Reporter Jackie Majerus' story about the treasurer's race:
In a stunning upset, Republican challenger Rose Parenti won the city treasurer’s office over incumbent Democrat Bill Veits.
“I'm quite humbled by the amount of support I received,” Parenti told the crowd at the GOP's victory party.
“What can I say?” said Veits. “The voters have spoken. I thank them for the last two years as city treasurer. I really enjoyed it. Good luck to Rose. May she have a great two years.”
Parenti, who has been active with local Republicans for years, owns Computer Development on Riverside Avenue.
As treasurer, she said, she will “fulfill the duties of the office to the best of my ability.”
The two candidates differed on a proposal to use excess city pension money to cover health care costs of municipal retirees, a move the unions vigorously opposed.
Parenti vowed to fight the proposal, while Veits sided with those who wanted to look into the possibility.
Veits said that vote “might have been” what cost him the election.
“I’m still in favor of it,” said Veits. “I don’t have any regrets.”
Mayor Art Ward called Veits' defeat “a great loss to the treasurer's office.”
Veits, who had thought absentee ballots might make a difference in a close treasurer’s race, learned from a reporter that unofficial final results showed Parenti with 4,199 votes to 3,974 for Veits in an unofficial tally.
“So she beat me,” he said.
Veits, who said he was “somewhat surprised” at the election results, didn’t rule out another run in the future.
A part-time post, the treasurer’s job pays $4,000 annually. The treasurer oversees a professional staff at City Hall and also serves as a trustee of the city’s retirement funds.
Veits, a self-employed tax preparer and the longtime chairman of the Bristol Planning Commission, won the treasurer’s office in 2007 after former Patti Ewen decided not to seek a ninth term.
Update: As an aside, there hasn't been a Republican treasurer since Phyllis Spooner held the post for a single term back in the 1980s.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label Election Night. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election Night. Show all posts
November 3, 2009
Lopsided win for Ward in three-way race
With a lopsided win in a three-way race Tuesday, Mayor Art Ward easily captured a second term at the helm of the city.
In an election notable for its civility and one of the lowest turnouts in city history, Ward grabbed 58 percent of the vote and led his Democratic Party to maintain control of the City Council.
Ward, a city councilor for 14 years before snagging the mayor’s office in 2007, faced a host of fiscal woes during his first term but managed to freeze property taxes this year and avoid layoffs, a trick that may prove impossible the next time around.
“It won’t be any easier the next two years,” Ward told supporters who gathered at Nuchies Tuesday to learn the results.
He vowed to continue the hard, fair decisions that have kept the city moving forward despite tough times.
Ward defeated two newcomers who aimed to snatch away his job: Republican Mary Alford and independent Gary Lawton.
Alford, a bookkeeper, said she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
She also said she is proud that all three mayoral candidates ran such a clean campaign.
“There wasn’t any of that horribly embarrassing stuff,” Alford said.
Ward said, “It was so civil that sometimes we wondered if we were in a campaign.”
Lawton, a welder, said he “did what I could.”
Even though people complain about a two-party system, he said, they have a tough time casting a ballot for an independent candidate.
“It’s a hard idea for people to wrap their minds around,” said Lawton. “I went into this with no illusions. I knew it was a long shot at best.”
Ward said that with more fiscal woes ahead, “we need to join arms,” put aside partisanship and “work together” to make the city better.
Unofficial results show that Ward got 5,071 votes while Alford racked up 3,325. Lawton got 369.
Election officials said that only 25 percent of the city’s 34,142 voters turned out Tuesday, far short of the 36.3 percent who voted two years ago. It may be the lowest municipal race turnout ever, some said.
Looking at the paltry 911 votes cast at Greene-Hills School -- several hundred less than normal -- election official Leo Bonola said he’d never seen so few.
City Councilor Cliff Block said he’s worried that turnout was so minimal.
“I just don’t think it matters who the mayor is,” said Cathy Wilson, a Bristol resident who was buying frozen pizza at Stop & Shop. “Maybe if I knew something about them, I would have voted.”
Allen Troth, who voted at Edgewood School, said casting a ballot is important “because I’m union and Art Ward is pro-union.”
“He works for the city. That’s why it’s important,” said his wife, Nakiya Troth.
“It’s my duty to vote,” said Marylou Lakovitch, who retired from the city clerk’s office a decade ago. She said she picks the person, not the party, so she backed Ward because “he’s done a good job.”
Lakovitch also backed Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski’s bid for reelection since “he’s for the people.”
