RIDGEFIELD -- A change in the composition of the Board
of Finance was the biggest development to come out of
Tuesday's election.
Democrats now hold a 3-2 majority on the board, which had previously been solidly in Republican hands, with the GOP previously holding a 4-1 majority.
"I'm sure it's the first time in decades," Democratic Town Chairman Susan Cocco said of the Democratic control of the board.
Overall, excitement over the municipal election was muted this year by the Republican party's decision not to run a candidate against incumbent First Selectman Rudy Marconi, a Democrat.
Because the town's top elected officials now serve four-year terms, Marconi -- who has already been first selectman for 12 years -- will hold that office at least until 2015.
"In hindsight, I would rather have had an opponent so we could talk about the issues to the voters, but selfishly, I loved it," Marconi said.
Nor was there any GOP challenge to the selectmen's race, leaving only petitioning candidate Jan Rifkinson running against the four incumbents -- Democrats Di Masters and Barbara Manners and Republicans Andrew Bodnar and Maureen Kozlark.
Rifkinson garnered more than 1,200 votes, an impressive total for a petitioning candidate, but far short of the number needed to gain office.
The lack of a contest for the top spot resulted in a low voter turnout, with about a quarter of the 16,000 persons eligible casting ballots.
Democrats now hold a 3-2 majority on the board, which had previously been solidly in Republican hands, with the GOP previously holding a 4-1 majority.
"I'm sure it's the first time in decades," Democratic Town Chairman Susan Cocco said of the Democratic control of the board.
Overall, excitement over the municipal election was muted this year by the Republican party's decision not to run a candidate against incumbent First Selectman Rudy Marconi, a Democrat.
Because the town's top elected officials now serve four-year terms, Marconi -- who has already been first selectman for 12 years -- will hold that office at least until 2015.
"In hindsight, I would rather have had an opponent so we could talk about the issues to the voters, but selfishly, I loved it," Marconi said.
Nor was there any GOP challenge to the selectmen's race, leaving only petitioning candidate Jan Rifkinson running against the four incumbents -- Democrats Di Masters and Barbara Manners and Republicans Andrew Bodnar and Maureen Kozlark.
Rifkinson garnered more than 1,200 votes, an impressive total for a petitioning candidate, but far short of the number needed to gain office.
The lack of a contest for the top spot resulted in a low voter turnout, with about a quarter of the 16,000 persons eligible casting ballots.
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