Republicans Take the Majority on Council, Board of Education

Tolland has a new majority party in town.

Republican candidates have swept the election, taking their place on two prominent boards and transforming the local GOP into the dominant party on both town council and the school board, according to the unofficial vote tallies released Tuesday night.

Despite running a ticket with many new faces, the Republicans took four of the seven Town Council seats. GOP newcomers Sam Belsito and Mark Gill will join former Planning & Zoning Commission member Jack Scavone and PZ&C alternate Benjamin Stanford, on the council.

The final three council seats will belong to Democratic candidate Rick Field, who has formerly served as chairperson of both the council and school board, along with Jan Rubino and Joshua Freeman.

Town council candidate and former council Vice-Chairperson MaryAnn Delaney Tuttle failed to break the historical barrier for petitioning candidates and did not win a seat. She decided to run as a petitioning candidate after a earlier this year.

The Republican's victory extended to the Board of Education, where party candidates took six seats for the firm majority. GOP Incumbents Andy Powell and E. Steve Clark were returned to the board, along with party members Frank Tantillo, Christine Howard, Karen Kramer and Althea Gill. 

Democratic Town Committee Chairperson SaraBeth Nivison confirmed that former school board chairperson Robert Pagoni was re-elected, along with former vice-chairperson Gayle Block and Thomas Frattaroli, according to the unofficial numbers. 

The Republican Party has not held the majority on the town council for four years and on the school board for six, according to Republican Town Committee Chairperson Laura Roberts.

Roberts said that it was the Republican's promise to bring change and "Put Tolland Citizens First" that helped them win the election.

"It reflects that the people of Tolland are really looking for a new team," Roberts said. "What the Republicans have realized in the past 19 months is to rebuild and re-energize what it means to be a Republican in Tolland."

Nivison echoed the Republicans and said that the elected Democrats will focus on how to best serve Tolland residents.

"My reaction is, of course, disappointed. We remain committed to serve this community to the best of their abilities,"  Nivison said.

While the town council and school board races are settled, the , due to the close number of votes between candidates.

Tolland voter turnout was lower than normal. Nearly 26 percent of voters, or 2,388 people, voted in the election. Generally, Tolland has a voter turnout of 30 to 35 percent, Wyman said.

According to Wyman, the town's voter registration breaks down as follows: 2,523 Democrats, 2,122 Republicans, 4, 511 unaffiliated and 80 registered to other parties. Tolland has a total of 9,236 registered voters.