August 10 Primary Polls Open In All Four Local Districts

By John Voket

Republican Registrar of Voters Karin Aurelia reminds Newtown residents interested in participating in the August 10 primaries that as in general elections, polling places will be open in all of Newtown’s four voting districts.

“We want to avoid having people who should be voting in their own district all showing up at the middle school,” Ms Aurelia told The Bee this week.

While townwide budget referenda are held at the middle school, for both the August 10 primaries and November 2 general elections, only voters registered in District 1 vote at the middle school gym.

District 2 voters should report to the Reed cafetorium; District 3-1 voters to the Head O’ Meadow School cafetorium; and District 3-2 voters can cast ballots at the Edmond Town Hall lower gymnasium.

One of the most closely watched races is among three current probate judges all competing for a single regional probate post following the consolidation of the Newtown, Bethel, Ridgefield, and Redding courts. Newtown’s Republican Probate Judge Moira Rodgers is facing her Bethel counterpart Daniel O’Grady and Probate Judge Joseph Egan of Ridgefield.

The winner of that race will face Newtown Democrat Timothy Holian, who is that party’s sole nominee for the regional post.

Local registered Republicans are also called to select from one of three Gubernatorial candidates: Tom Foley, current Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele, and Nelson “Oz” Griebel. The two GOP lieutenant governor candidates are Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Lisa Wilson-Foley — no relation to Tom Foley.

Democrats can support either former Stamford mayor Dan Malloy or Ned Lamont for governor and current State Comptroller Nancy Wyman or Mary Messina Glassman as lieutenant governor.

Republican candidates for the US Senate include Linda McMahon, Peter Schiff, and Rob Simmons. And the GOP US Congressional candidates include Sam Caligiuri, Justin Bernier, and Mark Greenberg.

Candidates vying for the GOP’s attorney general slot include Martha Dean and Ross Garber. Denise Merrill and Gerry Garcia are the two Democratic Secretary of the State contenders, while State Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo is seeking the Democratic comptroller post along with Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura.

In related news, the registrar said any unregistered individual, or unaffiliated voter who would like to register with a major party to participate in the primaries must submit their voter registration by mail postmarked no later than August 5.

Walk-in registration for individuals in those two cases is open until noon August 9. For more information contact the registrars office or leave a message at 203-270-4250.