Republicans Keep 7-4 Majority on Enfield Town Council

Enfield Republicans maintained their 7-4 majority on the Town Council when voting results were finalized late Tuesday night.

The GOP captured three of the four district seats and four of seven at-large seats in a municipal election that saw less than 20 percent of registered Enfield voters actually head to the polls.

Figures posted on the town's Web site indicated that 5,273 individuals voted Tuesday, or 18.6 percent of the town's 28,353 registered voters.

Here is a summary of the Town Council election:

District 1 - Incumbent Republican Joseph Bosco won his third term by outpolling Democratic challenger Jill Krawiec, 864-659.

"It's a great feeling to be elected for a third term. It's great when people will come out and vote for you three times," Bosco said.

District 2 - For the second consecutive election, incumbent Democrat William "Red" Edgar defeated Republican challenger Dominic Alaimo, 596-477.

"It was closer than it was last time," Edgar said. "I think it shows I'm fiscally responsible and answer to my constituents. One thing I'm definitely interested in is, there's roofs needed for schools and town buildings, and I want to see us look at solar panels for long-range savings."

District 3 - Longtime Republican incumbent Scott Kaupin ran unopposed in his district, garnering 1,020 votes. The Republican majority virtually assures him a third term as mayor.

"It's very gratifying for Enfield to re-elect the Republican majority," Kaupin said. "We're going to continue to move forward in a positive manner. We've got some tough work ahead, but we'll do the best we can with the resources we have."

District 4 - Two-term incumbent Clemence Dumont announced in September she would not seek re-election, opening the field to a pair of local political newcomers. Republican Tom Kienzler prevailed by a 617-511 margin over Democrat Stephen Palmer.

Kienzler said he feels "relieved. It was a lot of hard work. Now it's on to the business of making Enfield a better place to live in these tough times, to make sure it continues to be great."

At-Large - Republican Carol Hall was the most popular at-large candidate, garnering 2,846 votes to nose out fellow Republican incumbent Bill Lee, who had 2,834.

"It's a weight lifted off your shoulders," Lee said. "Everyone shows wear from the last week with the storm. There was no read on the voters tonight. It seemed like there was a low voter turnout today, but you look at the numbers, and people squeezed it in between trips to the dump and cutting trees."

Board of Education chairman Greg Stokes won his first term on the council, while Republican Ken Nelson also kept his seat.

"I look forward to getting busy with all the council is facing," Stokes said.

"I'm very happy," Nelson said. "We have a tough two years ahead of us, but we'll continue to do the best we can with the resources we have. Thank you to the residents for their overwhelming support to convince me not to give up in the world of politics. I want the residents to know I'm always here for them."

On the Democratic side, Cindy Mangini and Patrick Crowley will return to their seats. They will be joined by former Board of Education member Tom Arnone, who was nominated by his party to fill a vacant council seat in the spring; that nomination was rejected by the Republican majority in a party-line vote.

"This absolutely vindicates me," Arnone said. "I'm looking forward to working with the Republicans. I hold no grudge with anyone who voted against me on that panel. I like everybody on the board, and I look forward to putting politics aside and getting to work."

Democrat Bob LeMay was unsuccessful in his bid for an at-large seat, finishing 107 votes short of Arnone.

In an unusual situation, the council will be working with a school board that changed to Democratic control after Tuesday's results were finalized.

"Once people get elected, the idea is really to come together as a group, and hopefully the Board of Education will come together as a group like the council will come together as a group, and we do what's right for the citizens of Enfield," Crowley said. "It shouldn't be an us-and-them or them-and-us, it should be we as a body, and that's truly what I believe. The election's over, and it's time to go back to work."

The newly-elected Town Council will be sworn into office on Nov. 14.

Click here for complete voting results at all poll locations for Town Council, Board of Education and constables.