Darien Votes 2009: Republican rout

Written by The Darien Times
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 14:10

As Election Day progresses and until each vote is counted, The Darien Times will be posting live updates of what our reporters see and hear across Darien.

Be sure to check back here often and visit our Twitter page (twitter.com/DarienTimes) for brief updates from the polls, campaign headquarters and Town Hall. And you'll find more detail at DarienTimes.com, as we write up the stories of what we find.

9 p.m.: At the Republican Town Committee headquarters, Sullivan, along with running mate David Bayne, congratulated their rivals. Campbell said he was amazed and humbled by the win and thanked all his supporters. He added he and his fellow selectmen will worry about the town first.

8:45 p.m.: Sullivan is en route to the Campbell campaign headquarters to offer her congratulations to the first selectman-elect. Campbell becomes the first Republican to win the first selectman race since Bob Harrell in 2001.

8:10 p.m.: Darien politicos and supporters are gathering at campaign headquarters downtown.

7:50 p.m.: Darien Times reporter Lynsey Santimays visited the other half of the polling locations this evening, where she found commuters and others casting their ballots as the polling deadline of 8 p.m. nears. See the story (click here).

7:30 p.m.: Polls close in just 30 minutes.

6:55 p.m.: Ox Ridge Schools' polls (District 1) has a few people voting. Officails say there was a rush of voters about an hour ago. As of 6:50 p.m., 813 of 2,100 registered voters had cast ballots there.

6:31 p.m.: Bayne, outside Holmes polls, is reminding voters to flip over their ballots and cast selections for Representative Town Meeting races.

6:28 p.m.: More Darien voters showing up, many from work, to cast a vote in the final hour and a half at Holmes.

6:25 p.m.: As of 6 p.m., election officials at Holmes (District 3) say 704 of 2,228 registered voters have cast ballots.

6:21 p.m.: It is relatively quiet inside Holmes (District 3) as five people vote while three wait in line.

6:13 p.m.: Earlier we saw Democrat Selectman David Bayne campaigning for running-mate Sullivan outside Town Hall. Now he's outside Holmes School (District 3). Less than two hours before the election polls close.

We've been hearing from people all over town today, who say they are expecting a bigger turnout this year. Republicans remain optimistic Campbell will win. Democrats we've spoken with are expecting a close finish.

5:49 p.m.: It is obvious the commuters are getting home. The line at Hindley is growing longer. The polling place was nearly empty of voters about 10 minutes ago. Now there are at least 18 in line.

5:41 p.m.: Just as we report things are quiet at Hindley, a line of eight voters forms at District 4.

5:38 p.m.: The polls at Hindley School (District 4) are quiet now. But election officials say it has been busy throughout the day. As of 5:30, 790 of 2,000 voters had cast ballots.

5:30 p.m.: At Darien High School, where the girls' volleyball team has just defeated Danbury in the quarter finals of the FCIAC tournament, a steady stream of voters were still coming in cast their ballots. Just two and half hours left before the polls close.

5:15 p.m.: As of 5 p.m. today, 3,962 voters have cast their ballots, according to election officials. That is 31.4 percent of registered voters. At 5 p.m. on Election Day 2007, the turnout was at 27.9 percent.

4:10 p.m.: Darien Times reporter Lynsey Santimays visited half the polling locations this afternoon and filed this story (click here). She'll be at the other three this evening.

3:40 p.m.: As of 3 p.m. today, 3,195 Darien voters have cast their ballots, according to Darien officials. That is 25.3 percent of registered voters.

3:20 p.m.: At Town Hall, Darien High School and Tokeneke School, poll workers say that turnout is up (unofficially) about 3% compared to mid-afternoon on Election Day 2007.

3:15 p.m.: At Tokeneke, 497 voters had cast ballots by 2:50 p.m. There are 2,000 registered voters in District 6.

3:10 p.m.: Tokeneke School (District 6) is busy inside with voters.

2:39 p.m.: Janet Offutt, the District 5 polling moderator, tells The Darien Times that the turnout today has been "unrelenting."

2:34 p.m.: Republican Jerry Nielsen, the other Republican selectman candidate, is campaigning outside Darien High School (District 5).

2 p.m.: Jayme Stevenson, one of the Republican selectman candidates, arrives at Town Hall. Other than two candidates outside the polling place, Town Hall is rather quiet.

1:58 p.m.: No waiting to vote inside Town Hall as the polling place is rather empty except for poll workers.

Indepdendent first selectman candidate, Chris Noe, is now outside Town Hall campaigning. Bayne has left.

1:48 p.m.: Democrat Selectman David Bayne, who is technically unopposed for re-election, is campaigning outside Town Hall (District 2) for running-mate Selectman Callie Sullivan, who is running for first selectman.