Complicated Somers Special Election Produces No Change

SOMERS, CT — A special election challenging the springtime appointments of the first selectman and member of the board of selectmen came and went on Tuesday with nothing happening to change the hierarchy in town government.

That means Clyde G. "Bud" Knorr Jr. remains first selectman and Timothy Potrikus stays on as a selectman.

Knorr, a Republican, was appointed first selectmen on May 2 after Lisa Pellegrini resigned. Portikus, a Democrat, was appointed to take Knorr's spot.

The appointments were challenged by local businesswoman Lina Louise LaCasse and her petition forced a special election two weeks before the voters will head to the polls for the regular election.

Knorr wound up with 486 votes. Edward Sawicki, the Democrats' endorsed candidate for the appointment process, had to run in the special election and wound up with 157 votes. LaCasse, as a petitioning write-in candidate, wound up with 59 votes.

She had 60 votes as opposed to Portikus' 368 in the board balloting.

A total of 713 votes were cast, representing an 11.96 percent turnout on an eligibility list of 5,963.

Patch File Photo