Government

Board of Selectmen Re-Elected as Voter Turnout Ticks Up; RTC-Backed Candidates onto Town Council

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New Canaan voters on Tuesday re-elected First Selectman Rob Mallozzi by a wide margin, as nearly 30 percent of eligible voters cast ballots—an indicator of strong turnout compared to recent odd-year local elections. Mallozzi garnered 2,841 votes against petitioning candidate challenger Michael Nowacki’s 276, according to Town Clerk Claudia Weber. A total of 3,674 eligible voters cast ballots, according to Weber (herself the highest vote-getter in the election). Incumbent selectmen Nick Williams, a Republican, and Democrat Beth Jones also were re-elected with 2,194 and 1,331 votes, respectively. “I am delighted with my margin of victory,” Mallozzi told NewCanaanite.com.

Government

Election 2015: Voter Turnout, Comments from Candidates

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Nearly 30 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots in local elections when polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, following a day that saw candidates for offices including Town Council greet constituents at the middle and high schools through a clear, warm day and chilly evening. Here’s a table showing total votes cast in recent local election years:

 

And here’s a table that NewCanaanite.com will update regularly, showing voter turnout in New Canaan hour-by-hour:

 

Contested races this year include Republican seats on the Town Council, with five GOP candidates vying for four seats—Ken Campbell, Steve Karl, Christa Kenin, Cristina A. Ross and Roger Williams, a petitioning candidate and incumbent—and first selectman, with incumbent Republican Rob Mallozzi seeking re-election, and petitioning candidate Michael Nowacki running independently for the highest elected seat in town. Karl stood outside Saxe Middle School late Tuesday morning, and when asked how he felt about how things were going, said: “I feel great. The weather is great. Lots of friends and family supporters out.

Government

Saxe Building Proposal: Where Candidates Stand

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What follows are candidates’ responses to a public call from dozens of taxpayers to answer this question: Will you support the full project to renovate and expand Saxe Middle School? See PDF at the bottom of this article for details on the proposed $18.6 million building project. We will update this article with new responses as they come in from candidates for the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education and Town Council. Board of Selectmen

Rob Mallozzi, Republican incumbent seeking re-election for first selectman: “It didn’t take an email that I saw [Monday] to get my position out there. I think it’s very important, as a leader of this town, to telegraph my feelings and I appreciate the fact that there is a group that wanted to know people’s positions before the election.

News

Letter: Kenin Will Bring School Parents’ Perspective To Town Council

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I met Christa Kenin while she was working with the Library on their annual fundraiser. I was so impressed by her energy and fresh ideas, her professional background as a corporate attorney, her leadership role with the Newcomer’s Club and her genuine interest in getting involved in town government. The Town Council is made up of 12 people and should collectively represent the taxpayers and residents of New Canaan. Currently, we do not have anyone with children at the elementary level on the Council. Christa brings a unique perspective to the Town Council not only because she has two young children but because she is actively engaged with our town resources—our parks, Waveny pool and the library.

Government

Caucus Results: New Canaan Republicans Back New Candidates for Town Council, Board of Ed

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New Canaan Republicans on Tuesday night backed four candidates for Town Council and three for Board of Education—an incumbent from each elected group failing to garner the required votes for party endorsement—during the Republican Town Committee’s caucus at New Canaan High School. Officials said just 285 total ballots were cast during the caucus, which saw most voters exit the high school auditorium even before candidates had a chance to give their speeches. The hopefuls now eye the Nov. 3 local elections, to begin their terms on the Town Council and Board of Ed soon afterwards. “It’s a great civic duty on your part to attend this,” RTC Moderator John Ponterotto told those gathered at the caucus at the outset, prior to opening voting for those who wished to cast their ballots prior to candidate speeches.