Update: This report has been updated to clarify that Steve Hinden on the Legislative Council as an unaffiliated candidate but was endorsed by the Democrats, and Bernard Molloy and Bryce Chinault on the Board of Finance both ran as unaffiliated candidates but were endorsed by the Republican party.

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Voters sent a mixed message on Election Night, picking Republican Jeff Capeci to be the town's next first selectman, and Democrats winning majorities on several boards and commissions, however, including the Legislative Council and the Board of Education. Capeci will succeed Dan Rosenthal, who announced in February he would not be running for a fourth term.

Voter turnout was 40.5%, with 7,672 out of 18,941 eligible voters casting a ballot.

Capeci's runningmate, John Madzula II, did not get elected. Capeci will serve with his Democratic opponent, Dan Cruson, and Cruson's runningmate, Michelle Embree Ku, on the Board of Selectmen.

Both selectman candidates expressed that their party didn't get the mandate they were hoping for.

"The results were not what we were hoping for," Capeci told the assembled Republicans Tuesday night. "We'll take the next two years to rebuild. I'll be your first selectman. It wasn't our year, but we'll lead the town into a brighter future in two years."

Cruson said also the results were not “necessarily the outcome we were hoping for, but I’m happy with the outcome," he told Democrats at their headquarters as results became clear. "I am glad to be moving up to the Board of Selectmen, and I look forward to the next couple of years.”

The Democrats have a 7-5 majority, as Democrats Laura Miller, Chris Gardner, Eric Paradis, Jordana Bloom, Keith Alexander, and Heather Dean, along with unaffiliated candidate Steve Hinden, who was endorsed by the Democrats, were all elected to the council. The Republicans are in the minority with Jim Landy, Jennifer Nicoletti, Tom Long, Benjamin Ruben, and John Zachos.

For Board of Education two year terms, Republicans Todd Higgins and Shannon Tomai were elected.

For Board of Education full terms, Democrats Alison Plante, Chris Gilson, and John Vouros were elected.

For Police Commission, Republican Rance Thompson and Democrats Philip Cruz and Julia Conlin were elected.

For Town Hall Board of Managers, Democrat Jennifer Guman was elected.

The Board of Finance saw a familiar 3-3 split, with Democrats John Fletcher, James Gaston and Janette Lamoureaux elected, to serve with Repubican Steven Goodridge, and unaffiliated candidates Bernard Molloy and Bryce Chinault, who were endorsed by Republicans.

For Board of Assessment Appeals, Democrat Ed Randall and Republican Rob Hawley were elected.

For Planning & Zoning Commission, Republican Connie Widmann, and Democrats David Rosen and Barbara Manville were elected.

For P&Z Alternates, Democrats Jill Soderholm and Peter Schwarz, and Republican David Landau were elected.

For Zoning Board of Appeals, Democrats Don Mitchell and Prerna Rao, and Republican Tiffany Hawley were elected.

For Board of Appeals Alternates, Democrat Joe Bojnowski, and Republicans James O’Connor, and Peter Wlasuk were elected.

The week's print edition of The Newtown Bee will have full numbers and election breakdown. The updated story will also be posted online later this week.

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Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com. Reporter Owen Tanzer can be reached at owen@thebee.com.