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The 31.84 percent voter turnout was "the lowest in eight years," noted Town Clerk George Buckbee Sr. at the town hall that night after the unofficial results were announced by head moderator Liba H. Furhman. Two years ago, in the last municipal election, Mr. Buckbee noted, there was a 36.54 percent turnout; before that, 36.24 percent; and in the more previous election; 44 percent.
A total of 5,814 of the town's 18,188 eligible voters cast their ballots, according to Mrs. Furhman in her official report to the Office of the Secretary of the State.
The mayoral results at the seven polling places were as follows: District 1, Northville Elementary School, 867-320; District 2, East Street, 518-290; District 3, John Pettibone School, 355-149; District 4, Gaylordsville, 281-133; District 5, Schaghticoke Middle School, 665-274; District 6, Hill & Plain School, 710-249; and District 7, Sarah Noble Intermediate School, 527-230. Ms. Murphy's 4,032 total includes 109 absentee ballots (ABs) cast in her favor; Mr. Coppola's 1,714 total includes 60 ABs.
The new term will begin early next month and will conclude Nov. 30, 2011.
All nine of the Town Council seats were up for grabs, and the full six-candidate Republican slate was elected, with incumbent Raymond O'Brien, who was cross-endorsed by NMF, garnering 3,886 votes, the highest number cast for a council seat. Peter Bass received 3,351 votes; challenger Cecelia Buck-Taylor, 3,237; Roger Szendy, the vice chairman, 3,055; challenger Thomas Esposito, a member of the Economic Development Commission, 3,022; and incumbent Robert Guendelsberger, 2,896.
Democrats Peter Mullen, 3,146 votes, Mary Jane Lundgren, 3,030, and Walter Bayer, 2,748, prevailed, but veteran council member Democratic Party chairman John Lillis, with 2,414 votes, did not retain his seat. Dr. Mullen, Ms. Lundgren and Mr. Bayer were cross-endorsed by NMF.
Anne Cutter, a Conservation Commission member running on the Democratic ticket and cross-endorsed by NMF, obtained 2,692 votes, and NMF candidates Eileen Monaghan and John Kane received 1,442 and 1,348 votes, respectively.
The three candidates elected for four-year terms on the Board of Finance were Republicans Joanne Chapin, currently an alternate, with 3,387 votes; and incumbent Mark Vendetti, 2,846, and Democratic incumbent Frank Wargo, 2,843.
Mr. Wargo was cross-endorsed by NMF, which supported its candidate Alexander Petersen, who garnered 1,682 votes, and Democratic incumbent Sheldon Pruss, 2,529 votes.
Republican incumbent Laurence Tripp, who was also endorsed by NMF, obtained the highest total at the polls, 4,353 votes, in his uncontested bid for a two-year vacancy on the finance board.
The four seats being contested for four-year terms on the Board of Education were won by Republican incumbents Wendy Faulenbach, a former board chairman, with 3,523 votes, and William Wellman, 2,737, and party newcomer Lynette Celli Rigdon, 2,837. Democratic incumbent Thomas McSherry, the board vice chairman, was returned with 2,669 votes. He was also endorsed by NMF, which backed the unsuccessful re-election bid of Democratic incumbent Amy Llerna, 2,629. Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Finney, 2,001, was also not returned.
The two two-year seats on the school board were won by Republican candidates Nancy Tarscio-Latour, 3,405 votes, and Daniel Nicholas, 2,915. The Democrat Lawrence Stillman, who was backed by NMF, obtained 2,578 votes.
Democratic incumbent Oscar Rasmussen, who was unopposed for a four-year term on the Board of Assessment Appeals, garnered 3,102 votes.
Republicans Theresa Volinski, with 3,062 votes, and board chairman Peter Eng, 2,801, won the two four-year terms on the Planning Commission. Democratic candidate Lisa Alexander obtained 2,005 votes, and New Milford First's Gerard Monaghan garnered 1,437.
Republican incumbent William Taylor, 3,268, and Charles Bradford, 2,907, won the two four-year terms on the Zoning Commission. Janice Vance, the board's vice chairman, a Democrat who was also endorsed by NMF, obtained 2,565 votes.
Republican incumbent James Volinski Jr. won the two-year seat on the board, with 2,893 votes. Benjamin Grinnell, who was endorsed by the Democrats and NMF, received 2,120 votes.
Republican incumbent Martin Monteiro, 2,857 votes, and candidate Pauline Brannigan, 2,830, won the two four-year seats on the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Democrats and New Milford First had nominated Terry Ellis, 2,357 votes, and the Democrats also nominated Richard Dugdale, 1,620, for the board.
