Northwest Connecticut delivered some of the state’s strongest voter participation — and one of its closest contests — in last week’s municipal elections.
North Canaan’s first selectman race was decided by just two votes, prompting an automatic recount that confirmed Jesse Bunce’s win. The town also led the region in turnout, with 53.5% of voters casting ballots, ranking 10th statewide among 169 municipalities.
Turnout across the rest of the Northwest Corner remained well above average. Kent followed with 47.7% (27th statewide), while Falls Village reached 44.2% (56th). Sharon, Cornwall and Salisbury hovered around the state average of 40%, posting 42.7%, 42% and 41.3%, respectively.
Even with few contested races, participation remained strong as voters returned many familiar faces to office. (Full results below.)
Incumbents dominate across the region
In Kent, Democrat Eric Epstein was elected first selectman for the first time in an uncontested race. He takes over from Marty Lindenmayer, who did not run.
The town also passed a local cannabis measure, 400 to 308, banning recreational cannabis dispensaries.
Salisbury voters again backed longtime Democratic First Selectman Curtis Rand, who ran unopposed.
In Falls Village, cross-endorsed incumbent Dave Barger (D/R) won another term as first selectman, maintaining a board that includes Chris Kinsella (D) and Judy Jacobs (R).
Cornwall residents re-elected Democrat Gordon Ridgway, who has led the town for more than three decades. Ridgway ran unopposed and remains one of Connecticut’s longest-serving first selectmen.
Sharon voters returned First Selectman Casey Flanagan (D) and selectmen Lynn Kearcher (D) and John Brett (U).
Smooth Election Day across towns
Poll workers throughout the region described Election Day as steady and orderly, aided by new state tabulators that flagged errors on ballots but required absentee votes to be processed separately. In Salisbury, a brief detour on Route 44 caused by a downed tree did not affect turnout.
In Kent, petitioning selectman candidate Ed Matson said he was encouraged by voter participation: “I was surprised by how busy it was, especially with the number of people who voted early.”
In Sharon, resident Suzanne Oliver summed up her reason for voting simply: “Participation.” Another voter added, “Everything that has a vote, you should vote for — it’s the only power we have.”
Early voting in Connecticut began Oct. 20 and concluded Nov. 2. Election Day was Nov. 4.Photo by Riley Klein
Cornwall
First Selectman:
Gordon Ridgway (D) 402
Selectman:
Rocco Botto (D) 332
John Brown (R) 123
Town Clerk:
Kathryn Lee (D/R) 469
Town Treasurer:
Richard Bramley (D) 434
Board of Finance:
Gary Steinkohl (D) 392
Carl Hermann (R) 201
Board of Finance (2 year):
Kate Sandmeyer Ward (D) 439
Board of Finance (Alternate):
Richard Wolkowitz (D) 389
Cody Gillotti (R) 134
Board of Education:
Martha Buehl (D) 392
Anna Kallman (D) 366
Katherine Scoville (R) 200
Kathleen Bodwell (R) 134
Board of Assessment Appeals:
Richard Wolkowitz (D) 344
David Cavalier (R) 124
Planning and Zoning Commission:
Phillip West (D) 346
Stephen Saccardi (R) 313
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Lynn Scoville (R) 316
Christi Bodwell (R) 234
Falls Village voters re-elected their three selectmen to another term on the Board. Photo by Riley Klein
Falls Village (Canaan)
First Selectman:
Dave Barger (D/R) 300
Selectman:
Chris Kinsella (D) 202
Judy Jacobs (R) 112
Board of Finance:
Ginger Betti (D) 215
Andrea Downs (R) 146
Richard Berzine (D) 154
Karl Munson (R) 111
Board of Finance (2 year):
Martin Deeg (D) 210
Marisa Ohler (R) 102
Board of Finance (Alternate):
Vanessa Pereira (D) 177
Henry Todd (R) 129
Board of Finance (Alternate - 2 year vacancy):
Hazel McGuire (R) 239
Board of Education:
Adam Sher (D/R) 281
Patricia Allyn Mechare (D) 222
Scott Miller (R) 88
Board of Assessment Appeals:
Hazel McGuire (D/R) 297
Tami Reid (D/R) 274
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Louis Timolat (R) 232
Stephen Dean (R) 232
Zoning Board of Appeals (Alternate):
Vance Cannon (D) 237
Lee Baldwin (R) 77
Constables:
Timothy Downs (R) 199
Thom Wilson (D) 181
Dennis Jacobs (R) 168
Donna Heinz (D) 159
Louis Timolat (R) 152
Elizabeth Pierce (D) 140
Matthew Hansen (R) 128
Regional Board of Education:
Patricia Allyn Mechare (D/R) 371
