Meyer, Reed, Widlitz Keep Seats

UPDATE — (This story contains the final election count.) After a long political campaign against a tenacious opponent, Democratic incumbent Ed Meyer won a fifth term in the State Senate tonight after Branford, Guilford, Durham and Killingworth delivered the votes he needed to keep his 12th District seat. He lost Madison, but only by 200 votes and he lost in North Branford. 

Democratic State Rep. Lonnie Reed won a third term representing the 102nd District, bringing in 6,001 votes or 58 percent of the votes to her opponent Republican Lori Nicholson’s 4,352 votes or 42 percent tally. This was Nicholson first stab at a state office. She lost last year in a bid for a Board of Education seat.

State Rep. Pat Widlitz, who represents Guilford and two sections of Branford, also retained her seat in the 98th District. Widlitz has served in the Assembly for 18 years and is currently the chair of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. She ran unopposed. Reed told her supporters she was proud to serve them and the town and she was thrilled to be re-elected. ​“We’re the real deal. Our core values are aligned with the community,” she said. Widlitz agreed.

Meyer’s opponent, Cindy Cartier, a Republican Selectwoman from Guilford, did not carry her hometown. But Meyer carried Guilford, his home town. She had not conceded the race, Meyer told the Eagle after he spoke to a gathering of Branford Democrats at the Italian-American Club in Branford Tuesday night. The 12th District is comprised of Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison and North Branford.

The atmosphere was hopeful and congenial at Meyer headquarters in Guilford throughout the evening. It was less so at Cartier headquarters, (pictured) where the Eagle was asked to leave an election-eve meeting of Cartier and her supporters. The numbers being tallied on an Excel sheet projected on a screen reflected the low-key atmosphere. 

As he walked into the Democratic gathering in Branford, Meyer said, ​“Thank You, Branford,” to huge round of applause.

At Meyer headquarters, Patrick Kinney, a member of the Guilford Democratic Town Committee, said it was ​“like Christmas Eve waiting for midnight.”

“What a family we are in a year of division in the philosophies of two parties,” Meyer said in Guilford. He said there’s been a lost sense of social responsibility on the part of the Republicans.

Referring to a sermon given recently by a minister friend about a house divided, he drew an analogy to today’s political parties.

Meyer explained that he has a secret weapon – his six children and grandchildren, who went into the field and campaigned for him. He also thanked his wife Patty, whom he dubbed ​“a professional campaign manager.”

Here is the scene at Meyer’s headquarters when the votes went his way.

The final numbers in the race, including absentee ballots show that Meyer won with 25,474 votes or 52 percent to Cartier’s 22,296 votes or 48 percent for Cartier. 
 

Strong Turnout

Branford voters came out in force to vote in the presidential election today and many had strong views, one way or the other, on the U.S. Senate race which pits Democrat Congressman Chris Murphy against Republican Linda McMahon. The weather cooperated bringing sunny, clear and cool skies. Murphy won the race.

Reed defeated Republican Lori Nicholson, who was upbeat when she arrived at Lenny’s Restaurant where about two dozen well-wishers were waiting for her.

“We took the high road the whole time, and we gave it our best. I have no regrets, except I regret I won’t be able to serve the people of this town,” Nicholson told the Eagle.

Nicholson spent months knocking on doors and campaigning. ​“I’m going to miss talking to all the people,” she said. She also acknowledged those who worked on her campaign and supported her efforts. ​“It means a lot to have people care enough to help me.”

Nicholson said she won’t rule out another run for office. This was her second campaign, having lost a bid for the Board of Education in 2011. She was a professional singer most of her life and performed in USO tours worldwide from 1981 to 1997.

Voters were eager to get the polls early in the day.

At District 2, in Stony Creek, workers reported about 20 voters lined up at the door waiting to be let in at 6 a.m. By 3 p.m., 965 voters had cast their votes or roughly 52 percent of all the district’s voters. The workers were delighted by the turnout.

At District 1, one of the largest voting places in town located near Town Hall, the moderator Walter Smith said 866 out of 3,400 potential voters had cast votes by 10 a.m. ​“It is steady,” he said of the voters moving in and out of the community center this morning at a clipped pace. The parking lot was full. 

