GOP Holds Town Council, Dems Take Board Of Ed

Philip Thibodeau
6 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Early in the evening Tuesday, the mood downtown among Democrats gathered at Anthony Jacks was somber, as the results of Election Day voting suggested big losses across the board. On the other side of town at The Back Nine, where the Republican election party was being held, hopes were high as the first numbers came in.

Then the early-voting results were released, results which painted a much sunnier picture for the Democrats.

As of Wednesday morning at 9am, the exact, official results of the election remain unknown. This is because 'hand-counts' - ballots rejected by the voting machines because of smudges, erasures, or related factors - have yet to be counted.

A few things seem clear, however.

The Board of Education will almost certainly have a 5-4 Democratic majority - Democrats Zaya Oshana, Bob Brown, Lisa Cammuso, Terri Carmody, and Dawn Anastasio, along with Republicans Colleen Clark, Cecil Whitehead, Joseph Baczewski, and Sean Carson.

This assumes that Republican Sean Carson's lead over Democrat Christopher Carnright (5,567 to 5,496) holds up after hand-counts are tallied.

The Town Council will almost certainly have a 6-3 Republican majority. The top six Republican vote-getters were Paul Chaplinsky, Jr., Jennifer Clock, Jim Morelli, Joshua Serafino, Mike DelSanto, and Tony Morrison. The top three Democrats were Chris Palmieri, Kristen Marie Guida, and Dave Zoni.

Again, this assumes that Republican Tony Morrison's lead over Democrat Shawn Grindle (5,662 votes to 5,614) holds up after hand-counts are tallied.

The Board of Finance looks to be tied, 3-3. The top Republican vote-getters were John Leary, Edward Pocock, Jr., and Joe Labieniec. The top Democrats were Katie Wade, Stephen Salerno, and Kevin Beaudoin.

The Planning & Zoning Commission will have a 4-3 Republican majority. Republicans Mike Goodrich and Steven Walowski will join Todd Chaplinsky and Robert Britton, who were not up for election this year. Democrats Susan Locks and Justin McGuire will join Caleb Cowles, who was not up for election this year.

The Water Board will continue to have 3 Republicans - Ralph Warner, Domenic Perone, and Ron Lamoreux, Jr. - and 3 Democrats - Jacquelyn Salerno, Thomas Murphy, and Robert M. Berkmoes.

Town Clerk Kathy Larkin was re-elected, running unopposed.

Both referendum measures passed by comfortable margins, meaning that money will be bonded for roof repairs on three elementary schools and for potential open space purchases.