Bessel elected First Selectman in Canton

CANTON, November 5 – Democrat Robert Bessel was elected as First Selectman in the town of Canton Tuesday night with a 77-vote victory over Republican Dr. Arnie Goldman.

Democrats will hold a 3-2 majority on the board. Democrat Gail Deutsch beat Republican incumbent Tom Blatchley by nearly 100 votes to fill a two-year vacancy on the Board of Selectmen. Democrat Bill Volovski’s term expires in 2021.

Bessel is the first Democrat to win First Selectman job since Mary Tomolonius, who won in 2005. In 2007, Republican Richard Barlow beat Tomolonius in the general election and became First Selectman beginning in 2008.

Republican Tim LeGeyt, who served 10 years in the Connecticut General Assembly as a State Representative (2009-19), was the top vote getter with 1,793 votes and earned a four-year seat on the BOS along with Republican incumbent Warren Humphrey.

Humphrey beat Democrat Katie Lucas by just 10 votes, 1,391-1,381 and the result is pending due to an automatic recount. Goldman is currently the chair of the Board of Finance.

Canton municipal election results

First Selectman:
*Robert Bessel (D), 1366
Arnie Goldman (R), 1289

Board of Selectmen (full term):
*Timothy LeGeyt (R), 1793
Warren Humphrey (R), 1391-automatic recount
Katie Lucas (D), 1381-automatic recount

Board of Selectmen (to fill a vacancy):
*Gail Deutsch (D), 1361
Tom Blatchley (R), 1266

Board of Finance (full term):
*Ken Humphrey (R), 1793
*Katie Kenney (D), 1764
*Andrew Lavery (R), 1694

Board of Finance (to fill a vacancy):
*Jonathan W. Webb (R), 1823

Board of Education:
*Joseph P. Scheideler (D), 1731
*Kim Sullivan (R), 1671
*Erika Hayes (D), 1568
*Nicholas Aligizakis (R), 1262

Board of Assessment Appeals:
*David P. Sinish (D), 1353
*Joe Pelehach (R), 1287