Schools

Voting Row B in Greenwich Means 'Blowout' [VIDEO]

Republicans overwhelmingly received more votes than Democrats, even in uncontested races that guaranteed victory.

The 2011 election results confirmed that despite declining numbers, Greenwich is indeed a red town as the Republicans tagged overwhelming victories in nearly all of their contested races.

And about 300 party faithful cheered at their Election night victory party at the Milbrook Club when Greenwich Republican Town Committee Chairman Jim Campbell proclaimed, "The voters of Greenwich heard our message and now they've sent us theirs. From the Board of Education, to the BET, to the Selectman's office, to the Town Clerk, and to the Tax Collector, Greenwich has chosen Republicans to govern for another two years."

First Selectman Peter Tesei won a third two-year term with running mate, Selectman Dave Theis, earning a second two-year term. The pair will be working with Democratic Selectman Drew Marzullo who won a second term as well, receiving more votes than his running mate, John Blankley who sought to unseat Tesei.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In addressing supporters, Tesei quipped that his speech would be quick because he forget to bring his prepared speech, having left it at home. "Clearly, this was a very spirited race. We focused on the theme 'Putting Greenwich first' ... because it is what we do day in and day out and that's what we're going to continue to do," Tesei said.

Tesei received 9,101 votes to Blankley's 3,293. There were 7,284 votes cast for Theis and 4,818 for Marzullo. Ten-term incumbent Town Clerk Carmella Budkins received 8,186 votes to 3,652 for Stephen Ng. The nailbiter of the night was the tax collector race. Incumbent 'Tod' Laudonia had less than a 600-vote margin over Democratic challenger Bill Grad. Laudonia received 6,229 votes; Grad 5,601.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While there weren't any changes in the top echelon of town government, there complexion of the Board of Education and the Board of Estimate & Taxation will change.

Half of the eight-member school board will be new to the job. The only incumbent seeking re-election was Republican Marianna Ponns Cohen.

Ponns Cohen had become a lightening rod of sorts within the GOP and on the Board of Education with her continued questioning of issues - including whether the expand the controversial International Baccaulaureate program - long after they were voted upon by the eight-member board. Her demeanor and approach to business were among the reasons former Schools Superintendent Sidney Freund cited for his surprise resignation last May.

The result of maneuvering and disagreement within the Republican Town Committee was Ponns Cohen being nominated for the ballot, along with three other candidates. It was the first time in more than a decade that either party actually gave Greenwich voters a choice in the election by nominating more than the requisite number of candidates to fill the available seats.

Ponns Cohen faced fellow Republicans - none of whom had previously sought public office - Anna Saras Povinelli, Barbara O'Neill and Peter von Braun. O'Neill and von Braun won the race, receiving 8,898 and 7877 votes, respectively. Povinelli had 5,119 votes and Ponns Cohen, 4,331.

More ballots were cast for both O'Neill and von Braun than the two candidates chosen for the two available Democratic seats. Adriana Ospina received 6,124 and Jennifer Dayton, 6,269.

The same vote tally scenario played out with the BET elections. And four of those seats went to newcomers. A fifth seat is held by relative newcomer Mary Lee Kiernan, who was appointed to the board in September to fill the seat held by Nancy Barton who resigned just weeks before her death after a long illness.

Campbell said that the Republican stronghold in town was even evident with the Board of Estimate & Taxation where all 12 seats - six Republican and six Democratic - were uncontested. "Every one of our candidates earned more votes than all of the Democratic candidates. And we will have a Republican chairman of the BET," Campbell said to a resounding round of cheers.

Returning Republicans to the BET are Joseph Pelligrino (7,137 votes); Leslie Tarkington (6,924); Michael Mason, (6,470) and Arthur Norton (6,191). New Republican members are Gregory Bedrosian and Marc Johnson, with 6,197 and 6,465 votes, respectively.

On the Democratic BET ticket, incumbents William Finger received 3,724 votes; Jeffrey Ramer, 3,760; Randall Huffman, 3,498; Kiernan, 4,316. New Democrats are Sean Goldrick who won 3,457 votes and Robert Brady, 3,920 votes.

Tesei's campaign manager Steve Warzoha said, "It's a great night for us. With Peter's leadership along with (Selectman) Dave's (Theis), is second to none and the residents continue to show support that help make Greenwich number 1 in the state."

Democratic Town Committee Chairman , "We take our lessons and we move forward.”


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