Five Dems, Two Republicans Win Seats on Montville Council

Five Democrats and two Republicans, both the latter also members of the Independence for Montville Party, were chosen by voters as the new Montville Town Council.

Four of the five Democrats were incumbents. One of the Republicans is former Water Pollution Control Authority superintendent Tom McNally, who successfully sued the town over his firing. McNally was the Montville Board of Education secretary who chose to run for Town Council.

“I would like to thank the people of Montville for electing me it will be a privilege to serve them however I am very discouraged by the low turnout and lack of interest from our citizens,” McNally said.

With the results released to Patch 2 ½ hours after the polls closed by Registrar Mary Clark Wilson, the highest vote getter was incumbent Billy Caron with 1,660 votes. Mayor Joe Jaskiewicz received 1,445 votes, and Kathy Pollard received 1,444.

Incumbent Democrat Laura Tanner received 1,433, McNally received 1,396, Tim May, the WPCA chair got 1,339 votes and incumbent Democrat Chuck Longton received 1,278 votes.

Running as a write-in on the Smart Choice Party, Town Councilor Rosetta Jones, formerly an Independent, received 441 write-in votes.

Former councilors Ellen Hillman (1,160 votes) and Donna Jacobson (1,256 votes) too ran as Republicans and as members of the Independence for Montville Party

Controversial and outspoken incumbent councilor Dana McFee, a Republican, received 1,110 votes.

Chairperson Candy Buebendorf did not seek reelection.

Rhonda DiMaggio, a well-known resident who has championed numerous charitable causes, also ran on the GOP ticket and received 1,000 votes.

McNally worried about the reasons that residents did not turn out to vote.

“Montville is a critical turning point we need to look at our police department, need to look at bringing businesses to town to offset taxes and look at proposals such as the Rand Whitney issue, and the waterline all of these factors should have alerted people to come out and vote,” he said.