A confident Mark Lauretti easily won re-election to a 12th term as Shelton’s mayor Tuesday, defeating Democrat David Gioiello by more than a 3‑to‑1 margin.
In fact, after the last vote totals were tallied by Republican supporters at the party’s campaign headquarters on Howe Avenue, Lauretti quipped that “we still have a lot of work to do,” because over 2,000 Shelton voters voted against him.
Lauretti, who was first elected in 1991, credited his winning streak to a record of tight fiscal governance and low taxes.
“Shelton has become a model in this state, not just for good government but for government that’s affordable,” he told the gathering of party loyalists.
According to unofficial results, Lauretti defeated Gioiello 6,873 to 2,110.
The outcome of the mayoral contest was never in serious doubt, as Lauretti was heavily favored to win against Gioiello, the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee.
Shelton Republican Party Chairman Anthony Simonetti said the campaign was relatively quiet, which he attributed to the voters’ satisfaction with Lauretti’s administration.
Lauretti was in a good mood when he arrived at Republican campaign headquarters about ten minutes before the polls closed.
He said he spent an “upbeat” day visiting the various polling places in town and chatting with voters.
He also watched news coverage on CNN of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
“Before there was Chris Christie, there was Mark Lauretti,” he said.
Noting that Christie has been described as “outspoken,” Lauretti added, “People have said that about me, and I can’t deny it.”
Shelton Republicans held onto their seven-seat majority on the Board of Aldermen, but party leaders audibly groaned when they learned that the lone Democrat on the board, Jack Finn, a longtime critic of the mayor, was also re-elected along with all the other Republican incumbents.
They cheered, however, when they learned they had defeated Chris Jones — another of the mayor’s most vocal critics — lost his bid for a seat on the Board of Aldermen.
Jones waged a bitter mayoral challenge against Lauretti in 2011, making a chief issue of looming allegations by federal law enforcement officials that the mayor was at the center of a zoning corruption ring.
Lauretti was never charged.
The Republicans held onto their 5-4 majority on the Board of Education and also their majority on the Planning and Zoning Commission, although that still leaves a vacancy for a two-year seat on that commission.
All six candidates for the Board of Apportionment and Taxation were automatically elected for the six available seats. Republican Raymond O’Leary was elected City Treasurer, defeating Bob Lally.
At the city’s Democratic headquarters, a group of about 20 people gathered to await the results. Even before numbers trickled in, Democratic mayoral challenger David Gioiello said the party’s overall mood was pessimistic.
“It’s an uphill battle here in Shelton, it always has been. But regardless, we met a lot of nice people at the polls today and they were really supportive. So win or lose, there are a lot of people that we’re really glad we ran,” he said.
One of the party’s main goals this year was to get another Democrat besides John “Jack” Finn elected to the Board of Aldermen, but seats for wards 2, 3 and 4 were all filled by Republican candidates.
Michele Bialek, who ran for Alderman in the second ward, said the city’s apathy — with a turnout of around 36 percent, lower than usual for Shelton — was more disappointing than personal losses. Still, she said she is not discouraged and plans to run again in 2015.
“We wish the people felt a passion for their local community. What’s most evident right here is that people are not voting based on passion, they’re voting based on comfort and the norm. I just wish people would investigate and research and make an educated vote. That’s frustrating,” she said.
Gioiello said he does not plan to run in the next election but will still be active in the recruiting and campaign process. He hinted that newly elected tax board member Louis Dagostine might be the party’s next mayoral candidate, and added that securing a win means changing the dynamics in Shelton.
After the final results had been announced, Third Ward Aldermen candidate Chris Jones lamented the party’s many loses and said he is unsure whether he will run again next election.
“We got spanked. We just can’t win this thing. Voter turnout was so low,” he said.
Gioiello said the party’s next move is to start thinking about what they can do differently in 2015.
“There’s at least 2,000 people out there unhappy with the current administration. We may be the minority, but we can be a vocal minority,” he said.
Here are the results sent by the city to the Secretary of the State’s office Wednesday. An X denotes a winner.
MAYOR
Mark Lauretti (Rep): 6,876 X
David Gioiello (Dem): 2,110
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Ward 1
Anthony Simonetti (Rep): 1,663 X
Gene Kierce (Rep): 1,300
John ʻJackʼ Finn (Dem): 1,395 X
Ward 2
Eric McPherson (Rep): 1,123 X
Stanley Kudej (Rep): 1,071 X
Michele Bialek (Dem): 641
Ralph Matto (Dem): 723
Ward 3
John Anglace (Rep): 1,421 X
Lynne Farrel (Rep): 1,440 X
Chris Jones (Dem): 903
Judson Crawford (Dem): 530
Ward 4
Noreen McGorty (Rep): 1,689 X
John Papa (Rep): 1,831 X
Pauline Dyer (Dem): 647
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Win Oppel (Rep): 5,939 X
Mark Holden (Rep): 5,823 X
John Francino-Quinn (Rep): 5,320 X
Kathy Yolish (Rep): 6,098 X
Thomas Minotti (Rep): 5,926 X
Faith Hack (Dem): 3,974 X
Kate Kutash (Dem): 4,234 X
Timothy Walsh (Dem): 4,464 X
Elaine Matto (Dem): 3,863
Arlene Liscinsky (Dem): 4,243 X
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Four-year terms
(NOTE: There is some confusion about this race. There will be one vacancy on the P&Z, according to the town clerk’s office)
Ruth Parkins (Rep): 5,697 X
Anthony Pagoda (Rep): 5,773 X
Jimmy Tickey (Dem): 4,337 X
Nancy Dickal (Dem): 3,502
Two Republicans are also running for two-year terms, and will be elected:
Thomas McGorty (Rep): 6,376 X
Virginia Harger (Rep): 6,260 X
Two alternates:
Two Alternates will also be elected:
Ned Miller (Rep): 6,091 X
Frank Osak (Dem): 4,273 X
BOARD OF APPORTIONMENT AND TAXATION
Joseph Palmucci (Rep): 5,807 X
Charlotte Madar (Rep): 5,854 X
John Belden Jr. (Rep): 6,539 X
Louis Dagostine (Dem): 4,357 X
Joseph Knapik (Dem): 4,067 X
John ʻJayʼ Zakaras (Dem): 3,943 X
LIBRARY BOARD
Barbara Glover (Rep): 6,311 X
Aleta Miner (Rep): 4,819 X
Denese Deeds (Dem): 3,347
TREASURER
Raymond OʼLeary (Rep): 5,000 X
Bob Lally (Dem): 3,530
