Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Connecticut’s Democrats, GOP claim victory on night of history and upsets

  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • November 6, 2013
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Connecticut voters produced a night of firsts and upsets Tuesday as women won mayoral races for the first time in New Haven, Norwich and Derby, Democrats made major gains in Fairfield County and Republicans won in the Democratic communities of Ansonia, Bristol, Meriden and New Britain.

State Sen. Toni N. Harp won the New Haven mayoralty, a victory that puts an ally of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as the top official in the city most crucial to his re-election in 2014. In upsets, Democrats won mayoral races in Stamford and Norwalk.

But the GOP had its share of upsets as well: Democratic incumbents lost in Ansonia, Meriden and New Britain, and Republicans won open seats for mayor and first selectmen in Bristol, Branford and Westport, communities that had been run by Democrats.

Democrat Deb Hinchey unseated Republican Mayor Peter Nystrom in Norwich, where she will be that city’s first female mayor. Democrat Anita Dugatto won the same distinction in Derby. In Redding, Democrat Julia Pemberton won an open race for first selectman in a town run by Republicans for a quarter century.

In Danbury, one of Malloy’s potential challengers next year, Republican Mayor Mark D. Boughton, won a record seventh term, defeating Democrat Paul McAllister by 2-1. McAllister petitioned to get on the ballot after Democrats failed to nominate a candidate. Democratic Mayor Neil O’Leary won re-election in Waterbury.[iframe frameborder=”0″ height=”700″ scrolling=”no” src=”https://projects.ctmirror.org/content/2013/11/06-election/” title=”2013 Election Results” width=”100%”]

Republican Elinor Carbone won the open mayoralty in Torrington, solidifying a GOP gain first made in that Democratic city by Ryan Bingham, who did not seek re-election.

In Bridgeport, Democratic Mayor Bill Finch sustained a loss without being up for re-election: He lost control of the Board of Education in a battle that pitted the Democratic establishment against a coalition of Democratic insurgents, members of the Working Families Party and unionized teachers. The election had become a proxy fight in the national debate over how to reform urban schools.

After a night of up and down results, the leaders of the Democratic and Republican state parties pronounced the night a victory, each justifying their claim by pointing to its share of upsets. With the 2013 municipal races in the books, both parties showed an eagerness to quickly pivot toward 2014.

“While tonight’s results certainly speak to the competency of our great candidates and the strength of our Republican message, they also offer an important overview of the state’s political landscape as we look ahead to the 2014 elections,” said Jerry Labriola, the state GOP chairman. “Based on tonight’s results, it’s clear that voters across the state are fed up with Dan Malloy and the Democrats’ tax, borrow and spend policies.”

Prior to the election, Democrats stressed the role of local issues and personalities in municipal races and downplayed the influence of state or national issues. But Jonathan Harris, the executive director of the Connecticut Democrats, was willing to reconsider Tuesday night.

“Chairman Labriola said this would be a referendum on Gov. Malloy, and it is,” Harris said. “The result? A big win for Gov. Malloy and Democrats across Connecticut.”

The real impact on 2014 will be determined by the ability of the two parties to leverage the municipal wins into a better ground game. The GOP wins will mean little next year if the new Republican mayors of places like Bristol, Meriden and New Britain cannot persuade the independents and cross-over Democrats to stay with the party. 

In New Haven, Harp, a Democrat who initially declined to seek the open seat, defeated Alderman Justin Elicker, a Democrat who ran as a petitioning candidate in a city where Republicans have no political clout. A tally by the New Haven Independent had Harp winning with about 54 percent of the vote, without a count of absentee ballots.

Harp will take office Jan. 1, succeeding the city’s longest-serving mayor, John DeStefano, who was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2006, losing to Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell. According to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, women are mayors in only 27 U.S. cities of New Haven’s size or larger.

New Haven generated the biggest vote for Malloy in 2010, when he was elected governor by a scant 6,404 votes in Connecticut’s tightest gubernatorial election in 56 years. Malloy campaigned for Harp in the primary and general election.

Voters went to the polls Tuesday to pick mayors and first selectmen in 126 of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

In Stamford, where Malloy backed the loser in a Democratic primary, former Lt. Gov. Michael C. Fedele conceded defeat to Democrat David Martin, returning control of the state’s fourth largest city to Democrats after a four-year term by Republican Michael Pavia, who succeeded Malloy as mayor in 2009 but did not seek a second term.

