It was a big night for Democrats in Avon on Tuesday as they took control of the Town Council, Board of Education and Board of Finance.
Democrats won four of the five seats on the Town Council to win the majority for the first time, it is believed. Avon moved to a Town Council form of government in 1980, according to coverage from the Hartford Courant.
Incumbent Republican Heather Maguire, the current chair of the Town Council, was the top vote getter with 3,138 votes followed by Democrats Barbara Ausiello with 3,066 votes, Anthony Weber (3,043), Jason Indomenico (3,040) and Daniel Polhamus (3,021). The Democrats will hold a 4-1 edge on the Council.
Republican incumbents James Speich and Jeff Bernetich were not re-elected to the Council.
It is believed to the first time since 1957 that the Democrats will have control of the top elected board in Avon. Democrats had a 2-1 edge on the Board of Selectman in 1957 according to stories in the Courant and Farmington Valley Herald before the Republicans regained control of an expanded five-person Board of Selectmen in 1959.
On Tuesday night, Avon Democrats won three of the four open seats on the Board of Finance and will control the board with a 5-2 advantage. Republicans previously had 4-3 edge on the BOF.
Democrats already controlled the Board of Education and won two of four open seats to expand their advantage to 6-3.
In Canton, residents approved a referendum question to demolish the current 1970s-era fire station on River Road and build a new $5.4 million fire station on the same location. Voters approved the question by a margin of 2,061-834.
There will be a recount to see which one of three Democrats will take the third and final open seat on Canton’s Board of Finance. Three Democrats each finished within 13 votes of each other.
Preliminary 2021 election results from Canton and Avon.
CANTON
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Two seats available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-William Volovski (D) |
1,616 |
| x-Stephen Sedor (R) |
1,566 |
| Gail Deutsch (D) |
1,540 |
BOARD OF FINANCE
Three seats available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Andrew Ziemba (R) |
1,565 |
| x-Tom Blatchley (R) |
1,535 |
| # Sarah Faulkner (D) |
1,483 |
| # Michelle Winkler (D) |
1,480 |
| # Susan Gentile (D) |
1,470 |
#Recount needed for one remaining seat
BOARD OF EDUCATION FULL TERM
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Russell Bush (R) |
1,487 |
| x-Felicia Jordan (D) |
1,482 |
| x-Peggy Steinway (D) |
1,450 |
| x-Cindy J Moeller (D) |
1,441 |
| x-Ryan O’Donnell (R) |
1,410 |
| Paul Barrow (R) |
1,376 |
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO FILL VACANCY FOR TWO YEARS
One seat available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Louis Daniels (D) |
1,602 |
| Christine Lamadrid (R) |
1,405 |
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
One seat available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Bradley Parliman IV (R) |
1,528 |
| Michael Pendell (D) |
1,409 |
The referendum question (Should Canton pay $5.4 million to demolish current 1970s-era fire station and build a new build a new fire station on River Road)
Yes: 2,061
No: 834
x-earned seat
AVON
TOWN COUNCIL
Five seats available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Heather Maguire (R) |
3,138 |
| x-Barbara Ausiello (D) |
3,066 |
| x-Anthony Weber (D) |
3,043 |
| x-Jason Indomenico (D) |
3,040 |
| x-Daniel Polhamus (D) |
3,021 |
| James Speich (R) |
2,883 |
| Jeff Bernetich (R) |
2,831 |
| James Beaudoin (R) |
2,792 |
BOARD OF FINANCE
Four seats available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Charles Harvell (D) |
2,959 |
| x-Margaret Bratton (R) |
2,947 |
| x-Carl Gisnarian (D) |
2,935 |
| x-Houston Putnam Lowry (D) |
2,932 |
| Ken Birk (R) |
2,885 |
| David Cavanaugh (R) |
2,894 |
| Brian R Loveless (R) |
2,888 |
|
|
BOARD OF EDUCATION FULL TERM
Four seats available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Lynn Katz (D) |
3,183 |
| x-Thej Singh (D) |
3,145 |
| x-Katie Kapisak (R) |
2,913 |
| x-Jeffrey S Fleischman (R) |
2,912 |
| Jennifer Das (R) |
2,885 |
| Liz Sommerkorn (R) |
2,758 |
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS FULL TERM
Two seats available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Kershwin Singh (D) |
3,000 |
| x-Norm Sondheimer (D) |
2,992 |
| Adelina Cirikovic (R) |
2,805 |
| John Boucher (R) |
2,799 |
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS FULL TERM
Two candidates available
| Candidate |
Votes |
| x-Jaime Polhamus (D) |
3,000 |
| x-Chet Bukowski (D) |
2,998 |
| James P Williams (R) |
2,798 |
| Ames B Shea (R) |
2,788 |
x-won seat
