The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Dems prevail in bids for state office
MIDDLESEX COUNTY — Area Democrats were victorious in their statewide bids for the Senate and House, including a very close race down county in which the GOP candidate conceded to her opponent Wednesday.
Local winners, according to unofficial numbers supplied by the Middletown town clerk, were state Reps. Joseph Serra (the incumbent), D-Middletown, and Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, who will be sworn into the 9th Senate District seat; city treasurer Quentin Phipps, a Democrat, in the 100th House District; Republican incumbent Christie Carpino, R-Cromwell; and Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman, who won the 33rd District Senate seat.
Middletown’s own Susan Bysiewicz, a Democrat, was elected lieutenant governor after winning on Gov.-Elect Ned Lamont’s ticket.
There will be no recount in the disputed 33rd state senatorial race, officials said. Republican state Rep. Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam, who trailed Needleman by 304 votes out of more than 50,000 cast, conceded defeat just after noon Wednesday.
Combined, the two candidates received 51,024 votes in the 12-town district that includes Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.
Throughout the night and into the morning Wednesday, the question vexing both state election officials and the two candidates was whether the vote total was close enough to warrant an automatic recount. The requirement for such a recount is a result that’s “under half of one percent,” according to Gabe Rosenberg, director of communications for the Secretary of the State’s office.
The lead seesawed back and forth Tuesday night before finally winding up with the 300-vote lead for Needleman, who is also president of an Essex-based pharmaceutical company.
The uncertainty over the recount was ended by Ziobron. Her communications director, Edward Odell, issued a statement on her behalf just before 2 p.m.
“According to the Connecticut secretary of state, Mr. Needleman leads by 303 votes, or 0.58 percent, which is just 0.08 percent over the 0.5 percent threshold that would trigger an automatic recount,” he said.
Ziobron then on want to thank her supporters.
“I am very proud of the race that I ran, and grateful for the tremendous effort from my campaign staff and volunteers,” she said in the statement. “We worked hard, earned every vote, and did not give an inch of ground. I want to thank everyone who has supported me, both in this race and elsewhere, most especially my family.”
A three-term state representative, Ziobron decided to leave her safe seat and try for the senatorial seat when her colleague and fellow Republican, state Sen. Art Linares, R-Westbrook, abandoned the seat in January to run for the GOP nomination for state treasurer.
Linares lost that race in the August primary, and the eventual nominee, Thad Gray, lost out in the election Tuesday to Democrat Shawn Wooden.
For Needleman, his victory Tuesday represented a dramatic turnaround. In 2016, he had run against Linares and was shellacked, losing by some 5,000 votes. It was a late night for Needleman, who was hoarse Wednesday morning, but still woke up at his usual time, he said.
Early returns from his camp showed a burgeoning lead throughout the evening that came in fits and starts, and increasing by about 10 votes every time reports came in, Needleman said. It finally reached the 300-vote margin over Ziobron by the time everyone called it a night, he said. “This was a different year,” he said Wednesday afternoon, in an observation that borne out by the approximately 3,000 more votes cast in the district than in 2016. Needleman described that increase in votes as “astounding,” adding, “Lots of different statements were being made.”
He ran as both a businessman and as the chief executive of Essex, and said those twin roles will be key in helping revive the state’s economy and trimming its massive debt. If the state is do that, Needleman stressed it will be essential to “treat people as people and not just numbers. You have to look at the human cost,” he said.
“I felt I had the experience to do the job. No one owns me. Based on my experience, I thought I could do the right thing for the state of Connecticut,” he said. “That’s my whole thing. I’m trying to do things for the next generation, for my kids and grandkids. There’s no glory for me in this for me.”
Turning his attention to Ziobron, Needleman said, “I wish her well. She was a formidable opponent. She is a very capable person, and she worked very hard for the people of her district. I go back to The Day editorial, where it said the choice was between a good candidate and a better one, because of my experience.”
In Middletown, Phipps said he was overjoyed to win.
“I’m thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to serve,” he said. “This is a dream come true, and it’s an honor. I’ll do my absolute best to fight for equitable solutions.”
Serra said Wednesday he was pleased Middletown voters continue to think he’s doing a great job in the House.
“People want the Democrats in charge,” he said. “We’ve got a big job to do, especially being part of a new Legislature. Old political guys say you just need one vote over 50 to win.”
Meanwhile, Lesser is basking in his win.
“I’m still recovering from working 14 straight hours at the polls,” said Lesser, who finished up Election Day in Dunkin Donuts Stadium in Hartford, supporting Lamont. Tuesday was a very long day, Lesser said.
“I’m enormously grateful to win, and by such a decisive margin,” said Lesser, whose phone has been “ringing off the hook.” Lesser got 24,174 votes to Ed Charamut’s 17,604, according to the Associated Press.
This week, state Democrats will caucus to determine the leaders of the Senate, Lesser said.
“It’s a very different state legislature next year. Conversations are already taking place: What are we going to do, what’s it going to look like? I’m ready to hit the ground running and really focus on the landscape,” Lesser said.
“The road ahead might be tough, but we can — and will — confront the important issues and overcome our challenges,” Bysiewicz said in her acceptance speech. “We will help small businesses grow, thrive and create more good-paying jobs.”
She laid out her and Lamont’s priorities once in the governor’s office: “We will ensure equal pay for equal work. We will make a state budget that’s fair and balanced. We will safeguard access to affordable health care. We will fight for equality and stand up to attacks on our rights and freedoms.”
“And, we will reach across the aisle, bringing everyone together — we will treat every single person with the fairness, decency and respect they deserve,” Bysiewicz said.
Winners will be sworn in to their posts in January.