In Norwalk, Republican Mayor Richard A. Moccia lost to Democrat Harry Rilling, the former police chief.

In Ansonia, Mayor John Della Volpe, a Democrat, lost to David Cassetti, who was the first Republican to win the office since 1997, according to the Connecticut Post.

In New Britain, Republican Erin Stewart unseated first-term Democratic Mayor Tim O’Brien by a comfortable margin, an upset in an older industrial  city that is growing more Democratic. Her win returns the mayoralty to the Stewart family: O’Brien’s predecessor was her father, Tim Stewart, who did not seek re-election after four terms.

O’Brien was elected after winning a three-way Democratic primary in 2011, strongly backed by Malloy.

Another upset victory for a Republican came in Meriden, where Republican Manny Santos bested Democratic Mayor Michael Rohde, according to the Meriden Record Journal. In Bristol, Republican Ken Cockayne won the seat being vacated by a retiring Democrat, Art Ward. Republican Jim Marpe won the open race for first selectman in Westport.

Republican incumbents also won in East Haven, Greenwich, Shelton, Stratford and Trumbull. In Stratford, former state Rep. John A. Harkins easily won a second term. Mark Lauretti, who has talked about running for governor, won a 12th term in Shelton. In Trumbull, Tim Herbst also won big, as did Peter Tesei in Greenwich.

Republican Joseph Maturo won a 7th term in East Haven, a city under the microscope for its tense relationship with Latinos. The police department was roiled by a federal civil rights investigation, and Maturo made national news with a racially insensitive reaction, his promise to reach out to Hispanics by eating a taco.

Democratic Mayor Scott Jackson, an ally of Malloy’s, won re-election in Hamden, as did Democrat Ben Blake in Milford.

In Griswold, voters got a reminder that every vote can make a difference. Republican Kevin A. Skulczyck beat Democrat Philip E. Anthony Jr. by a single vote, 853 to 852.

The mayors of Bridgeport, Hartford and New London were not up for re-election.

The Day of New London reported that the Mohegan Sun was expected to seek a recount in a binding referendum that appeared to shoot down the tribal casino’s bid to open a casino across the state line in Palmer, Mass.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Pazniokas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Health issues carried weight on the campaign trail.
by Victoria Knight | Kaiser Health News

Even with the Democrats’ newfound Senate majority, differences in health policy between the party’s moderate and progressive wings will persist.

Trump’s pardons included health care execs behind massive fraud
by Fred Schulte | Kaiser Health News

At the last minute, President Donald Trump granted pardons to several individuals convicted in huge Medicare swindles that prosecutors alleged often harmed or endangered elderly and infirm patients while fleecing taxpayers. “These aren’t just technical financial crimes. These were major, major crimes,” said Louis Saccoccio, chief executive officer of the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, […]

‘It’s a nightmare:’ A growing number of seniors are unable to book vaccine appointments as problems mount
by Dave Altimari and Jenna Carlesso

The state acknowledged Friday in an email to local health workers that some residents are waiting days for a callback.

Panel recommends small, inflationary pay hike for state officials
by Keith M. Phaneuf

Connecticut's part-time legislature hasn't received a pay hike since 2001. The annual base-pay for senators and representatives is $28,000.

Police task force seeks wider applicant pool for watchdog role
by Kelan Lyons

The task force sent four recommendations — and two that didn't get unanimous approval— to lawmakers for the 2021 session.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Miguel Cardona, who are you?
by Ann Policelli Cronin

When I ask Connecticut teachers about Miguel Cardona, those who know him or have worked with him say that he is really nice guy who knows what the challenges in our classrooms are, knows how to help teachers to improve their teaching, and respects public schools. All good. But what is his vision for teaching and learning that he will bring to the U.S. Department of Education?

Opinion Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says
by Edward Marcus

J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state.

Opinion Connecticut’s $100 million college shell game
by Stephen Adair

The plan to consolidate the 12 community colleges in Connecticut into one college with 12 campuses is called “Students First,” which is ironic because it does not fund students first.  It funds a new administration in a new, statewide bureaucracy. The Board of Regents (BOR) and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system office […]

Opinion Inconsistent television captioning is a barrier to equal access
by Jeffrey Bravin and Barbara Cassin

Our world long ago entered the age of the 24-hour news cycle, and a full understanding of the “who, what, when, where and why” of the news is critical for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing citizens. Yet, Connecticut’s inconsistent quality of television captioning locks our community out of the complete sense of what is happening.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO