Elections
Pictures & Video: Election Day in Darien
Darien elects Dave Campbell as First Selectman, and Republicans take majority on the Board of Selectmen. Of the other contested race among RTM districts, 49 of 55 candidates win seats.
On Nov. 3, 2009, Darien elected a new First Selectman. Republican David Campbell received 70 percent of Tuesday's vote, winning the town's top seat by a 2,293 margin over Democratic challenger Callie Sullivan. Of the total 5,526 votes cast (including absentee), petitioning candidate Chris Noe won 58.
"I'm really amazed and humbled by what we were able to do. Jerry, Jayme and I have had so much fun over the past couple of months," said Campbell, post win. "I guess the results show."
Running mates Jerry Nielsen and Jayme Stevenson will serve alongside Campbell on the Board of Selectmen, as will Democratic challengers and BoS returnees Callie Sullivan and David Bayne.
Dissapointed but ever optimistic, Sullivan sees her loss as a winning opportunity.
"People of Darien spoke, and I'm listening," she said. "I'm going to try to reach out to the people who didn't vote for me and find out why, and then try to move forward."
The results give Darien Republicans a majority on the Board of Selectmen, a first since 2005.
"It's very exciting. I'm most excited about the results and how people supported us," said Campbell.
The other contested race was among four of six districts of the Representative Town Meeting, a nonpartisan Legislative body that is determined annually by elector vote. Of this year’s 55 candidates vying for 49 seats, 47 were elected Tuesday night (53 on ballot); another two were elected by write-in votes.
Voter turnout was up 3.7 percent from the last 2007 municipal election; of the 12,616 registered voters in Darien, 5,526 voted at the polls or by absentee ballot.
OFFICIAL VOTING RESULTS (winners in bold):
First Selectman:
- David Campbell (R) 3,899
- Christian Noe (I) 58
- Callie Sullivan (D) 1,606 (elected to BoS)
Selectmen:
- David Bayne (D) 1,724
- Jerry Nielsen, Jr. (R) 4,052
- Jayme Stevenson (R) 4,162
Representative Town Meeting:
District 1 (no contest)
- John A. Bishko 558
- Mary K. Ness 536
- Jennifer Sommer 527
- Peter K. Kelly 521
- Peter W. Nelson 517
- Lois J. Schneider 514
- Edward Reilly Tierney 509
- Flora J. Smith 496
- Donna L. Melz 494
- David H. Kahn 474
- Thomas Brady Valentino III 446
- Barbara J. Harrington 36 (write-in)
District 2 (no contest)
- Dennis Kelly Cummings Jr. 557
- Jeffrey L. Marston 521
- Martin David Magida 518
- Joi Reiner Gallo 72 (write-in)
District 3
- Carolyn Golden Bayne 501
- Michael J. Burke 464
- Susan S. LeHan 456
- Robert E. Young Jr. 456
- Eugene F. Coyle 447
- Thomas W. Moore 446
- Seth W. Morton 448
- Maria B. Ferretti 440
- David Byron Martens 428
- Michael Anthony D’Urso 384
- H. William Smith III 382
- John M. Lamendola 347
District 4
- Susan E. Morrison 602
- Carolyn D. Miller 580
- Frank B. Kemp 576
- Angus James Cameron 546
- Andrew C. Millar 540
- William D. Peters III 536
- Sandra A. Savage 531
- Maria L. Cleary 521
- Harry L.M. Artinian 435
District 5
- Bruce G. Orr Sr. 485
- Debra McGarry Ritchie 423
- Adele M. Connif 407
- James M. Patrick 406
- Allison L. Stolar 394
- Diana M.Nizolek 368
- Christopher L. Camuti 332
- Eric J. Glasband 328
- Virgil E. Wenger 297
District 6
- Gary C. Swenson 549
- Holly Wade Kelly 502
- Christa S. McNamara 473
- John T. Whitehead 469
- Emily Quinn McDermott 460
- W. Preston Bealle 386
- Norman G. Guimond 349
- Elsie D. Berl 312
- S. Lloyd Plehaty 257
Comments (1) | Sign in to add your comment!
Great video! Congratulations to Campbell, Stevenson, and Nielsen.