri.

"My family gave up so much," he said pausing for a kiss.

"This experience has been amazing," the incoming first selectman said, again crediting the many volunteers who had "worked so hard" on his campaign.

Regarding the race, he said, "We stayed on the message of inclusion," which he said resonated with voters. "They gave us something special and precious tonight.

"We have to work together," Mr Rosenthal continued. "My opponents are terrific people." He observed that this campaign season, candidates "stayed above the fray."

"We kept it about issues," the successful candidate added. Mr Rosenthal then acknowledged his father and late grandfather, saying he hoped to make them proud.

"The voters expect us to work hard and together," Mr Rosenthal said.

Ms Crick Owen also remembered her late father who she said was "looking down, too," as she prepares to serve as selectman.

"We are here to do what voters asked. We all worked so hard," she added. "I thank you all so much."

'An Incredible Run'

Earlier in the evening, DTC Chairman Paradis told The Newtown Bee, "We had an incredible run. We have a chance to change how Newtown operates. People have stepped up. It's fantastic."

He also thanked the groundswell of volunteers who contributed to the campaign.

A short distance away at My Place Restaurant on Queen Street, local Republicans had gathered to await the voting results. As the numbers were announced and projected for the crowd to view, Mr Rodgers spoke briefly to the crowd.

"Unfortunately, we had a very bad night. Jeff and I lost by approximately 20 percent to our opponents," Mr Rodgers informed his supporters. "It's disappointing results, but nonetheless we worked very hard. I would like to thank everybody for all their efforts. In particular, I would like to thank my wife, my running mate, his running mate Tanya, and my campaign team for a job well done."

Mr Capeci, who is also the Republican Town Committee chairman, thanked everyone and remarked, "I think there is a lot of other stuff going on both federally and at the state level."

Observing that Democrats "certainly outraised us fundraising," Mr Capeci also cited the distraction of a mid-September Republican primary for putting his party's candidates "at a disadvantage."

"Maybe it wasn't our year," Mr Capeci said, acknowledging that Republicans were the leading party on most town elected boards since he became involved after moving to Newtown.

"I wish Dan and Maureen and the rest of the Democrats the best of luck and success in running our town, keeping our taxes low, and making it a nice place to live for all of us," Mr Capeci concluded.

Before Mr Rodgers and his running mate departed to congratulate their Democratic opponents, Mr Capeci told The Newtown Bee, "We did a lot of work and it didn't pay off this time. The voters spoke, and we will let the Democrats rule for two years at least and we are going to work for next time."

Across town, petitioning Republican first selectman hopeful Andrew Clure learned that he had logged about 200 votes. He had previously told The Newtown Bee that if he was unsuccessful in the race, he would retain his current seat on the Board of Education, as well as an appointed seat on the Community Center Commission.

As poll numbers began coming in, he gathered with a number of friends and family at Franco's Pizza & Pasta at Sand Hill Plaza to socialize over dinner.

After results were affirmed, Mr Clure offered his congratulations to Dan Rosenthal, saying, "The town is fortunate to have Mr Rosenthal become its first selectman."

He then thanked family and friends who helped him in his bid for the town's top elected post. Of the campaign, Mr Clure told The Newtown Bee, "It was a great learning experience."

Other Race Results

In other election news, incumbent Democratic Board of Finance Vice Chair James Gaston handily won a second term, leading the race. He is joined by Democrat newcomers Roger Cyr, Steve Hinden, and former Board of Education Chairman Keith Alexander. Mr Alexander had switched parties in order to run on the Democratic ticket.

Incumbent Republican finance board members Sandy Roussas and Mark Boland each won second terms, marking the first time since the Board of Finance was reinstituted 14 years ago by Charter Revision that Democrats will hold a majority.

For the Legislative Council, preliminary District 1 counts show Democratic incumbents Paul Lundquist, Judit DeStefano, and Chris Eide all winning re-election along with Republican newcomer Jay Mattegat.

In Council District 2, incumbent Democrats Dan Honan and newcomer Jordana Bloom will join Republican incumbents Ryan Knapp and Dan Wiedemann.

In District 3, former Democratic finance board member Kelley Johnson will join Democratic newcomers Chris Smith and Robert Pickard as council representatives along with incumbent Republican Phil Carroll.

This means a Democratic majority will take over on the council as well, marking a definitive political power shift on that elected panel with an apparent 8-4 makeup, and tipping influence decidedly away from the GOP.

