Most Local Officials And Spouses Led By Example At First Referendum

There is an old saying that if you don’t go to the polls, don’t complain about the outcome of the vote. And since voter lists are a matter of public record, it is easy for anyone to see who failed to vote in any election or referendum — in case anyone is complaining.

In the case of last week’s failed referendum, however, less than a 22 percent turnout at the polls means those who did not vote significantly outnumbered those who did.

While one might expect those with the greatest vested interest in seeing the Newtown municipal budget pass — public officials and municipal department heads — to come out and vote, a review of voting records from last week’s failed referendum provided some interesting information.

In reviewing voting records supplied by the registrars office and provided to The Bee, some local boards and commissions were much more well-represented than others.

Utilizing the names of all registered voters showing on the current voter list for each household into account, this is how many of the local numbers added up:

One member of the Board of Selectmen and two spouses were unable to make it to the polls. And all but one spouse, and every member of  the Legislative Council member voted.

All but one spouse among the households of Board of Education members cast votes in the referendum — the same statistic was mirrored by the Board of Finance.

All of the Edmond Town Hall Board of Mangers voted, three family members or spouses did not. And two Planning and Zoning commissioners and their respective spouses failed to cast votes.

That same statistic is mirrored for the Police Commission.

Three Economic Development Commissioners and six eligible family members or spouses did not cast votes in the referendum, and one member of the Fire Commission and three eligible household members also did not make the polls.

Three of the community’s fire chiefs and five additional eligible household members did not vote, along with two Parks and Recreation Commissioners and five additional eligible family members.

Four Fairfield Hills Authority members did not cast votes, as well as six other registered family members, and the town attorney and his spouse were absent during the referendum.

Three Borough burgesses and the Borough Warden were not checked off the voters list, as well as four other registered family members of top Borough officials.