Walker defeats Hines: Incumbent remains first selectman

Written by Carrie Schmelkin, Reporter
Thursday, 05 November 2009 10:08

Family, friends, community members and elected officials quieted down at Cava Wine Bar just before 10 Tuesday night. With filled wine glasses raised, they turned their attention to their newly re-elected first selectman, Jeb Walker.

Encouraged by his fellow Republicans to say a few words about retaking the reins of New Canaan’s top spot, Walker looked out at his supporters, smiled, and said, “I’m starting to settle into this.”

Chants of “four more years” and applause began to reverberate through the room.

In Tuesday’s election, Walker received 2,315 votes to Democratic challenger and Selectman Sally Hines’ 1,066. The spot for first selectman was the only contested race in this November’s town election.

“It’s a nice endorsement in the town to have that level of confidence,” Walker told the Advertiser of his victory.

He said he is looking forward to working with Hines once again as “she’s been a great partner the past two years.”

Hines will remain a selectmen for the next term, reuniting with Selectman Rob Mallozzi III, a Republican who was also re-elected.

“It’s always disappointing when you lose an election,” Hines told the Advertiser. “I believe I would have a tremendous amount to contribute to the town. But as a reflexively Republican town, the numbers are what they are.”

Hines added that local Democrats, however, have “absolutely gained momentum” since last year’s national and regional Democratic electoral wins.

The historic nature of the dueling presidential campaigns, in fact, contributed to a rise in registered voters overall, said town officials. As of yesterday morning, 12,488 residents were registered versus 12,096 in 2005, which also had one contested race, according to the town clerk. While the party breakdown of those voters is not yet known, as of Tuesday, 6,121 were identified as Republican, 2,661 as Democrat, 3,621 as unaffiliated and 29 as others, including members of the Libertarian and Green parties.

About 27.52 percent, or 3,437, of those registered voted, according to Head Moderator Richard Davies. This percentage is consistent with New Canaan’s 2005 election when 29 percent of those registered cast votes, said Republican Town Committee Chair John Ponterotto

Surrounding towns showed higher percentages of voter turnout, but most had at least three contested races. In Darien, 43.8 percent voted, while Weston was sligthly higher at 44.3 percent. Redding had a turnout of 30 percent, with three contested races.

Despite a comparatively lower turnout, thousands of votes were cast in New Canaan, with Mallozzi taking the lion’s share at 2,851 votes.

“People know exactly what to expect from me,” said Mallozzi of why he polled so high. “I keep New Canaan first and foremost in my decision-making.”

He also noted how civil the campaign season was, with “so many smiling faces going to the polls.”

“No one was going with an ax to grind, which is nice to see,” he said.

Informally polled outside their voting centers Tuesday, residents gave the Advertiser a variety of responses for the basis of their votes. Some relied on their familiarity with a candidate or a general “patriotic duty” to cast a ballot, while others said they were “voting for the Republican slate,” as they always do.

A few referenced the candidates’ stances on a proposed continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Waveny Park.

“It was good it came out in the campaign,” said a local mother, adding that use of public parkland for private development is “a no-no.”

Hines said that over the last couple of days she was approached by dozens of residents complimenting her on taking an “unequivocal stand” on the CCRC’s proposed location.

“People sought me out to thank me for my views on the CCRC,” she said. “They said, ‘At least we knew where you stood.’”

Yet the “sizable” margin of Walker’s victory, said Ponterotto, shows that the town has been happy with how its been run the last two years.

“Republicans were pretty solidly behind our selectman and first selectman, based on the high vote counts,” he said.

Echoing Ponterotto, Republican Town Council member Penny Young said the votes send a “clear message that the community is pleased with its current leadership and the good work that has been done in the last two years.”

Other races

Others expressed enthusiasm that good leadership on the Board of Education will also continue, as all five candidates who were nominated were elected. Republicans Kathy Smith, Amy Rochlin and Mary Kelly Freiberg will rejoin Democrats Jim Kucharczyk and Penny Rashin.

Rochlin garnered the highest number of votes at 2,541, while Rashin received the highest number of two Democrats running, with 1,817.

“I’m looking forward to another four years on the Board of Education and appreciate the opportunity to be part of this excellent school district,” said Rashin. “We need to keep working to maintain that excellence and improve in certain areas.”

Along with Board of Education members, those nominated for Town Council ran unopposed. Republican Dr. Mark DeWaele received the most votes at 2,396, followed Young and fellow Republicans Thomas P. O’Dea and Robert Hamill, and Democrats Christine Hussey and Kit Devereaux.

V. Donald Hersam Jr. will assume the role of town treasurer for the 44th year, after receiving 2,745 votes. Claudia Weber will return as town clerk, having received 2,833 votes.

The Board of Assessment Appeals will be made up of Republicans Jason Milligan and Vincent Socci, along with Democrat Wendy Fog. Austin Furst received the most votes for constable, at 2,403, followed by Ponterotto, Democrat Ed Vollmer and Green Party candidates Cole Stangler, Estela Lopez and Hector Lopez.

The first selectman and selectmen will be sworn in at Town Hall at noon Tuesday, November 17, at which time they will resume town business, starting with the budget.

“It’s a good night for New Canaan,” Walker told the Advertiser Tuesday, surveying his many supporters still lingering around the restaurant well past 10 p.m. “We finished an election process that was the model of civility.”

— Andrew Kersey and Sara Poirier Correa contributed to this story