In the split year race for the Board of Education, incumbent Democrats Michelle Embree Ku and Debbie Leidlein have won re-election, along with Republican incumbent Dan Cruson, Jr, and GOP newcomer Daniel Delia.

Shortly after the polls closed, incumbent Republican Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead claimed victory in a three-way race. She overcame Democratic newcomer Valerie Hart and write-in candidate Ann LoBosco.

Another write-in, school board contender Deborra Zukowski similarly failed to muster enough votes to compete against party-endorsed competitors on the ticket.

[naviga:h2]Newtown's Municipal Election By The Numbers[/naviga:h2]

The 2017 Newtown Municipal Election has produced a number of historic results, including seating a third-generation Dan Rosenthal as first selectman, following in the footsteps of his father Herb, and grandfather Jack, who each served in that office.

Poll outcomes also placed Democrats in control of the Board of Finance for the first time in memory, and likely seated an eight-member supermajority of Democrats on the Legislative Council.

Mr Rosenthal's win along with his Democratic running mate Maureen Crick Owen also gives the Board of Selectmen a Democratic majority for the first time since his father Herb left office in 2007.

Newtown has approximately 16,726 registered voters; about 36 percent of those cast ballots in this week's election.

Ballot results must be officially certified by the town clerk.

Visit this website or

The Newtown Bee's Facebook page for any updates. The unofficial poll results including absentee and Election Day Registration (EDR) ballots are below:

First Selectman

Dan Rosenthal (D) - 3,872

Will Rodgers (R) - 2,471

Douglas Andrew Clure (R petitioning) - 192

Board of Selectmen

Maureen Crick Owen (D)- 3,642

Jeff Capeci (R) - 2,714

Legislative Council District 1

Judit DeStefano (D) - 1,268

Chris Eide (D) - 1,165

Paul Lundquist (D) - 1,333

Joseph Girgasky (R) - 937

George Guidera (R) - 1,011

Jay Mattegat (R) - 1,075

Legislative Council District 2

Dan Honan (D) - 1,418

Clinton DePaulo (D) - 1,123

Jordana Bloom (D) - 1,206

Ryan Knapp (R) - 1,248

Daniel Wiedemann (R) - 1,145

Matthew Mihalcik (R) - 1,048

Legislative Council District 3

Robert Pickard (D) - 993

Chris Smith (D) - 1,116

Kelley Johnson (D) - 1,157

Phil Carroll (R) - 1,100

Rance Thompson (R) - 974

Dennis Kokenos (R) - 965

Town Clerk

Valerie Dudeck Hart (D) - 2,662

Debbie Aurelia Halstead (R) - 3,259

Ann LoBosco (R write-in) - 348

Board of Finance

Keith Alexander (D) - 3,645

James Gaston (D) - 3,960

Steve Hinden (D) - 3,391

Roger Cyr (D) - 3,563

Mark Boland (R) - 3,582

Sandy Roussas (R) - 3,570

Armel Kouassi (R) - 3,066

Robert Licata (R) - 3,077

Board of Education

Debbie Leidlein (D) - 3,216

Michelle Embree Ku (D) - 3,289

Daniel Cruson, Jr (R) - 3,041

Daniel Delia (R) - 2,511

Deborra Zukowski (R) - 165 write-in

Board of Assessment Appeals

Marianne Brown (R) - 4,169

Planning & Zoning Commission

Barb Manville (D) - 3,696

Don Mitchell (D) - 3,413

Frank Corrigliano (R) - 3,102

P&Z Alternates

Margot Snellback (D) - 3,495

Dave Rosen (D) - 3,528

Fredrick Taylor (R) - 3,174

Roy Meadows (R) - 3,224

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

(four-year term)

Alan Clavette (D) - 4,067

Barbara O'Connor (R) - 3,824

(filling vacancy - two years)

Stephen Singlak (R) - 2,994

Jane Sharpe (R) - 3,606

Prerna Rao (D) - 3,173

ZBA Alternates

Joe Bojnowsi (D) - 3,437

Christina Paradis (D) - 3,525

Charles Gardner (R) - 3,082

Robin Buchanan (R) - 3,329

Police Commission

Andy Sachs (D) - 3,639

Scott Ciccari (R) - 3,204

David Ruhs (R) - 2,976

Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers

Jen Guman (D) - 2,883

Jen Chaudhary (R) - 3,009

(filling vacancy - two years)

Herb Rosenthal (D) - 4,500