2019 Orange Election Results: Jim Zeoli Wins Re-Election

ORANGE, CT — UPDATE: Orange First Selectman Jim Zeoli is the projected winner in his race against Democratic challenger Jody Dietch.

Patch will continue to update Orange's election results. Check back for more details.

Original story: The votes are now being counted as Orange residents wait to see if Republican incumbent First Selectman James M. Zeoli was re-elected or defeated by Democratic challenger Jody Dietch. Additionally, several other positions also were up for grabs including the Board of Selectmen, and seats on the Board of Finance, Board of Education and Planning and Zoning Commission.

Polls closed at 8 p.m., but voters who are in line before 8 p.m. were able to vote even after the deadline passed.

Additionally in Orange, candidates for several positions ran unopposed. They are: Democratic Town Clerk Patrick B. O'Sullivan; Republican Tax Collector Sandra D. Pierson; and Democratic Planning and Zoning Commission candidate Paul M. Kaplan, whose term begins in 2020.

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The Board of Selectmen had three available seats, with Democrats Mitchell R. Goldblatt, Margaret Novicki and Angela McNabola against Republicans Judy W. Williams, Ralph Okenquist and John Carangelo. Incumbents are in bold.

On the Board of Finance, three seats were available with Democrats Kevin Moffett, Elliot A. Dubin and Edina Oestreicher against Republicans James Leahy and Kevin Houlihan.

For the three available seats on the Orange Board of Education, Democrats Jared Millbrandt, Susan Riccio and Betty Hadlock ran against Republicans Kenneth M. Vitelli, Ken Ziman and William Kraut.

The Amity Regional Board of Education is separate from the Orange Board of Ed, and had five available seats, four full-term seats and one two-year seat. For the two-year term, Democrat Lubna Pal ran against Republican George Howard; for the full-term post, Democrats Polly Demirjian, Amy Esposito, Paul Davis and Gail Chotiner ran against Christopher Browe, Shannan Carlson and John C. Belfonti.

For the Planning and Zoning Commission, for which the term begins in 2019, Democrats Patty Compagnone-Post and Santo J. Galatioto Jr. ran against Republicans Judy Smith and Ralph Aschettino.

Vying for the four available posts as Constables were Democrats Santo J. Galatioto Jr., Robert C. Shanley, Randy Thomas and Jay Carrier against Republicans Jeff Vargo, Jody Daymon, Glen Papelo and Mike Donadeo.