Tom Herrmann, Republicans win big

Written by Brad Durrell
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 21:34

First Selectman Tom Herrmann coasted to victory Tuesday, leading a Republican landslide at the polls.

Herrmann, seeking his second term, defeated Democratic challenger Chris Neubert, 1,583-612, or 72% to 28%.

“We’ve worked hard to lead the town in a nonpartisan way,” Herrmann said, adding his goal is to continue to try to find consensus on issues in the town.

Neubert, who congratulated Herrmann as soon as the results were announced at Samuel Staples Elementary School, said he wished Herrmann well.

“We all want him to do well because now we’re all united,” Neubert said.

Republican Scott Centrella and Democrat Bob Lessler were re-elected to the Board of Selectmen, and GOP Town Clerk Derek Buckley easily won re-election.

For the Board of Finance, Republican Mark Pompa won the two-year seat, so Democrats Elise Broach and Art Laske automatically were victorious in the contest for the six-year seats due to minority-party representation rules.

State law requires seats on certain municipal boards — including finance, land-use and non-regional school boards — be reserved for a non-majority party to try to keep the boards as nonpartisan as possible.

For the Region 9 Board of Education, Republicans Catherine Gombos and William Baker were the winners.

None of the other races on the Easton ballot were contested.

Vote totals in contested contests were (winners in bold):

First selectman:
(R) Tom Herrmann, 1,583
(D) Chris Neubert, 617

Selectman:
(R) Scott Centrella, 1,382
(D) Bob Lessler, 794

Town clerk:
(R) Derek Buckley, 1,301
(D) Mike Kivell, 879

Board of Finance (two years):
(R) Mark Pompa, 1,256
(D) Tom Partridge, 900

Board of Finance (six years):
(R) Christine Calvert, 1,242
(R) Christian Griffin, 1,131
(D) Art Laske, 976
(D) Elise Broach, 944

Region 9 Board of Education:
(R) Catherine Gombos, 1,341
(R) William Baker, 1,261
(D) Margot Abrams, 867
(D) Ryan Walker, 779