Asked how things were, glum faces quickly replied, "They're not good."
Democratic Town Chairman Mitchell Fuchs said of the results, "They're ugly."
"It's surprising. We're the Number 1 Town in Connecticut (Connecticut Magazine, November 2009). I think it's been legislated very well. I have a hard time believing that today's poll speaks to the hard work that our party has dedicated to making the town what it is."
"Obviously, I think there's more at play ... " said Fuchs.
"I think the negative media that exists in this country has affected people's perspective. Take someone like Pat Jacobson who's running for alternate for TPZ.
She's always been one of the top vote getters for the RTM. Why isn't she getting more?" (She got 3,817 votes to Republican Deborah Owens 5,268.) Fuchs attributed the Republican landslide to the media and to people thinking that Democrats were interested "in either socialism or death panels."
"The reality is that the top one percent of wealthy Americans' proportion of wealth in the last few years - you want to talk redistribution of wealth - that's where the money is going but most people think we're giving it to the poor. Take Fox News, the average person believes it, "said Fuchs.
"I'm upset that the people who've worked hard for our community got a slap in the face," he added.
"But that's politics and we will pick ourselves up and be back in two years," he said.
State Representative Tom Drew said "because the top of the ticket was not running, it was perceived as a less impactful election. Some people say that Democrats tend not to vote in elections that are perceived as less important."
Mary Cody who ran the first time ever for any office, lost as a candidate for RTM in District 1. She thought that fewer Democrats vote in low-turnout elections.
It definitely was a low-turnout election. In an unofficial tally on Wednesday morning, only 28 percent of the 36,517 Fairfield voters had voted, or 10,113 people.
"It looks like Republicans pretty much won everything," said Fuchs.
Fuchs was clearly puzzled. "We outworked them. We raised twice as much money.
We had more people knocking on doors. We outmailed them. We all dedicated hundreds of hours to community service," said Fuchs.
"We had a great run. Over the last ten years, we've pretty much won everything, so I can't complain," said Fuchs.
"We won one seat on the board of finance because they had to have a Democrat," he said. Ken Brachfeld won that seat with Republicans Kevin Kiley (the present chairman) and newcomer James B. Brown winning the other two seats.
On the Board of Education, Democrat Perry Liu won a four-year term with 5076 votes, coming in third to Republicans Pam Iacono, 6320 votes, and Timothy Kery, 5591, but easily beating his fellow Democrats Jennifer Maxon Kennelly, 4386 votes and Leonora Campbell, 4008 votes.
However, young Democrat Joshua Albin, son of present Board of Education chair, Catherine Albin, was easily trounced by Republican Paul Fattibene in a race for the two-year term on the Board of Education, 6050 to 3333.
Many long-time Democratic Representative Town Meeting members such as moderator Robert Greenberger, Helen D'Avanzo and Lisa Winjum, all in District 8, were trounced by Republicans who were total newcomers.
Democrat Cristin McCarthy Vahey easily retained her seat in District 6 but there will likely be a recount between Branda Kupchick, who is giving up her seat on the Board of Education and Sheila Marmion, who got 547 and 549 votes.
There will, in fact, be recounts for all of Districts 5, 6, and 7, according to Town Clerk Betsy Browne, who said that that will be done on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
Republicans swept all boards, but they will be denied one seat they otherwise would have won on the Town Plan and Zoning Commission because the Town Charter requires that on a seven-member board at least two seats be given to the minority party. Thus, Republican and present chairman, Seth Baratz, wins with 4917 votes, but Michael Hahn, who garnered 4703 votes loses to Democrats James Kennelly, 4092, and Richard Jacobs, 3970. For the two-year term, Republican Douglas Souter won over Democrat Russell Green.
"We'll return because the acrimony will commence," said Fuchs.
"I'm shocked because when you look at the condition of our town, this doesn't accurately represent what our officials are deserving of."
First Selectman, Ken Flatto issued this comment while he was out of town, "This has been a very civil and dignified election season. I congratulate all of the candidates for their hard work and dedication to Fairfield and look forward to working with all of the newly elected officials to keep Fairfield a great community," he added, "In a low turnout year Rebublicans regualrly tend to vote in larger numbers."
For complete election results, see: www.fairfieldct.org/vote-results-2009.htm. or check our web site at: fairfieldminuteman.com.
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