Light but Steady Turnout at Branford’s Polls

UPDATE — Under sunny skies and spring-like warmth, Branford voters headed to the polls this morning to select their next town government, board of education and Representative Town Meeting (RTM). To be certain, weather could not be used as an excuse for the light turnout.

At least it was that way in early morning. Things can change and often do, the moderators at the polling stations told the Eagle, especially since many people vote after work. By noon 3,009 residents had voted, including 8 who registered and voted on Election Day morning, according to the Registrar of Voters.

As of 3 p.m., the numbers of votes cast in each district are as follows: 1st District — 767, 2nd District — 505, 3rd District — 452, 4th District — 610, 5th District — 828, 6th District — 551 and 7th District — 541 for a total of 4,254 or 24 percent of the voters. As of 5 p.m., 5,260 voters had gone to the polls, meaning a 29.5 percent voter turnout by that hour. And by 7 p.m. 6,339 voters had voted, a 35.6 percent turnout. There are 17,784 eligible voters in town.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Here is a copy of the ballot. Click here for our earlier election story. 

The 3rd District in Short Beach is a good barometer, with a theme song that could be entitled, ​“Steady, Eddy,” said Moderator Peggy Carpenter. In fact, District 3’s numbers have been strikingly similar at 11 a.m. over the last three municipal elections. By 11 a.m. today, 254 voters had cast their votes.

In 2013, the 3rd District, which votes at Orchard House Adult Day Care Center, saw about 255 voters casting ballots by about 11 a.m., about on par for a non-presidential election year. Back in 2011, three municipal elections ago, 259 voters had cast votes by that hour. The registered voters in the 3rd district total about 1,885.

At District 1, one of the largest of the seven election districts in town, Walt Smith, the moderator, describing the voting pattern as ​“good and steady.” About 233 residents had voters by 9 a.m. ​“The weather helped,” he and his associates said. 

At District 7’s polls at Walsh Intermediate School, Fran Walsh, former principal of the school and a former Democratic selectman, was outside the school that bears his name along with the top Democratic candidates, Mark Rabinowitz, a retired school principal, and Jack Ahern, a retired fire chief. State Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr., State Rep. Sean Scanlon and Joanne P. Cleary, who has been cross-endorsed for tax collector, joined the Dems at 8 a.m. (See top photo.)

Inside at District 7, one of the largest of the seven election districts in town, Moderator Daniel Dibisceglie said that by 8:25 a.m., 115 voters had cast their votes. ​“We are waiting for our rush,” he said. 

Rabinowitz, who is running for first selectman against Republican Jamie Cosgrove, was smiling. ​“I met so many wonderful people,” he said. ​“I have learned a whole new language, a whole new world in running for office,” he said of his first foray into the campaign world. He greeted voters as they walked into vote.

Later in the afternoon we caught up with incumbent First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove who greeted voters at District 4. He was joined by Nick DeLucia, who is running for RTM, and his daughter, Ava, who happens to share her name with Cosgrove’s daughter.

Cosgrove said he felt ​“positive” and ​“optimistic” about the election and its turnout.

At District 4, at the stroke of 10 a.m. Moderator Lowell Collingwood (pictured) said that 248 district residents had cast their votes at Fire Headquarters.

Collingwood said the turnout was about average for a municipal election. ​“Turnout is typically lighter for municipal elections than state or presidential,” he said.

Outside, voters were greeted by candidates, who were upbeat despite the light response thus far.

Sen. Kennedy (who represents six towns in the 12th District, including Branford) and Democratic Selectman candidate Jack Ahern, the town’s former fire chief, chatted with residents on their way in to vote . Kennedy voted earlier at the Walsh school.

Incumbent Republican Selectman Joe Higgins, Jr., and Bob Imperato, 4th District RTM candidate also greeted voters.

We asked a gentleman exiting the building whom he voted for. ​“I voted for my son,” said Dan Cosgrove Jr. emphatically. Jamie Cosgrove is seeking his second term as first selectman.

District 2, Stony Creek

District 2 Moderator Kathleen DaRos (pictured) said that 452 people had voted at St. Therese Church by mid- afternoon. She said traffic was ​“fairly constant” and expects a pretty good turnout, especially since it picks up between 4 and 5 p.m. and 6 and 7 p.m.

Outside, District 2 campaigners Democrats Judy Freed (running for the Board of Assessment Appeals), Marilyn Collett, Dennis Kelly, and Marie Kelly, said the polls were busier in the morning.Few people were willing to share their voting preferences. Linda Miller, however, said as she was leaving the polls, that she voted Democratic, the same as last election, ​“for a lot of reasons.”Earlier in the day, Sen. Kennedy was smiling and talking to voters as they walked into Walsh, where he votes. One conversation dealt with bringing more businesses to Connecticut.Ahern said he was optimistic. He also said he would like to see more voters get to the polls today. ​“It has been slow and it surprises me because town-level politics are very important to people who live in town.”He urged people to vote today. ​“Many people are aware of all of the sacrifices that the military makes for us. And I think a way to honor them is to get out and vote.” Independent candidate Jacey Wyatt is making her second bid to serve as the town’s top administrator. Wyatt, 44, is a business woman and a former model. Wyatt is also running on the Independent ticket for the Board of Education and the RTM.

Where to Vote

There is one major change in voting district this year. The 4th District voters who used to vote at the now closed Branford Hills School on Burban Drive will vote at Fire Headquarters at 45 North Main Street. Here are the addresses of the polling places by district.

• 1st District: Recreation Department Community House, 46 Church Street.
• 2nd District: St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road.
• 3rd District: Orchard House Adult Day Care Center, 421 Shore Drive.
• 4th District: Branford Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main Street.
• 5th District: Indian Neck School, 12 Melrose Avenue.
• 6th District: Mary T.Murphy Elementary School, 14 Brushy Plain Road.
• 7th District: Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road.

For more information or questions, contact the Branford Registrar of Voters at 203 – 483-3998 or the Town Clerk’s Office at 203 – 315-0678.

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