Alford jumped into the race in August at the urging of GOP leaders who had to replace the party’s nominee, attorney John Gill, after he was forced to pull out because of unexpected medical issues.
For most of the past two years, though, Republicans had figured their 2007 standard-bearer, businessman Ken Johnson, would take another crack at defeating Ward.
Johnson came close to victory two years ago and clearly intended to run again. But he announced in the spring that he couldn’t take up the challenge this year, leaving Republican officials to scramble after another candidate for months.
Ward had an advantage this time around that he didn’t in 2007: his party united behind him.
Two years ago, Democrats shunted Ward to the sidelines and nominated city Councilor Ellen Zoppo to run for mayor.
But Ward, a veterans' services officer for the state, grabbed the mayoral line from her in a bitter primary that divided Democrats badly and provided the GOP with a boost that nearly propelled Johnson into office.
The Democrats possess a big advantage in terms of registration, claiming the allegiance of 41 percent of the city’s 34,142 registered voters. The Republicans have just 16 percent. Independents make up 42 percent of the total.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
In an election notable for its civility and one of the lowest turnouts in city history, Ward grabbed 58 percent of the vote and led his Democratic Party to maintain control of the City Council.
Ward, a city councilor for 14 years before snagging the mayor’s office in 2007, faced a host of fiscal woes during his first term but managed to freeze property taxes this year and avoid layoffs, a trick that may prove impossible the next time around.
“It won’t be any easier the next two years,” Ward told supporters who gathered at Nuchies Tuesday to learn the results.
He vowed to continue the hard, fair decisions that have kept the city moving forward despite tough times.
Ward defeated two newcomers who aimed to snatch away his job: Republican Mary Alford and independent Gary Lawton.
Alford, a bookkeeper, said she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
She also said she is proud that all three mayoral candidates ran such a clean campaign.
“There wasn’t any of that horribly embarrassing stuff,” Alford said.
Ward said, “It was so civil that sometimes we wondered if we were in a campaign.”
Lawton, a welder, said he “did what I could.”
Even though people complain about a two-party system, he said, they have a tough time casting a ballot for an independent candidate.
“It’s a hard idea for people to wrap their minds around,” said Lawton. “I went into this with no illusions. I knew it was a long shot at best.”
Ward said that with more fiscal woes ahead, “we need to join arms,” put aside partisanship and “work together” to make the city better.
Unofficial results show that Ward got 5,071 votes while Alford racked up 3,325. Lawton got 369.
Election officials said that only 25 percent of the city’s 34,142 voters turned out Tuesday, far short of the 36.3 percent who voted two years ago. It may be the lowest municipal race turnout ever, some said.
Looking at the paltry 911 votes cast at Greene-Hills School -- several hundred less than normal -- election official Leo Bonola said he’d never seen so few.
City Councilor Cliff Block said he’s worried that turnout was so minimal.
“I just don’t think it matters who the mayor is,” said Cathy Wilson, a Bristol resident who was buying frozen pizza at Stop & Shop. “Maybe if I knew something about them, I would have voted.”
Allen Troth, who voted at Edgewood School, said casting a ballot is important “because I’m union and Art Ward is pro-union.”
“He works for the city. That’s why it’s important,” said his wife, Nakiya Troth.
“It’s my duty to vote,” said Marylou Lakovitch, who retired from the city clerk’s office a decade ago. She said she picks the person, not the party, so she backed Ward because “he’s done a good job.”
Lakovitch also backed Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski’s bid for reelection since “he’s for the people.”
Alford jumped into the race in August at the urging of GOP leaders who had to replace the party’s nominee, attorney John Gill, after he was forced to pull out because of unexpected medical issues.
For most of the past two years, though, Republicans had figured their 2007 standard-bearer, businessman Ken Johnson, would take another crack at defeating Ward.
Johnson came close to victory two years ago and clearly intended to run again. But he announced in the spring that he couldn’t take up the challenge this year, leaving Republican officials to scramble after another candidate for months.
Ward had an advantage this time around that he didn’t in 2007: his party united behind him.
Two years ago, Democrats shunted Ward to the sidelines and nominated city Councilor Ellen Zoppo to run for mayor.
But Ward, a veterans' services officer for the state, grabbed the mayoral line from her in a bitter primary that divided Democrats badly and provided the GOP with a boost that nearly propelled Johnson into office.
The Democrats possess a big advantage in terms of registration, claiming the allegiance of 41 percent of the city’s 34,142 registered voters. The Republicans have just 16 percent. Independents make up 42 percent of the total.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
November 5, 2008
Speeches by Barack Obama and John McCain last night
Both the winner and the loser of yesterday's presidential race were unusually eloquent last night. It's worth reading what they both had to say with some care.
