It's a Great Time to Be A Republican in Orange (With Video!)

Prior to Election Day, First Selectman Jim Zeoli hadn't had a decent night's sleep in a long time, but after yesterday's Republican sweep in the town elections he surely was counting sheep last night, even if he had no voice left to call their names.

This was a particularly stressful campaign season for candidates on both sides, and Zeoli was on the phone with Town Attorney Vincent Marino at 8:30 p.m. asking, "What's going on?"

Marino had to tell him that the Voting Machine at Mary L. Tracy School wouldn't open and there would be a delay with those results, but that he had clearly won at High Plains.

Republican selectman candidate John Carangelo said, "The results from High Plains look good, but that's only half the story, anything can happen until all the votes are counted."

Lynn Plaskowitz rushed into Marino's office on Orange Center Road with the results slip from Mary L. Tracy and read them to him as he filled out a spread sheet at his desk, highlighting the winners, when they became clear. 

They then ran out to their cars and headed off to Republican Headquarters on Old Tavern Road, where Marino was greeted by an anxious crowd.

He read the names of all the candidates and their elected positions — it was a Republican sweep in the town of Orange.

The tricky thing about the numbers is that, even though one candidate may have more votes than someone else in the other party, there is a rule that states there has to be at least one minority member on a board or commission.

So, for example, on the Amity Board of Education, Republican Leticia Hashem had 2,376 votes and incumbent Democrat Diane Crocco had 2,217 votes. Still Crocco retains her seat because of the minority rule.

The same rule applies on the Planning and Zoning Commission, where Republican John Belfonti garnered 2,545 votes to Democrat Paul Kaplan's 2,213 votes. Kaplan retains his seat since the majority of the members are Republicans.

Democrat Kevin Moffett retained his seat on the Board of Finance with 2,382 votes, even though Republican newcomer Fred Kendrick clearly beat him with 2,605 votes. But, rules are rules and that's how it goes.

The results in yesterday's photos on this page were not easily read, but are clearer on the Patch Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/OrangePatch?ref=ts