Shore Line Times - News - 11/04/2004 - Democrats score victories in state legislative races

11/04/2004

Democrats score victories in state legislative races

By: LISA CARTER , Staff writer

Despite his overall defeat, incumbent state Sen. William Aniskovich won the approval of Madison voters

Editor's note: The Madison Town Clerk's Office has notified the Shore Line Times that the unofficial figures released Nov. 2 are subject to change.

MADISON - Despite their traditional underdog status in Madison local Democrats had much to smile about Nov. 2 as they scored victories in two state legislative races. Madison resident Deborah Heinrich, 35, unseated six-term incumbent Republican incumbent Peter Metz in the race for state representative, while Guilford resident Ed Meyer defeated seven-term Republican incumbent Bill Aniskovich in the race for state Senate.
"The Democratic party is alive and well," said resident Jim Ball at the candidates' victory party at the Woodlawn Grill. "It's a new world from a political standpoint."
Heinrich said she was particularly proud of the citizens of Madison and North Guilford, who turned out in record high numbers at the polls Tuesday. In Madison a total of 10,835 residents voted either by machine or by absentee ballot, representing 81.7 percent of the 13,266 registered voters in town.
Madison has a long tradition as a Republican-dominated town, but in recent years independent or unaffiliated voters have been the largest bloc of voters in town. The Republican party is still the largest political party, however.
As of Oct. 25, 43.6 percent of Madison voters were unaffiliated, 34.3 percent were Republicans, 21.6 percent were Democrats and 0.5 percent belonged to third parties.
In Madison, Democrats dominated the races for state representative and U.S. Senator, while Republicans dominated in the races for president, U.S. Representative and state senator.
5,377 or 52.5 percent of residents voted for President George W. Bush while 4,864 or 47.5 percent voted for Democratic challenger John Kerry. 6,043 voters (63.7 percent) voted for Sen. Chris Dodd versus 3,449 (36.3 percent) who voted for little-known opponent Jack Orchulli.
In the race for Congress, Republican incumbent Rob Simmons scored 4,926 votes (54.2 percent) over Democratic challenger Jim Sullivan, who earned 4,161 votes (45.8 percent).
Madison voters supported Aniskovich even though he lost the 12th Senatorial District as a whole. In Madison 5,489 (54.9 percent) gave the nod to Aniskovich, while 4,517 (45.1 percent) voted for Meyer.
In the race for state representative in the 101st House District, Heinrich earned 5,209 votes (53.1 percent) over Metz's 4,597 (46.9 percent).
In addition to those races, Gail Snow and Christine Hjerpe each retained their position of registrar of voters.
Heinrich beat great odds in scoring a victory over Metz, which she accomplished through a vigorous door-to-door grassroots campaign. A fairly new Madison resident, Heinrich is a trained scientist holding a Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics. Currently she runs a small business in town called Childbirth Education for Thinking Women where she teaches pregnant women and their partners about pregnancy, birthing and early parenting.
Metz, 67, a longtime Madison resident, has served in the state House of Representatives for six terms. There he was a ranking member on the Law Committee and on the Government, Administration and Elections Committee and was also a member of the Finance Advisory Committee. Metz is also an attorney with his own practice in Madison.
Both candidates stressed a commitment to get increased state funding to Madison and North Guilford for education.
Heinrich spoke about her victory the day after the election.
"I'm absolutely thrilled," she said. "I'd like to extend gratitude to the voters of Madison and North Guilford. I'd also like to thank all of the people who supported the campaign. This was truly a group effort."
Heinrich added that she has already begun working.
"The very first thing I'm going to get started on is talking to people about the best way to bring more funding into Madison and North Guilford for education," Heinrich said. "Actually, I've already gotten started on that."
Meyer, 69, was also the underdog in the race for state senate in a district that encompasses Madison, Guilford, Branford, Killingworth and Durham.
Appointed by former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Meyer spent his early career in law as a federal prosecutor and later served for many years in New York City as a litigator. He also served the state of New York. for two terms in the state House of Representatives and 23 years as an education policy maker on the New York State Board of Regents.
A Guilford resident since 2001, he serves on the Guilford Economic Development Commission and the Guilford Democratic Town Committee.
Meyer said he entered the race in part because of disappointment with incumbent Aniskovich, whom he said "made some mistakes in aligning himself too closely with Governor Rowland."
He felt his experience as a prosecutor would lend him credibility with voters who had become disillusioned with politicians in recent years.
Like Heinrich, he is already preparing for the new legislative session, which begins in January. Although he said he was going to rest the day after the election, the president pro tem of the Senate already scheduled a lunch with him on Nov. 4.
Meyer said he has two matters on the top of his agenda.
"The first is to try to put greater integrity into the state government by enacting a very broad, strong code of ethics so that business people looking at Connecticut believe it to be an attractive place to put new jobs and new business," Meyer said. "The second thing is reduction of property taxes."