Here is President-elect Barack Obama's address in Chicago:
And here is U.S. Sen. John McCain's speech in Phoenix.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
November 4, 2008
Wright and legislative incumbents win - Hamzy survives Democratic tidal wave
A Democratic landslide that swept aside Republicans across the country carried in a Democratic newcomer to an open state House seat in Bristol but it didn’t prove strong enough to knock out the city’s sole incumbent Republican lawmaker.
Chris Wright, the Democratic newcomer in the 77th District, said his win is “just starting to sink in” after a long, hard campaign against Republican Jill Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald called the race “a wonderful experience” that she might try again someday.
Re-elected to two-year terms were all of the city’s incumbents – state Sen. Tom Colapietro, state Rep. Betty Boukus and state Rep. Frank Nicastro, all Democrats, and Republican state Rep. Bill Hamzy.
Official results were not available late Tuesday, but unofficial tallies from both political parties left the outcomes clear.
Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th district includes Bristol, won his eighth term by a comfortable margin over Democrat Jacqui Denksi.
"I'm ecstatic," said Hamzy, who admitted he had been "a little worried, especially the way the tide was going."
Hamzy said he didn't take the race for granted.
"You never know," said Hamzy. But he said, "I had a record to run on and people responded to it."
Nicastro easily won re-election to his second term in the 79th District.
"I plan to work very hard for all my constituents," said Nicastro.
Nicastro faced a symbolic challenge from David L. Norton, who stepped into the race late in October after the original Republican candidate, Derek Jerome, committed suicide.
Norton said he agreed to run in honor of Jerome, who strongly believed in giving voters a choice.
Nicastro said he and Norton spent Election Day together.
"We had some great discussions. It was a pleasure to stand alongside him," said Nicastro. "He was a perfect gentleman."
Colapietro, who has represented the 31st District since 1992, breezed into his ninth term Tuesday.
The race "was pretty easy for me," said Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat. "It's the only time I've ever run unopposed."
Colapietro said he'd been looking forward to talking about the issues, but without an opponent didn't have much chance. He said he likes people to know why he casts the votes he does.
Wright and Fitzgerald were battling for a seat left open by the retirement of one-term state Rep. Ron Burns, a Republican.
Burns said the winners of all the races are going to face “a tough two years. It is going to be quite difficult” dealing with budget cuts and the recession.
“It could be a whole different picture” by the next time state lawmakers face the voters, Burns said.
As polls closed, Bristol Democratic Town Chairman Elliott Nelson said Democrats were optimistic about all their races.
"The numbers are high," said Nelson.
As the polls closed, Colapietro was at the American Legion in Bristol where a glitch in the voting machines kept ballots from being read.
"For awhile they had to count them by hand," said Colapietro.
Nelson said the machines at the American Legion failed early Tuesday morning and weren't back in action until 6:30 p.m.
It was "a major meltdown," said Nelson.
But election officials got the machines going again, Colapietro said, so ballots could be fed into them.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Chris Wright, the Democratic newcomer in the 77th District, said his win is “just starting to sink in” after a long, hard campaign against Republican Jill Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald called the race “a wonderful experience” that she might try again someday.
Re-elected to two-year terms were all of the city’s incumbents – state Sen. Tom Colapietro, state Rep. Betty Boukus and state Rep. Frank Nicastro, all Democrats, and Republican state Rep. Bill Hamzy.
Official results were not available late Tuesday, but unofficial tallies from both political parties left the outcomes clear.
Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th district includes Bristol, won his eighth term by a comfortable margin over Democrat Jacqui Denksi.
"I'm ecstatic," said Hamzy, who admitted he had been "a little worried, especially the way the tide was going."
Hamzy said he didn't take the race for granted.
"You never know," said Hamzy. But he said, "I had a record to run on and people responded to it."
Nicastro easily won re-election to his second term in the 79th District.
"I plan to work very hard for all my constituents," said Nicastro.
Nicastro faced a symbolic challenge from David L. Norton, who stepped into the race late in October after the original Republican candidate, Derek Jerome, committed suicide.
Norton said he agreed to run in honor of Jerome, who strongly believed in giving voters a choice.
Nicastro said he and Norton spent Election Day together.
"We had some great discussions. It was a pleasure to stand alongside him," said Nicastro. "He was a perfect gentleman."
Colapietro, who has represented the 31st District since 1992, breezed into his ninth term Tuesday.
The race "was pretty easy for me," said Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat. "It's the only time I've ever run unopposed."
