Four RTM incumbents fall in contested races

Written by Lynsey Santimays
Thursday, 05 November 2009 09:23

In the six Representative Town Meeting districts’ elections, Darien saw two write-in candidates elected, welcomed six petitioning candidates, and said good-bye to four incumbents. With the town’s first contested RTM elections in years, the results meant more than recent RTM votes, which are usually a simple formality.

• RTM vote totals

District 1 and 2 were the only two districts that did not have contests. Both actually didn’t have enough candidates for all of the available seats. In District 1, which had 11 candidates for 12 spots, Barbara Harrington filled that void by being a successful write-in candidate — getting elected with 36 votes at the polls, 11 more than the required 25.

In District 2, which had only three candidates for nine vacant seats, Joi Reiner Gallo filled a spot by becoming a write-in candidate. Gallo, vice-chairman of the Republican Town Committee received 72 votes.

While the vice-chairman of the RTC joins the RTM, the GOP’s chairman, Harry Artinian, departs after receiving the fewest votes in the contested District 4. In a district with nine incumbents vying for eight seats due to some late paperwork, Artinian leaves his RTM seat after six years of service.

“The people have spoken,” Artinian said to The Darien Times Wednesday. “You have to respect their choice, and I was very pleased to serve on the RTM.”

Because a District 4 member, who planned to retire, did not turn in his resignation papers before the September deadline, his seat is empty but cannot be filled through the election. Therefore, someone will be appointed to that vacant seat post-election. Artinian said, however, he didn’t know if that someone would be him.

“It’s possible, but not definite,” Artinian said. “Anyone who lives in District 4 can apply for the open spot under the rules, but I have not decided yet.”

On the converse side of things, Susan Morrison was re-elected to her District 4 seat with the more votes than any RTM candidate: 602 votes.

While District 4 welcomes back eight incumbents, District 3 will have two new faces and a former selectman joining their ranks. Selectman Seth Morton was elected to the RTM, and said he was looking forward to “returning home.”

“I spent 22 years on the RTM with a few years sojourned on the Board of Selectmen,” Morton, whose selectman terms ends this week, said. “I look forward to going back, I think it is going to be great.”

Morton cited the challenges and work of the RTM as what made him want to return. “It is challenging, yet you feel like you can make a significant contribution,” he said.

“It is great to have the folks of District 3 elect me,” Morton said.

While Morton, a former RTM Finance & Budget Committee chairman, is familiar with Darien’s legislature, petitioning candidates Maria Ferretti and Michael Burke will become RTM freshmen.

Burke expressed his gratitude and excitement to be joining the town’s legislative body for the first time. “I am really gratified that the people in District 3 saw fit to give me a chance to represent them,” Burke said.

“I am really looking forward to getting in and really examining the issues and decisions that we have to make with regards to the flood plan, affordable housing, and the budget,” Burke added. “I’m ready to ask different questions and make informed decisions.”

“I’m just excited to have a chance to serve,” Burke said.

While Burke will be part of the RTM for the first time, Carolyn Bayne, wife of re-elected Selectman David Bayne, will return to the RTM for her third term.

As the highest vote-getter in District 3 with 501 votes, Bayne said: “I’m very pleased and happy to be returning for a third term. I’ve enjoyed being on the RTM the past four years, and I think me being the highest vote-getter in my district is a reflection that people think I am putting a lot of thought and effort into the role.”

“I look to continue to do that in my next term,” Bayne added.

Bayne had to thank her husband, David, for reminding voters to “flip their ballots” and vote for the RTM.

“I think a lot of people forget about the RTM on the back of the ballot,” she said, “so I’m thankful for my husband’s effort.”

As for the one candidate who did not win in her district, petitioner John Lamendola, Bayne said “there is no shame in losing” and wanted to “congratulate and thank everyone who put there name out there.”

“I’m looking forward to serving the people of Darien again,” Bayne said.

In District 5, seven candidates out of nine were elected — both a petitioner and an incumbent were not elected. Petitioner Eric Glasband’s 328 votes and incumbent Virgil Wenger’s 297 votes were not enough to make the cut in District 5.

Wenger, despite losing, was positive about the people that did get elected to his district.

“I’m delighted that we have new blood coming into District 5,” Wenger said, referring to the two petitioning candidates who were elected. “I served on the RTM as a civic obligation, but I am happy to see new people and new ideas in there.”

Debra Ritchie, one of the “new people,” said she was “very excited about being elected and was looking forward to serving.”

Allison Stolar was another petitioner who was elected to District 5. She said she is “thrilled to be in the RTM and can’t wait to get started.”

“I’m looking to hit the deck running,” Stolar said. Stolar was one of the few RTM members who campaigned on Election Day, spending all day at Darien High School.

James Patrick, who was re-elected to his seat, said he was “looking forward to continuing to work with his constituents.”

“We still have a lot to work on, there are still a lot of concerns in our district with flooding and traffic,” Patrick said.

Patrick offered his congratulations to all the other candidates who won, as well. “I’m looking forward to a great term,” he said.

Bruce Orr was another incumbent District 5 member who was re-elected. “I’m very pleased to be representing my district for another two years,” Orr said.

While Orr welcomed the contested elections this year, he did express his disappointment that “hardworking guys like Virgil Wenger were not re-elected.”

The seven open seats in District 6 were filled by three petitioners and four incumbents, with two incumbents losing their seats. Elsie Berl and S. Lloyd Plehaty, who combined for more than two decades of service, were both not re-elected.

The three petitioners in this district were all elected, however. W. Preston Bealle, Norman Guimond, and Holly Kelly will all join the RTM for this upcoming term.

“I am very happy to be on the RTM,” Guimond said. “I’m looking forward to a more open relationship between the RTM and the Board of Selectmen, with the election of David, Jayme and Jerry.”

Guimond said he would concentrate on the “prudent spending of tax dollars” during his time on the RTM.

In total, 49 out of 55 Darienites received a seat on the RTM for this upcoming term in what was the first set of contested elections in several years.

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