Date: Fri 12-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-primary-results

Full Text:

Rosenthal Wins Democratic Primary

(with cuts)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The final match-up has been set. It will be Democrat Herb Rosenthal taking on

Republican Russ Melita in a race to see who will become Newtown's next first

selectman.

Mr Rosenthal defeated Gary Fetzer, 666-589, in a Democratic primary Tuesday,

setting the stage for the November 4 municipal election. Nearly 42 percent of

the town's 3,020 registered Democrats turned out, according to Town Clerk

Cindy Curtis Simon. Mr Rosenthal picked up 53 percent of the vote to Mr

Fetzer's 47 percent. The margin of victory was only 77 votes.

It was a victory nonetheless for the Rosenthal camp and supporters celebrated

as the results came in.

"We've had a lackluster government for the last four years or so, and that's

all about to change. On to victory in November," Mr Rosenthal told his

supporters just minutes after the results were in.

If elected, the Board of Education chairman will follow in the footsteps of

his father, Jack, who served as the town's first selectman for 12 years.

Ironically, Jack Rosenthal's administration was effectively ended in a 1989

primary, when he lost to Zita McMahon. Herb Rosenthal is hoping the 1997

primary results herald the beginning of his administration.

The political future of Mr Fetzer, on the other hand, is unclear after his

defeat Tuesday.

Feeling he had given so much to the town, Mr Fetzer, a selectman, said he

learned a lot from the primary results and said he would likely begin pursuing

other interests outside of politics.

"I'll have to re-evaluate my future. Looking back, I have mixed feelings. I

was very disappointed in how I was treated by the people in my own party the

past few months," he said.

According to Rosenthal supporter Melissa Pilchard, an 18-year member of the

Legislative Council, Mr Fetzer "is through" in politics.

"Where else can he go?" she asked rhetorically, pointing out that he had

already lost two bids for a state Senate seat to Republican Fred Lovegrove.

Tuesday night, Mr Fetzer and his supporters struggled to figure out what had

gone wrong. They were feeling good about their chances heading into the day

but were in a state of shock when the results finally came in.

Mr Fetzer called the primary a "litmus test" to determine how people in

Newtown felt about him and the issues he believed in.

"Obviously, they are not where the Democratic Party's priorities are," he

said. "People had a choice to make, and they made it," he said during a somber

post-election party at the Olde Newtown Tavern.

Mr Fetzer, who joked that it might be time to write his book, said he truly

felt he had the numbers needed to win. He claimed phone calls had identified

some 700 supporters. Obviously, they didn't all show up.

Mr Rosenthal's supporters, on the other hand, did go to the polls, and, as Mr

Fetzer pointed out, many of the long-time Newtowners who supported Mr

Rosenthal are well-versed in politics, understand the democratic process and

know the importance of voting in the primaries and caucuses. Mr Rosenthal said

he identified over 1,000 supporters.

"Herb ran a good race, and I congratulate him for that," said Mr Fetzer. "He

got his supporters out, the standard Rosenthal supporters."

Supporters say Mr Rosenthal and his running mate, Joe Bojnowski, are clearly

the men for the job of first selectman and selectmen and will be the odds-on

favorite to win in November. But Mr Melita and his running mate, Bill Brimmer,

have the numbers. The Republicans in Newtown outnumber the Democrats nearly

2-1.

Neither party will have the advantage of incumbency. First Selectman Bob

Cascella announced in June that he would not seek re-election, as did

selectman Jim Mooney. Mr Fetzer's loss this week assures that he will also not

be back.

The question still unanswered is where Mr Fetzer's backers will now turn their

support. Members of the pro-Fetzer Newtown Neighborhoods Coalition (NNC)

discussed the issue Tuesday night at Fetzer headquarters. The group formed two

years ago because of concerns over the town's rapid development.

It's too early to tell who we'll support, said Brian Hennessey.

"Herb told the Neighborhoods Coalition that he supported all of our positions.

We supported Gary because he was shoulder-to-shoulder with us. Herb wasn't,

but he does appear to be with us in spirit. We'll have to see what happens,"

Mr Hennessey said.

Kurt Gillis said the NNC's greatest worry is that after the election, nothing

will have changed in Newtown. Mr Gillis said the next step is to get as many

"sympathetic people" as possible on the Planning & Zoning Commission to ensure

that Newtown maintains its high quality of living.

At his victory speech, Mr Rosenthal reached out to the Fetzer supporters,

asking them to support him in November. He said there had been some

misunderstandings during the campaign over where he stood on issues like land

use. He hoped to clear the air.

Mr Rosenthal told his supporters that victory had come without having to

"resort to any dirty tricks," and he vowed he and Mr Bojnowski would stay

"above the fray" between now and November. The Democratic candidate had voiced

anger over insinuations made by the Fetzer camp last month that he was simply

running to continue the Rosenthal "dynasty."

Last week, Mr Rosenthal said the primary was going to be all about

effectiveness. He said he had been an effective member of the school board,

and people did not think Mr Fetzer had been an effective member of the Board

of Selectmen.

With the primary out of the way, Mr Melita said he'll continue to campaign the

same way, by talking about the issues. He said knowing who his opponent is

certainly helps, and he is looking forward to the next two months.

"I plan to base my campaign on the issues and the qualifications of the

candidates. The people deserve someone who will discuss the issues to

determine what's best for Newtown," he said.

Mr Fetzer did not visit or call the Rosenthal headquarters to congratulate his

opponent Tuesday night.

How The Districts Voted

District 1 - Rosenthal, 246; Fetzer, 187.

District 2 - Rosenthal, 224; Fetzer, 220.

District 3 - Rosenthal, 71; Fetzer, 65.

District 4 - Rosenthal, 125; Fetzer, 117.