East Haven Town Council Elects New Leaders

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – The recently concluded municipal election showed that the town is almost evenly split between Republican and Democrat voters – as Republican Mayor Joseph Maturo won his ninth term by a razor slim margin. That slim margin separating the two parties showed up again at the first meeting of the newly-elected Town Council.

In the election for the two top spots on the council, for chairman and vice chairman, the Republican candidate won – barely – by 7-6 votes.

Ken McKay was elected chairman of the Town Council by a 7-6 vote over Democrat Nicholas Palladino.

Republican “Big” Steve Tracey was also nominated to be chairman – but he declined the nomination, instead throwing his support to McKay.

For vice-chairman, Republican Linda Hennessey was elected by the same 7-6 margin over her Democratic challenger, newly-elected councilman Louis Pacelli.

At the same council meeting, held on December 5th, Maturo introduced Joseph Coppola to the council.

Coppola has taken over the position of Frank Gentilesco, who recently retired after 16 years as Maturo’s assistant director of administration and management.