Midday Milford election report

Written by Jill K. Dion
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 15:59

Politicians involved in this somewhat historic Milford election — where four contenders are vying for the title of mayor — say they are “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome.

“This is a tough one to call,” said John O’Connell, who was among Republicans at the GOP headquarters about 2 p.m. Tuesday.

O’Connell said he predicted about a 40% voter turnout by day’s end, and hoped that 40% would put the Republicans on top.

“I think we’ve run a hard, tough campaign, so I’m guardedly optimistic,” O’Connell said.

As is tradition, incumbent Mayor James Richetelli Jr. (R) will be at his mother’s house as election results start to pour in after polls close at 8 p.m.

“He’ll stay at his mother’s until the election results are in,” O’Connell, a former town committee chairman, said, noting that the GOP will be at Stonebridge Restaurant downtown awaiting results. “Hopefully, he’ll arrive at Stonebridge to a cheering, enthusiastic crowd.”

Unlike other years where Richetelli may have appeared to be a shoe-in, the incumbent mayor faces a trio of challengers: Democrat Genevieve Salvatore, Independent candidate Peter Spalthoff and Tim Chaucer, a Democrat running as a petitioning candidate.

Spalthoff was at his headquarters on Broad Street early Tuesday afternoon, making a name tag for Tom Beirne, former Republican Board of Aldermen chairman who had considered challenging Richetelli for the GOP endorsement. Beirne has thrown his support behind Spalthoff, and wanted to be identified as such as he stood at the polls today to help get out the vote.

“I’m excited and anxiously optimistic,” Spalthoff said. “It’s tough running as a Republican or a Democrat, but to throw in an Independent, that adds to the mix.”

Spalthoff said, win or lose, he hopes the new Milford Independent Party will be around to stay.

“If we win, well that’s great,” Spalthoff said. “If we don’t, then at least we’ve set the stage for the Independent Party.”

Spalthoff said voter support today will determine if the new party sticks around. Ten to twenty percent of voter support would do the job, he said.

At Democratic headquarters, party chairman Richard Smith was on the phone talking to a resident who needed a ride to the polls. At about the same time, a handful of Republican and Democratic candidates were campaigning side by side amicably outside the Meadowside School polling spot.

“We’re feeling positive,” Smith said about the ongoing election, hoping for Democratic wins from mayor and city clerk all the way down the ticket.

He said he was upset, however, about oversized GOP signs at polling places that violate the city’s ordinance.

Chaucer, the petition candidate, who was headquartered at his home Tuesday, said he wasn’t too happy about the oversized signs either. And as to the election, he said he is “cautiously optimistic.”

“We’ve run a great campaign, and we certainly focused on important issues,” Chaucer said. “Now it’s up to the voters. Nobody has any idea how this is going to shake out.”

Polls close at 8 p.m. Residents are casting their votes for mayor, city clerk, aldermen, constables, school board members and the Planning and Zoning Commission.