Mark Lauretti led a Republican sweep in Tuesday’s election to win his 11th term as Shelton’s mayor.
Lauretti trounced Democratic opponent Chris Jones by almost a 2‑to‑1 margin. The vote tally released by the Registrar’s Office was Lauretti 6,589 to Jones 3,586.
Republicans also took control of the Board of Education, and retained their majorities on the Board of Apportionment & Taxation and the Planning & Zoning Commission.
After the votes were in, Lauretti and Jones showed their mutual personal dislike. Jones refused to call Lauretti and concede. Lauretti noted that Jones had also refused to call him after losing the 2009 election.
“I think it’s pretty obvious the result speak for themselves,” Lauretti told his cheering supporters in his victory speech.
He said the voters appreciated that he and the other Republican officials have made the right decisions for the city.
“And politics and the media can’t bring it down,” he added.
Jones blamed a low voter turnout and the economy for his loss.
According to the Registrar’s office, the voter turnout this year was 41.94 percent, compared with a turnout of 45.4 percent in the last city election in 2009.
Jones said voters had perfect weather for Election Day and he thought he campaigned on “valid” issues, “but in this economy, people are only concerned about their taxes.”
“I thought I ran a great campaign and I had great volunteers with me for the last six months,” Jones said. “I ran on issues and I hope these issues get taken care of in the near future.”
In the election, Jones criticized Lauretti on public safety and fiscal issues. He said the police department left about $1 million unspent in its budget last year while the crime rate rose, drugs are “rampant,” and the department is understaffed.
He said the fire department lacks a reliable communication system and the city has other neglected infrastructure needs.
In victory, Lauretti accused Jones of “misrepresenting the truth,” and called that a “breach of the public trust.”
He declined to be specific, saying he didn’t have time to list the things Jones said that weren’t true.
Lauretti told his supporters they had won “despite the ill will of the opposition,” and noted that while Jones had refused to call him to concede, he was considering calling Jones to congratulate him for “his eighth consecutive loss.”
The Democrats were clearly disappointed by the election results. Alderman Jack Finn of Ward 1 remains the only Democrat on the Board of Aldermen.
Party Chairman David Gioiello said he had hoped the Democrats would pick up a second seat so that they could have a second for motions and force the Republicans to debate matters in public.
The results, as released from the Registrar’s Office Tuesday:
A *** denotes the winner.
Results from the registrars office:
MAYOR
Chris Jones — D – 3,586
Mark A. Lauretti — R *** – 6,589
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
First Ward
Vote for any two.
Two highest vote-getters are elected
Faith B. Hack — D — 914
John “Jack” Finn — D *** — 1,422
Anthony F. Simonetti — R *** — 1,480
Gene Kierce — R — 976
Second Ward
Vote for any two.
Two highest vote getters are elected.
Ralph Matto — D — 1,189
Elizabeth A. Ogden — D — 1,145
Stanley Kudej — R *** — 1,778
Eric J. McPherson — R *** — 1,741
Third Ward
Vote for any two.
Two highest vote getters are elected.
Remy Steiner Kocurek — D — 627
Randy Jennings — D — 506
John F. Anglace Jr. — R *** — 964
Lynne S. Farrell — R — *** 985
Fourth Ward
Vote for any two.
Two highest vote getters are elected.
David M. Gioiello Jr. — D — 858
Bob Lally — D — 1,123
Noreen McGorty — R *** — 1,812
John Papa — R — *** 1,992
CITY TREASURER
James E. Calkins — D — 3,384
Raymond O’Leary — R *** — 6,203
BOARD OF APPORTIONMENT AND TAXATION
Vote for any six.
Judson Crawford — D *** — 4,762
Wayne Bragg — D *** — 4,645
Jimmy Tickey — D *** — 4,724
Christopher Besescheck — R *** — 6,851
Charlotte Madar — R *** — 6,876
John Belden — R *** — 7,416
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Nine to be elected. No more than five from one party. Vote for any nine.
Kate Kutash — D — 4,828
James E. Orazietti — D *** — 5,208
Timothy Walsh — D *** — 5,054
Michael Pacowta — D *** — 5,035
Joe Knapik — D — 3,754
Arlene Liscinsky — D *** — 4,884
John J. Francino-Quinn — R *** — 5,585
Bernie Simons — R — 5,325
Thomas Minotti — R *** — 6,113
Kathy Yolish — R *** — 6,347
Mark Holden — R *** — 5,931
Win Oppel — R *** — 5,775
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Vote for any six.
Six will be elected. No more than four from any political party.
Elaine Matto — D *** — 4,727
Ludwig Spinelli — D — 4,239
Joan Flannery — D *** — 4,903
John “Jay” Zikaras — D — 4,318
Ruth Parkins — R *** — 6,267
Virginia Harger — R *** — 6,353
Thomas McGorty — R *** — 5,979
Anthony Pagoda — R *** — 6,138
PLANNING AND ZONING ALTERNATES
Two will be elected. No more than one from any party. Vote for any two.
Nancy Dickal — D *** — 4,987
Josh Kopac — R *** — 6,578
LIBRARY DIRECTORS
Vote for any two. Two will be elected.
Harriet Finn — D *** — 4,620
Joan Feeley — D — 4,017
Ronald Schlegel — R — 4,426
Janice Greiser — R *** — 4,944
