‘A victory for listening’

Political newcomer Florsheim leads Democrats to victory across most races

MIDDLETOWN — Democrats maintained firm control of the city Tuesday, with nearly every municipal candidate vying for office winning their seats.

Democratic Mayorelect Ben Florsheim, 27, handily beat his challenger, Republican Common Council Minority Leader Sebastian N. Giuliano, 67, 6,200 to 5,428.

Writein candidate Valeka Clarke, a Democrat, received 22 votes.

Threeterm Mayor Dan Drew did not seek reelection.

In all, about 11,650, or 39 percent of registered voters, turned up at the polls, in unofficial tallies.

The referendum question, which asked voters to approve a $5 million openspace bond, passed 7,303 to 2,019.

All eight Democrats swept their races for Common Council: Incumbent Gene Nocera was the highest vote getter with 6,634. Other winners are: Councilman Grady Faulkner Jr. (5,697), Bobbye Knoll

Peterson (5,535), Darnell Ford (5,821), Jeanette White (5,904), Edward McKeon (5,361), Meghan R. Carta (6,088) and Vincent Loffredo (5,860).

“This is a victory for honesty and decency in politics.”

Middletown Mayorelect Ben Florsheim

Incumbent Republican Common Councilors Philip Pessina (5,158) and Linda Salafia (4,708) joined Middletown police officer Tony Gennaro (4,830) and Board of Education member Ed Ford Jr. (4,770), winning their bids.

Democrat Steven Kovach beat GOP candidate Tami J. Kapacziewski, 6,042 to 4,775.

For the Board of Education, incumbents Anita DempseyWhite (6,118) and Deborah Cain (6,019) retained their seats. They will be joined by fellow Democrats Delita RoseDaniels (5,880) and Justin Taylor (5,915). Republican Dina Ford (4,629) earned enough votes to win office.

Democrats John Kilian (5,687) and incumbent Kathy Adams (6,066) joined Republican Leslie Spatola (4,607) in winning their bids for the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Planning and Zoning Commission winners are Democrats Catherine Johnson (5,916), Thomas Pattavina (5,891) and incumbent Richard Pelletier (5,728), as well as Republican incumbent Molly Salafia (4,870).

Planning and Zoning alternates, Democrats Kellin Atherton (5,720) and Shanay N. Fulton, (5,629) beat their GOP opponents.

“This is a victory for honesty and decency in politics,” Florsheim told his supporters about an hour after polls had closed.

“It is a victory for listening, for going out into our communities and telling them that they are the ones who are responsible and who are accountable for making this city a place that we all know it can be, and we as leaders are responsible and accountable,” he said.

Middletown is a welcoming place for newcomers as well as those whose families have called the city home for generations, Florsheim said.

“When I first came here, just nine years ago, I never imagined this was where I would end up, but that’s what happens in Middletown, and that is what has happened for so many people across this city of opportunity,” he said.

After reflecting on her candidacy, Clarke said Wednesday that, as a writein, she felt at times excluded from mayoral forums and other electionrelated events.

Because of that, “It was impossible to reach enough voters without equality during both my petitioning and campaigning process. My journey will continue to positively impact the current inequality practices in Middletown. When I stand up for myself I stand up for all of us,” she said.

Remarking on his defeat late Tuesday, Giuliano referenced

Middletown’s 4,307 registered Republicans, 12,654 Democrats, 10,478 unaffiliated voters, and the 525 aligned with minor parties.

“It’s the numbers. We’re bucking a 31 registration advantage.

We need a higher turnout. It wasn’t quite enough,” Guiliano said.

Nevertheless, he thought his returns were respectable. “In all my mayoral elections, it’s the second highest vote I ever got,” he said.

On Tuesday night, Stacey Scarrozzo, daughter of retired Middletown firefighter Matthew L. Scarrozzo, who failed in his bid for a spot on the Common Council, said she knew the election would be a close one.

It was an interesting election, Stacey Scarrozzo, said, “to say the least.”

She observed a great number of younger people casting their ballots. “I think that’s finally a thing. They come out and care about it now,” she said.

“There’s been a stronger social media presence,” Agnes Puorro, a nurse at Middlesex Hospital, said Tuesday at Giuliano’s headquarters. Puorro found it hard to imagine “such a young person being in charge of an entire city,” she said.

Florsheim will take the oath of office at noon Nov. 12 at City Hall. Other winners will be sworn in to their posts that evening at Middletown High School at a time to be determined.

For a full listing of winners by town and statewide, visit temspublic.pcctg. net/#/selectTown

Cassandra Day / Hearst Connecticut Media Ben Florsheim, who swept to victory in Middletown’s mayoral race, speaks to supporters Tuesday.

File Cassandra Day / Hearst Connecticut Media Supporters watch as the voting tallies are calculated Tuesday night at La Boca restaurant on Main Street in Middletown, where Democrats gathered after 8 p.m.

Valerie Bannister / For Hearst Connecticut Media Middletown Common Council Minority Leader Sebastian N. Giuliano watches returns roll in on Election Day at Main Street Market. The former mayor lost his bid for the city’s highest office Tuesday. The results saw Ben Florsheim with 6,200 votes to Giuliano’s 5,428.

Middletown Common Councilman Gene Nocera, above left, was the highest vote getter in his race Tuesday, winning the support of 6,634 residents. Above right, Republican Common Councilman Phil Pessina won reelection Tuesday. He earned the most votes, 5,158, among GOP candidates who ran for that office.

Middletown mayorelect Ben Florsheim Tuesday night.