SEYMOUR – First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis was re-elected to her third term in office Tuesday (Nov. 4), besting her Democratic challenger, Selectwoman Theresa Conroy.

Drugonis, a Republican, beat Conroy, a Democrat, by a vote of 2,387 to 1,822, according to unofficial results. 

Six of the eight charter revision questions were approved by voters.

Scroll to the bottom of this story for a complete list of results.

The political composition of the Seymour Board of Selectpersons remains unchanged with Tuesday’s vote, with the board having five Republican members, (including Drugonis) and two Democrats.

“Without your love, without your support, I wouldn’t be here,” Drugonis said to supporters at the Housatonic House restaurant on Roosevelt Drive after her victory. “And most of all and most importantly, thank you to my daughter, Alana, for your continued support.”

Drugonis and her daughter Alana, a college senior, hugged each other after the results arrived.

“Tomorrow, we go right back to work; we start our budget process, and we start working on the next two years of putting together our road plans and bringing even more businesses into Seymour,” Drugonis told The Valley Indy. “Thank you, Seymour.”

State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, Drugonis’ campaign manager, thanked the community for keeping Drugonis in office.

“None of this would be possible if she didn’t have the backbone of the amazing people and the community behind her,” Klarides-Ditria said. “She’s doing a great job, and that’s what this small town of Seymour does.”

Conroy conceded to Drugonis not long after the polls closed at 8 p.m.

She spoke to a crowd of about 40 supporters at Hot Tamale Mexican Bar & Grill off Route 67 in Seymour. 

“I’m disappointed, first off, because we just did so much work for this campaign,” Conroy said. “I thought that people in Seymour were seeing that, especially with their taxes and everything going up, the condition of our roads [and] no economic development.”

Brianna Girard, the Seymour Democratic Town Committee chairwoman and Conroy’s campaign manager, said Conroy’s long background in politics and deep roots in Seymour were qualities that the town needed. 

“Obviously, super disappointed. We ran a really strong campaign,” Girard said. “I think Theresa is an extremely qualified candidate with a passion for the town and the people in the town, and I think she would’ve done a phenomenal job.”

Background

Seymour is the least toxic town in The Valley Indy coverage when it comes to local politics. The biggest contention between Drugonis and Conroy Facebook supporters was over the lack of livestreaming for a debate between the candidates. 

Stephan Behuniak, a Democrat on the school board, caught flak online for trying to adjourn a town meeting before people had the chance to speak or make changes to a proposed budget earlier this year.

Conroy was Drugonis’ most formidable opponent since taking office. She won re-election in 2023 with 64.7 percent of the vote (2,331 votes for her out of 3,601 votes cast in 2023).

Conroy’s campaign emphasized her family’s deep roots in Seymour and her political experience, which included a stint in Hartford representing Seymour.

Drugonis ran on her record of highlighting businesses in town, her responsive communication, and making economic development progress.

UNOFFICIAL SEYMOUR RESULTS (per Town Clerk’s Office)

FIRST SELECTWOMAN

Theresa Conroy {D}: 1,822

Annmarie Drugonis {R}: 2,387

BOARD OF SELECTPERSONS

Brianna Girard {D}: 1,712

Kevin J. Atterberry {D}: 1,573

Philip Wilhelmy, III {D}: 1,707

Doug Zaniewski {D}: 1,647

Trisha Danka {R}: 2,223

Al Bruno {R}: 2,238

Scott Andrews {R}: 2,208

Bob Findley {R}: 2,186

This story was updated with results Wednesday morning.

BOARD OF FINANCE

Kristyn Hanewicz {D}: 1,751

Leon Sloat {D}: 1,480

Tracy A. Rappa {D}: 1,732

Joseph Michael Niezelski {D}: 1,865

Quinn Levey {R}: 2,244

Richard Demko {R}: 2,316

Beverly Kennedy {R}: 2,216

BOARD OF FINANCE ALTERNATES

Michael Flynn {D}: 1,726

James Amidon {D}: 1,479

Mary Kruger {D}: 1,881

Andrew North {R}: 2,166

Robin Andrews {R}: 2,299

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Stephan Behuniak {D}: 1,610

Manpreet Sachdeva {D}: 1.433

Ed Strumello {D}: 1,800

Christopher Champagne {R}: 1,976

Kristen Bruno {R}: 2,180

Peter Kubik {R}: 1,898

BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS

Rosalie Averill {D}: 1,628

Saundra J. Gesek {D}: 1,701

Scott Blakeman {R}: 1,980

Paul Wetowitz {R}: 1,977

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

Michael Matovu {D}: 1,515

Matthew Malberti {D}: 1,816

Brian N. Sirowich {R}: 2,337

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS

Thomas LaPaglia {D}: 1,562

Leslie Girard {D}: 1,535

Robert J. Koskelowski, Sr. {R}: 2,115

John Duke {R}: 2,071

LIBRARY TRUSTEES

Mark W. Pierce {D}: 1,541

Monika Szirtes {D}: 1,613

Alexander J. Danka, III {R}: 2,024

Paula F. Chapla {R}: 1,997

CHARTER QUESTIONS

1. Shall the Town Charter be amended to change the current budget process to allow the voters at the Annual Town Meeting to also increase any proposed appropriation?

Yes: 2,095

No: 1,358

2. Shall the Town Charter be amended to clarify the budget process and make meeting dates more specific?

Yes: 3,239

No: 271

3. Shall the Town Charter be amended to increase the appropriation threshold for requiring a Special Town Meeting from $100,000 to $150,000?

Yes: 1,489

No: 1,934

4. Shall the Town Charter be amended to combine the Parks Commission and Recreation Commission for efficiency of operation and services?

Yes: 3,079

No: 420

5. Shall the Town Charter be amended by adding a new provision requiring the First Selectperson to develop and implement a multi-year strategic plan for presentation to the Board of Selectpersons?

Yes: 2,930

No: 514

6. Shall the Town Charter be amended to modify the requirements regarding the education and training of the Treasurer?

Yes: 2,807

No: 604

7. Shall the Town Charter be amended to change references from First Selectman/First Selectwoman to “First Selectperson”?

Yes: 1,747

No: 1,749

8. Shall the Town Charter be amended to correct grammar, spelling, terminology, statutory references, outdated provisions, renumber sections, and make other technical changes as recommended by the Charter Revision Commission?

Yes: 2,918

No: 568