Election Day November 2—

Newtowners Called To Vote On

Governor, Senate, Statehouse, Probate Races

By John Voket

Newtown voters will have an opportunity to help elect individuals running for political office at the regional, state, and federal levels Tuesday, November 2, as polls open in all four local voting districts between 6 am and 8 pm.

According to Republican Registrar Karin Aurelia, only new resident voters with proof of local residency, newly naturalized citizens, and those becoming 18 between October 26 and November 2 can still register to vote in Newtown.

All but one of Newtown’s voting districts will consider local legislative candidates for the 106th District.

The Democratic incumbent is Representative Christopher Lyddy, and the Republican candidate in the 106th District is local Legislative Council representative George Ferguson. Mr Ferguson is cross endorsed by Connecticut’s Independent Party, and his name will also appear on the Independent ballot line.

In Newtown’s 3-2 voting district, which is part of the state’s 112th Legislative District, voters will be asked to choose between incumbent Republican DebraLee Hove and Democrat Michele Mount, whose name also appears on the Working Families party line. Both are residents of Monroe.

This year, The Newtown Bee issued uniform questionnaires to each legislative candidate, which gave those contenders an opportunity to reflect their positions on preeminent issues as indicated by constituents; how they would counter the looming $3.4 billion state deficit; whether they thought current educational funding is adequate; unfunded mandates and property tax relief, among others.

Link to each candidate’s survey response by visiting Newtownbee.com. In addition, Mr Ferguson has issued a number of position papers, the final of which is covered in a separate report in this week’s edition.

Other races on Newtown’s ballot include the regional judge of probate post, which was created by merging the Newtown, Bethel, Redding, and Ridgefield probate districts. The new court will be based in Bethel and will be headed by either Newtown attorney Timothy Holian, the sole Democratic candidate, or Republican primary victor Joseph Egan, who is the current sitting probate judge in Ridgefield.

Since Governor M Jodi Rell has decided to step down, the top elected state seat is an open race between the GOP team of Tom Foley and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton for lieutenant governor, and Democratic contenders Dan Malloy and State Comptroller Nancy Wyman for lieutenant governor.

The state Independent Party is fielding Thomas Marsh and Cicero Booker, Jr, in the governor/ lieutenant governor race, and the Malloy/Wyman team is also endorsed on the Connecticut Working Families Party line on the local ballot.

Democrat and current state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, and his Republican US Senate challenger Linda McMahon are on the ballot along with Dr John Mertens, who is a senate candidate for the Connecticut for Lieberman Party. Warren Mosler is the State Independent US Senate candidate, and Mr Blumenthal is cross endorsed on the Working Families line.

Republican Sam Caligiuri is challenging incumbent Democrat Chris Murphy for US Congress, and while Mr Caligiuri is cross endorsed by state Independents, Rep Murphy is cross endorsed by the Working Families Party.

Incumbent Republican John McKinney is facing Democratic challenger Mitchell Fuchs for Newtown’s State Senate seat. Current Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr, a Republican, is challenging Denise Merrill for Secretary of the State, and Ms Merrill is cross endorsed by the Working Families Party.

Other secretary of the state candidates on the local ballot include Green Party challenger S. Michael DeRosa, Independent Michael Telesca, and Libertarian Ken Mosher.

For state treasurer, GOP candidate Jeff Wright is challenging incumbent Democrat Denise Nappier, who is also cross endorsed by the Working Families Party. S David Bue is the Green candidate for that race, along with Andrew Grant White, the endorsed Independent.

The open seat for state comptroller is sought by Republican Jack Orchulli, Democrat Kevin Lembo, Colin Bennett of the Green Party, Libertarian Joshua Katz, Independent Hugh Dolan, and Mr Lembo is cross endorsed by the Working Families Party.

Republican Martha Dean faces Democrat George Jepson for the open attorney general seat, along with Stephen Fournier of the Green Party. Mr Jepson is cross endorsed by the Working Families Party while Mr Fournier is also a candidate on the Independent ballot line.

Newtown’s Voting Districts

District 1 voters must report to Newtown Middle School Gym A. Voters should use the middle school entrance closest to the traffic light at the shopping center exit, and park on the side of the school and behind gym.

Voters from District 2 should report to the Reed Intermediate School Cafetorium. Voter parking is in the lot in front of the school.

District 3-1 voters report to Head O’ Meadow Cafetorium. Voter parking is along the side and toward the back of the school.

Voters residing in District 3-2 report to the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium. Handicapped parking is along the entrance side of the driveway and along the back of the building.

The elevator entrance is the first door on side of the building. Voter parking will be reserved in the back of the building. Once voters arrive at the polls, they will be restricted to the area where voting is conducted.

Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia advises Newtown voters that special hours for absentee voting will be held on Saturday, October 30, from 9 am to noon at the Town Clerk’s office at 3 Primrose Street at the Newtown Municipal Center in Fairfield Hills.  

Any qualified registered voter may vote absentee if unable to vote in person due to:

*Illness or physical disability

*Absence from town during voting hours

*Religious beliefs that forbid secular activity

*Active US military service

*Service as an election official at a polling place other than his/her own polling place

Voters may direct questions regarding absentee ballots to the town clerk’s office at 203-270-4210.