Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller defeated write-in candidate/fellow Republican Gary Bruce 2,266 to 152 in Tuesday’s municipal election.
Miller, a Republican, will serve a second term as the town’s top elected official.
The numbers are from Seymour Town Hall and are considered unofficial until certified.
The Seymour Republicans now hold a majority on every board and commission.
The Democrats were hoping for a better night.
The political composition of the Board of Selectmen did not change, but a few faces did.
Republican Len Greene, Jr., a former state representative, was elected to the Board of Selectmen.
Democrat Paul Roy, a former First Selectman, was also elected to the Board of Selectmen.
Democrat Karen Stanek was re-elected to the Board of Selectmen, as were Republicans Annmarie Drugonis, Nicole Klarides-Ditria and Al Bruno.
Watch Miller’s victory speech at Hot Tamale’s in Seymour Tuesday in the video below. Article continues below.
Both Miller and Green agreed that they enjoy Democratic perspective on the Board of Selectman.
“We may not have the same vision, but we have common goals and that is the make the city a better place,” said Greene.
On the Seymour school board, Republicans took three of the five available seats. The Republicans now hold a 5 – 4 majority on the school board.
Republican Yashu Putorti was re-elected to another term on the school board, as were Democrats Edward Strumello and Frederick Stanek.
Democrat James Garofolo was not re-elected to the board of education, a fact that surprised and saddened local Dems.
New members of the school board — Republicans Theodora Klarides and Allison Sobieski-McAndrew.
Former First Selectman Bob Koskelowski was elected to the town’s police commission.
“We accomplished a lot in the past two years but there is a lot more to accomplish going forward,” Miller said to a crowd at Hot Tamale, a restaurant on Route 67. “Enjoy tonight and have a good time and tomorrow we start right back to work.”
Dems Frustrated
Meanwhile, as district-by-district tallies reached Democrats who gathered at Zois’ Pizza Palace, there were murmurs of disappointment that more party members hadn’t been elected to the town’s boards and commissions.
Roy didn’t hide his feelings as he addressed the group.
“I am really, really, really upset,” he said. “It stinks.”
Roy urged Democrats to “start tomorrow” to work harder to win the next election.
Democrat Frank Conroy was re-elected to the Police Commission.
“The Police Commission is a very important part of town government. We have a lot of problems to address,” he said, including the issue of funding police officers assigned to schools.
Ed Strumello and Fred Stanek were the only Democrats re-elected to the Board of Education.
“I’m happy I got re-elected, and I’m happy that Fred got re-elected,” Strumello said, but he’s “disappointed” that the Democrats lost control of the school board, with Republicans winning a 5 – 4 majority.
Steven Kulas, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, said his party picked up a seat on the Board of Finance.
Democrats John Stelma, William Sawicki and Richard Grudzias were elected to that board, along with Republican Beverly Kennedy.
Kulas praised the Democrats for remaining optimistic during a election season that produced no Democratic candidate for First Selectman.
“You should be proud of the fact you continue to remain positive,” Kulas said.
Unofficial results are below. An X denotes a winner.
FIRST SELECTMAN
Kurt Miller (Rep): 2, 266 X
Gary Bruce (write-in candidate) (also Rep): 152
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Paul Roy (Dem): 1,342 X
Zani Imetovski (Dem): 711
Hargurpreet Singh (Dem): 776
Karen Stanek (Dem): 1,158 X
Annmarie Drugonis (Rep): 1,333 X
Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Rep): 1,863 X
Al Bruno (Rep): 1,452 X
Leonard Greene, Jr. (Rep): 1,717 X
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Theodora Klarides (Rep): 1,559 X
Yashu Putorti (Rep): 1,109 X
Allison Sobieski-McAndrew (Rep): 1,337 X
Edward Strumello (Dem): 1,206 X
Frederick Stanek (Dem): 1,384 X
James Garofolo (Dem): 1,019
BOARD OF FINANCE, FULL TERM
John Stelma (Dem): 1,513 X
William Sawicki (Dem): 1,653 X
Richard Grudzias (Dem): 1,658 X
Beverly Kennedy (Rep): 1,960 X
FINANCE BOARD, TWO-YEAR TERM
Heather McDaniel (Rep): 2,060 X
Edward Wasikowski (Rep): 2,056 X
BOARD OF FINANCE ALTERNATE
Two people running for three seats
Alfred Yagovane (Rep): 1,912 X
Jim Cretella (Rep): 2,052 X
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Christopher Drugonis (Rep): 1,350
Bruce Baker (Rep): 1,381 X
Thomas LaPaglia (Dem): 939
Anthony LoPresti (Dem): 1,393 X
PLANNING AND ZONING
Tom Lavranchuk (Rep): 1,775 X
James Baldwin (Dem): 1,627 X
POLICE COMMISSION
Robert Koskelowski, Sr. (Rep): 1,526 X
Francis Conroy (Dem): 1,499 X
Philip Wilhelmy III (Dem): 1,437
LIBRARY TRUSTEES, FULL TERM
Joyce Koslowski (Rep): 1,423 X
Paula Chapla (Rep): 1,204 X
Steven Kulas (Dem): 1,197
Melanie Kalako (Dem): 1,114
LIBRARY TRUSTEES, TWO-YEAR
Tom Schutte (Rep): 1,321 X
Maureen Wilhelmy (Dem): 1,227
