Shelton & Derby 2021 Election Voter Guide: See The Candidates

SHELTON & DERBY, CT — On Tuesday, Shelton and Derby residents will cast ballots in the municipal election, and several positions are up for grabs, including mayor, aldermen, board of education members and others.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2. Voters who are in line before 8 p.m. will be able to vote even after the deadline passes. You can find your poll location at the Secretary of the State website by inputting your information.

You can request an absentee ballot here or you can visit your town clerk's office. All voters are eligible to check the top box that lists "COVID-19" as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

In Shelton, Republican incumbent Mayor Mark A. Lauretti is running for a 16th term, and he is facing off against Democratic challenger David A. Eldridge.

The races for City Treasurer and seats on the Board of Apportionment and Taxation are essentially uncontested, because the number of candidates match the number of available positions.

For the Board of Education, 14 candidates (five Democrats and nine Republicans) are vying for nine available seats. The candidates are:

Democrats - Lorraine B. Rossner; Diana M. Meyer; Kate Kutash; Patricia M. Moonan; and Joan F. Littlefield

Republicans - Carl M. Rizzo; Joseph A. Pagliaro, Jr.; Michael J. Mainiero; Darlisa P. Ritter; Amy Romano; James E. Orazietti; Kathleen T. Yolish; Jim E. Feehan; and John K. Fitzgerald

On the Planning and Zoning Commission, four candidates are facing off for three seats, Democrats Nancy A. Dickal and Jimmy Tickey vs. Republicans Peter G. Laskos and Ruth M. Parkins.

For Board of Alderman positions in Shelton's four wards, the candidates are as follows:

Ward 1

Democrats - Wayne L. Bragg and David M. Gioiello, Jr.
Republicans - Anthony F. Simonetti and Porter McKinnon
Envision Shelton - David Gidwani

Ward 2

Democrats - Kevin W. Kosty and Michele B. Bialek
Republicans - Joanna Carloni and Eric McPherson

Ward 3

Democrats - Matt McGee and Michael R. Duncan
Republicans - Cris S. Balamaci and John Anglace, Jr.
Envision Shelton - Christopher P. Jones

Ward 4

Democrats - Michelle C. Laubin and Mandy Kilmartin

Republicans - Bernard J. Simons, Jr. and Lorenzo Durante

In Derby, Republican incumbent Mayor Richard Dziekan is running for a third term, and is facing off against Democratic challenger Joseph L. DiMartino.

For the Board of Apportionment and Taxation, 12 candidates (six Democrats and six Republicans) are vying for 10 seats. The candidates are:

Democrats - Bhamini Patel; Roberto Santos; Samantha Burgan; Jennifer Desroches; Ryan Toffey; Rose M. Pertoso

Republicans - Kristen Mancini-Wright; Rob Forte; Mike Gray; Holly Orazietti; Chris Carloni; and Jeff Polis

On the Board of Education, nine seats are up for election, and 12 candidates (six from each party) are vying for them. Here are the candidates:

Democrats - Kenneth R. Marcucio, Sr.; George F. Kurtyka; Melissa Mongillo; Daniel P. Foley, Jr.; Veronica DiLullo; and Melissa L. Cannata

Republicans - Jim Gildea; Laura Harris; Tara Hyder; Joe Iorfino; Jennifer Caruso; and Rebecca O’Hara

Other contested races include:

Town/City Clerk: Democrat Marc J. Garofalo vs. Republican Michael Shea

Treasurer: Democrat Maria Conlon vs. Republican Judy Szewczyk

Constable: Democrat “Owney” Malerba, Jr. vs. Republican Peter Duhaime

For Derby's Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen, the candidates for the three Wards are:

Ward 1

Democrats - Anita Dugato; Barbara L. DeGennaro; and Sarah Widomski

Republicans - Lorie McCormack; Rich DiCarlo; and Jason Miller

Ward 2

Democrats - Brian Coppolo; Ronald M. Sill; and Camille Grande Kurtyka

Republicans - Gino DiGiovanni, Jr.; Alvin Holmes; and Jim Petrino

Ward 3

Democrats - Kevin Sharkey; Linda Fusco; and Rita Reilly Pelaggi

Republicans - Charles Sampson; Bob Kling; and Rob Hyder

Return to Patch for results as they come in. Click here to subscribe to free Shelton-Derby News Alerts for election results.