(Updated 4:54 a.m. with final vote count; results remain unofficial)
NORWALK, Conn. — “I have some good news — we have a new mayor!”
With those words, state Sen. Bob Duff let everyone in the function room at the Hilton Garden Inn know that Harry Rilling had won the election for mayor of Norwalk shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday.
Rilling, who spent 41 years with the Norwalk Police Department — 17 years as chief — polled 9,006 votes. Republican incumbent Richard Moccia posted 7,514 votes, a difference of 1,492 votes.
U.S. Rep Jim Himes introduced Rilling and thanked everyone in the room who “worked so hard to elect such a great man.”
Himes said he was introducing something unique to Norwalk, a mayor-elect who, for decades, put on a uniform every day “knowing that it could be the day he would have to sacrifice his life for the city.”
“Wow, wow, wow! What a night,” a jubilant Rilling said to the packed room. Rilling said he always liked to thank a lot of people, but he first wanted to thank his two daughters and son for their support.
“We stayed focused, stayed positive” Rilling said. “Our message resonated with the public, and the public responded. We have a mandate.”
Rilling said that, with the mandate comes responsibility.
“We said we wanted a new Norwalk, we said we wanted change. And I’ll tell you something folks – we’d better deliver,” he said. … “I guarantee you this – we will not disappoint you.”
He thanked Vinny Mangiacopra, Andy Garfunkel and Matt Miklave for running a good primary. He also thanked Moccia for “his many years of service to Norwalk.”
Whoops and cheers rippled through the crowd at the Hilton Garden Inn around 9 p.m., as somebody yelled “We got a winner!” Democrat John Kydes, a newcomer to the District C council race, led all four candidates with 2,022 votes.
His cousin, Nick Kydes, a Republican, chose not to run for re-election, and recently incurred the wrath of his fellow GOP members by endorsing Rilling.
Republican Michelle Maggio won the other District C seat with 1,779 votes.
In the other Common Council races, incumbent David Watts (1,531) and newcomer 19-year-old Eloisa Melendez (1,416), both Democrats, easily won the District A seats. In District B, Democrats Faye Bowman (1,023) and Travis Simms (1,141) each got more than twice as many votes as the Republican competition, including sitting councilman Michael Geake, who is a registered Democrat who ran on the Republican ticket. He wound up with 404 votes.
In District D, Republicans Jerry Petrini (2,312) and Shannon O’Toole Giandurco (2,026) outdistanced their Democratic rivals.
In District E, Republican David McCarthy (1,941) and Democrat John Igneri (1,869), both incumbents, retained their seats.
In the at-large races, Republicans Doug Hempstead (7,806), Richard Bonenfant (7,586) and Glen Iannacone (7,497) were joined by Democrat Sharon Stewart (7,378) in the winners circle. Democratic defector Bruce Kimmel, a District D incumbent who ran on the Republican slate despite his voter registration, won an at-large seat with 7,465 votes. That left incumbent Warren Pena as the odd man out with 7,285.
Voters sent a clear message to the Board of Education: Behave or get expelled. Incumbent Republican Sue Haynie and incumbent Steve Colarossi, a Republican who eschewed his GOP tag for the Community Values Party, were both turned out of office. Colarossi, who ran on a line with newcomer Andres Roman, got just 2,073 votes, while Haynie placed fifth with 6,500. Both were controversial figures who were often at odds during meetings.
Voters instead chose three Democrats and one Republican. Incumbent Dem Heidi Keyes led all vote-getters with 7,517, followed by Democrat Shirley Mosby with 7,344. Republican incumbent Artie Kassimis was third at 6,917 and Democrat Sherelle Harris fourth at 6,574.
Republican Town Clerk Rick McQuaid, running unopposed, got 9,972 votes.
Democrat Anna Duleep, who gave up her Common Council seat and ran for sheriff, polled 8,198 votes, while Republican Nikitas Handrinos picked up 6,702..
Republican Ralph DePanfilis led the race to retain the city treasurer post with 8,182 votes to 7,002 for Democrat David Jaeger.
Democrat Mark Pinzon and Republican Kathryn Angela Martino won the selectmen’s race with 7,246 and 6,844 respectively.
For constable, Democrats Barbara Penn-Williams (7,119) and Raymond Dunlap (7,070) were winners along with Republican Fred Bondi 7,231 and fellow GOPer John Romano at 6,812.
In the taxing districts:
1st Taxing District
Commissioner (vote for 1):
Democrat: Robert Corbo 841, Republican: Robert Mercurio 521
Treasurer (vote for 1):
Democrat: Marija Bryant 783, Republican: Brian Smith 531
2nd Taxing District
Commissioner (vote for 2):
Democrat: Martha Wooten-Dumas 875, Republicans: Cesar Ramirez 408; Edward McQuillan 319
Treasurer (vote for 1):
Democrat: Sonia Merrill 902, Republican: Harold Bonnet 245
3rd Taxing District
Commissioner (vote for 1):
Democrat: Deb Goldstein 775, Republican: Jim Anderson 713
Treasurer (vote for 1):
(subject to recount)
Republican: Michael F. Intrieri 715
Democrat: Taber Hamilton 699
6th Taxing District
Commissioner (vote for 1):
Republican: Tammy Langalis 770
Treasurer (vote for 1):
Republican/Democrat: John Verel 888
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