New voting tabulators were distributed to polling stations across Connecticut this year.Photo by Riley Klein
Kent
First Selectman:
Eric Epstein (D) 844
Selectman:
Lynn Mellis Worthington (D) 657
Lynn Harrington (R) 208
Edward Matson (U) 116
Town Clerk:
Darlene Brady (U) 622
Tax Collector:
Deborah Devaux (D) 843
Board of Finance:
Glenn Sanchez (D) 769
Nancy O'Dea Wyrick (R) 442
Board of Education:
Heather Brand (D) 686
Anthony DiPentima (R) 291
Board of Education (2 year):
Cinda Clark (D) 794
Board of Assessment Appeals:
Gary Ford (D) 679
David Yewer (R) 252
Planning and Zoning Commission:
Darrell Cherniske (D) 740
Karen Casey (R) 466
Donna Hayes (R) 461
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Stephen Pener (D) 722
Justin Potter (D) 707
John Johnson (D) 637
Nick Downes (R) 331
Mark Cowan (R) 221
Zoning Board of Appeals (Alternate):
Adam Manes (D) 756
Sewer Commission:
Elissa Potts (D) 764
Catherine Mazza (D) 718
Carmel Karina O'Meara (R) 266
Cannabis Regulation:
Yes 243
No 201
Rosemary Keilty, the Republican registrar, working at the North Canaan voting site Friday, Oct. 31. Christian Murray
North Canaan
First Selectman: (Recount required)
Jesse Bunce (D) 572
Brian Ohler (R) 570 - Selectman
Selectman:
Melissa Pinardi (R) 559
Joe Sebben (U) 374
Town Clerk:
Krysti Segalla (R) 750
Town Treasurer:
Melanie Neely (D) 632
Emily Minacci (R) 487
Tax Collector:
Rebecca Mochak (R) 707
Board of Finance:
John Jacquier (R) 633
Emily Bottum (D) 518
Christian Allyn (U) 352
Brian Allyn (WI) 159
Board of Education:
Christopher Jacques (D) 541
Gina Terwilliger (D) 628
Amy Dodge (R) 698
Caitlin Tomko (R) 541
Amy Helminiak (D) 536
Board of Assessment Appeals:
David Jacquier (R) 754
Planning and Zoning Commission:
Cooper Brown (D) 679
Dalton Jacquier (R) 710
Walter Schneider (R) 595
Planning and Zoning Commission (Alternate):
Brian Allyn Jr. (R) 738
Tucker Whiting (R) 660
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Brian Allyn (D) 702
Matthew Freund (D) 709
Scott Zinke (R) 676
Zoning Board of Appeals (Alternate):
Joe Cieslowski (D) 690
Regional Board of Education:
Craig Whiting (R) 765
Shall Treasurer be appointed?
Yes 355
No 743
Shall Town Clerk be appointed?
Yes 350
No 743
Shall Tax Collector be appointed?
Yes 349
No 741
Salisbury's polling station was at Town Hall. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
Salisbury
First Selectman:
Curtis Rand (D) 1,071
Selectman:
Barrett Prinz (D) 935
Kitty Kiefer (U) 516
Don Mayland (R) 457
Board of Finance:
Emily Vail (D) 1,064
Board of Education:
Lauren Brown (D) 999
Elizabeth Dittmer (D) 979
Natalia Smirnova (WI) 36
Board of Assessment Appeals:
William Tedder (D) 962
Peter Becket (R) 244
Planning and Zoning Commission:
Cathy Shyer (D) 994
Allen Cockerline (D) 930
Danella Schiffer (D) 926
Planning and Zoning Commission (Alternate):
Beth Wells (D) 984
Jen Ventimilia (D) 925
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Roxanne Belter Lee (D) 1,020
M.E. Freeman (D) 925
Zoning Board of Appeals (Alternate):
Cori Daggett (D) 1,001
Regional Board of Education:
Flora Lazar (D) 1,021
Voters in Sharon re-elected all three selectmen to another term on the Board.Alec Linden
Sharon
First Selectman:
Casey Flanagan (D) 647
Selectman:
Lynn Kearcher (D) 606
John Brett (U) 344
Town Clerk:
Biance DelTufo (D) 643
Town Treasurer:
Tina Pitcher (D/R) 686
Tax Collector:
Donna Christensen (D/R) 692
Board of Finance:
John Hecht (D) 593
Mary Robertson (D) 312
Board of Finance (4 year vacancy):
Mary Anne Toppan (R) 388
Board of Finance (2 year vacancy):
Michele Pastre (R) 402
Board of Education:
Terry Vance (D) 496
Pam Jarvis (D) 484
Cathy Winburn (R) 191
Chip Kruger (R) 168
Board of Education (2 year vacancy):
Peter Birnbaum (D) 612
Board of Assessment Appeals:
Debbie Hanlon (D) 628
Planning and Zoning Commission:
Stanley MacMillan Jr. (D/R) 668
Susan Lynn (D) 590
Planning and Zoning Commission (Alternate):
Andrus Nichols (D) 622
Zoning Board of Appeals:
James Wexler (D) 593
Scott Pastre (R) 296
Zoning Board of Appeals (2 year vacancy):
Theodore Coulombe (D) 613
Zoning Board of Appeals (Alternate):
Pauline Moore (D) 620
Regional Board of Education:
Sara Cousins (D) 618
Key:
D: Democrat
R: Republican
D/R: Cross endorsed
U: Unaffiliated/Petitioning
WI: Write In
Results compiled from town halls and the Secretary of the State's website.
