[Updated Wednesday 3:45 p.m.] East Granby Elections: Ziobro Secures Selectman Seat

[Updated 3:45 p.m. Wednesday] Democratic Board of Finance candidates Mike Malloy and Bob Paskiewicz declined to exercise their right to an automatic recount, making Tami Zawistowski's victory official.

[Original story posted Tuesday evening]

In the most closely watched race in East Granby, Board of Selectmen incumbent Daniel Velcofsky failed in his bid for re-election as a petitioning candidate, losing to both Democrat M. Thomas Short, also an incumbent, and Republican John Ziobro.

Velcofsky, who received 141 votes (just 15 percent) to Short’s 413 (44 percent) and Ziobro’s 349, petitioned for a spot on the ballot when the town’s Republican party nominated Ziobro; Velcofsky was the previous Republican representative on the Board of Selectmen.

Efforts to reach Velcofsky throughout the day proved unsuccessful, though Ziobro, who received 37 percent of the vote, was thrilled with the result.

“I am pleased and thankful that the voters of East Granby turned out today to vote despite the hardships of the last week and elect me to the Board of Selectmen,” Ziobro said. “I am grateful for the support and I will do everything I can to earn and keep the confidence you have placed in me.”

Ziobro said that he looked forward to providing some fresh ideas, particularly in the area of energy savings, to the selectmen.

Just 942 out of 3,360 of the town’s registered voters - or 28 percent - cast ballots at the Senior Center in this year’s election, marking an unusually low turnout, according to Town Clerk Sheila Bailey. In the last municipal election two years ago, 39 percent of the town’s registered voters cast ballots.

The prevailing theory for the low voter turnout was that the recent power outages and resulting cleanup from the late-October snowstorm held residents’ attention over the election.

In one of the more hotly contested races, Republicans Tami Zawistowski and Mark O. Porter were elected to the Board of Finance, narrowly defeating Democrats Bob Paskiewicz and Mike Malloy.

Porter, a current member of the Board of Education, received the most votes out of all four candidates with 498 (53 percent). Zawistowski, who was appointed to the finance board in the middle of last term, received 450 votes (48 percent), followed closely by Malloy (432, or 46 percent) and Paskiewicz (431, or 46 percent).

By law, a result within 20 votes triggers an automatic review, so Zawistowski’s victory over Malloy and Paskiewicz will remain unofficial, according to moderator Brad Wolfe; the review will take place this Sunday, though no one seemed to question the result.

“I’m really happy with the number of people who turned out and I thank the supporters who came out,” Zawistowski said.

Porter also took the opportunity to thank voters.

“I’m just very pleased and honored and grateful for the town’s support and look forward to serving the residents,” Porter said.

Malloy, who is also the chair of the town’s Democratic town committee, was also pleased with the results despite not securing a seat on the finance board.

“It was much closer than we ever could have expected, considering the turnout” Malloy said. “On the Board of Finance, to come within 20 votes, that’s impressive.”

The Democrats did score two major victories.

First, Jim Hayden ran unopposed in his bid for his third term as First Selectman.

“Obviously, I am very pleased,” Hayden, who received 710 votes, said. “There is still much to be done to shape East Granby to be the best small town in Hartford County and I am grateful for the opportunity for another term.”

The second was Carl Landolina’s victory over Ziobro for a two-year seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Landolina received 475 votes (50 percent) to Ziobro’s 398 (42 percent).

Malloy said that the Democratic Party targeted the race because Landolina is a land use attorney, making him highly qualified for the seat.

“That was a big positive,” Malloy said.

In the other contested races, Democrat Michele Holt  received good and bad news. Holt won re-election to the Board of Education, receiving the most votes - 483 (51 percent) - out of all four candidates. (Republicans Trevor Sanford and Rob Crocker secured the other two seats on the school board.)

Holt (426 votes) lost in her bid, however, for a seat on the Board of Assessment Appeals to Republicans Ann Ullmann (617 votes) and Aaron Nardi (551 votes).