Colapietro said he'd been looking forward to talking about the issues, but without an opponent didn't have much chance. He said he likes people to know why he casts the votes he does.
Wright and Fitzgerald were battling for a seat left open by the retirement of one-term state Rep. Ron Burns, a Republican.
Burns said the winners of all the races are going to face “a tough two years. It is going to be quite difficult” dealing with budget cuts and the recession.
“It could be a whole different picture” by the next time state lawmakers face the voters, Burns said.
As polls closed, Bristol Democratic Town Chairman Elliott Nelson said Democrats were optimistic about all their races.
"The numbers are high," said Nelson.
As the polls closed, Colapietro was at the American Legion in Bristol where a glitch in the voting machines kept ballots from being read.
"For awhile they had to count them by hand," said Colapietro.
Nelson said the machines at the American Legion failed early Tuesday morning and weren't back in action until 6:30 p.m.
It was "a major meltdown," said Nelson.
But election officials got the machines going again, Colapietro said, so ballots could be fed into them.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
President Barack Obama
Unless the networks are completely and totally wrong, Democrat Barack Obama won a big victory today. They can't call the states where voting is still taking place, but it's not hard to do the math. It's over.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Bristol went big for Obama
Bristol backed Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama by an overwhelming margin.
Mayor Art Ward, a Democrat, said that “the last years of Republican dominance has not proven beneficial to the country” so voters were ready for a change.
Obama won 61 percent of the votes in Bristol, easily defeating Republican John McCain in every part of the city.
“It was an anti-incumbent, anti-Republican year,” said Ken Johnson, last year’s unsuccessful GOP mayoral candidate.
State Rep. Ron Burns, a Bristol Republican, said “a wave on the national level” propelled Obama to victory and cast down many worthy GOP candidates in Bristol and beyond.
“People are fed up with McCain,” said state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat who has represented the 31st District since 1992.
Colapietro said the thought that McCain’s vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, “scared a lot of people” and probably drove Democratic margins even higher.
Ward, a Democrat, said that because the nation is “facing the worst financial condition” in generations, it’s not surprising that voters were ready to back the Illinois senator.
Results showed that Obama racked up a staggering landslide in Bristol in every precinct.
He collected 14,660 votes compared to 9,467 for McCain in Bristol.
At the Edgewood School, which is hardly a Democratic stronghold in Bristol, Obama snagged 1,739 votes compared to 1,002 for McCain.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor Art Ward, a Democrat, said that “the last years of Republican dominance has not proven beneficial to the country” so voters were ready for a change.
Obama won 61 percent of the votes in Bristol, easily defeating Republican John McCain in every part of the city.
“It was an anti-incumbent, anti-Republican year,” said Ken Johnson, last year’s unsuccessful GOP mayoral candidate.
State Rep. Ron Burns, a Bristol Republican, said “a wave on the national level” propelled Obama to victory and cast down many worthy GOP candidates in Bristol and beyond.
“People are fed up with McCain,” said state Sen. Tom Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat who has represented the 31st District since 1992.
Colapietro said the thought that McCain’s vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, “scared a lot of people” and probably drove Democratic margins even higher.
Ward, a Democrat, said that because the nation is “facing the worst financial condition” in generations, it’s not surprising that voters were ready to back the Illinois senator.
Results showed that Obama racked up a staggering landslide in Bristol in every precinct.
He collected 14,660 votes compared to 9,467 for McCain in Bristol.
At the Edgewood School, which is hardly a Democratic stronghold in Bristol, Obama snagged 1,739 votes compared to 1,002 for McCain.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Quick overview of Bristol results
I don't have numbers, but here's what I know:
1. The chief operating officer referendum went down to a big defeat.
2. Chris Wright beat Jill Fitzgerald in the 77th District.
3. It appears that Bill Hamzy won reelection in the 78th District.
4. Bristol voted for Barack Obama by something like a 2-1 margin.
5. I think the noncontroversial charter questions in Bristol also lost, but we'll see. It was close.
6. Frank Nicastro won a second term easily in the 79th District.
7. Betty Boukus won another term in the 22nd District.
I'll have more later.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
1. The chief operating officer referendum went down to a big defeat.
2. Chris Wright beat Jill Fitzgerald in the 77th District.
3. It appears that Bill Hamzy won reelection in the 78th District.
4. Bristol voted for Barack Obama by something like a 2-1 margin.
5. I think the noncontroversial charter questions in Bristol also lost, but we'll see. It was close.
6. Frank Nicastro won a second term easily in the 79th District.
7. Betty Boukus won another term in the 22nd District.
I'll have more later.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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