At District 3 in Short Beach, 517 voters had cast votes by 10 a.m., nearly a third of all the district voters. Chris Collins, the moderator, said ​“we’ve been busy since the doors opened at 6 a.m.” Outside the parking lot was full. By 3 p.m., fifty percent of the district’s 1,927 voters had put in ballots.

As voters went into District 3’s Orchard House to vote, they saw campaign workers standing the appropriate number of steps from the building. They held signs for local Democratic candidates. 

One worker had no sign but was handing out small palm cards to voters. She was there on behalf of Cindy Cartier, who is seeking the State Senate seat in the 12th district. The small card had Cartier’s name and a red arrow pointing to the box on the Republican line. She said she was getting paid about $10 an hour. Cartier is running against the Democratic incumbent, State Sen. Ed Meyer. 

Voting at District 3 in Short Beach section of Branford was strong. By 10 a.m., 517 voters out of ​‘1,927 registered voters had cast their ballots. Chris Collins, the moderator, said ​“we have been very since the doors opened.” Overall, by that hour nearly 1/3 of the district’s voters had cast their ballots. 

Stephanie Hughes was smiling as she cast the first ballot of her life. She was with her mom. ​“I am very excited about this,” she said. She is 21 and said she voted for President Obama and Linda McMahon. Asked why she split her ticket, she said: ​“She is for working people and she will get us jobs.”

Three older women, who did not want to give their names, walked out into the brisk sunny day. Asked how they voted on the U.S. Senate race, they described themselves as Chris Murphy voters. They declined to give their ages but said they were feisty seniors between the ages of 60 and 88. One was a physician.

Said one: ​“We can’t stand Linda McMahon.” She said she had never seen one of McMahon’s television ads, but had read about her. Another woman, who had seen the ads, described them as ​“relentless.” A third said: I voted for Murphy because we need another Democrat in the U.S. Senate.”

Another voter, a cellist, said she voted for Murphy but she added that McMahon’s ads were very good. ​“They were clear and clean. She pumped a lot of money into this campaign.” She added that she voted the straight Democratic line. 

Jan Prentice, also an artist, said she voted for Chris Murphy but not without some conflict because she wanted to vote for a woman candidate. She said she believes in helping women achieve political advancement. But ​“in this case, the issues could not override the gender,” she said. .

Over at District 1, Dottie Setano, a senior citizen, said she voted for McMahon. She said she is registered as an unaffiliated voter. She said of McMahon: ​“She is very likable.” She said people were criticizing her because she made so much money. ​“Isn’t that what the United States is all about?” she said. She also voted for Romney, although in the 2008 election she voted for Obama. 

At District 7 in Pine Orchard, 1100 voters had cast votes by 4 p.m. out of total of 1,991 people. There was a lull at about that hour, but workers said they expected turnout to rise as people return from work. The parking lot at the Walsh Intermediate School was crowded.

At District 4 in the Branford Hills section of town, voting was brisk.

Pattie McKay said she voted for Barack Obama for president and Linda McMahon for the US Senate. A recent series of McMahon television ads targeted that exact demographic. ​“She’s an independent woman. I really like that,” said McKay. ​“She’ll make a good senator.”
McKay added that while she likes Murphy, there’s ​“something about Linda’s independent attitude.”

Monica was interviewed leaving with her young son. She voted for Chris Murphy for the US Senate. ​“He’s got his feet wet. He’s not done yet.” She added that Linda McMahon has no experience.

Two women interviewed as they left the polls expressed two different opinions, reflecting the intense division of opinions that characterized this election season.

Candidates for Branford’s 102nd Assembly seat visited the polling places. Here is State Rep. Reed with Adam Hansen, a member of the Representative Town Meeting, outside the 4th District polls.

We caught up with Nicholson, Reed’s opponent, later in the day outside another polling district. 

Things had been hopping all morning at the District 4 polling location. Cars jockeyed for parking places as a steady stream of residents made their way into the former Branford Hills School to cast their ballots. Workers said it had been steady all morning. The room was crowded but voting went quickly.

In the 2008 presidential election, 77.7 percent of all Branford voters went to the polls. This election may equal or go beyond it. 

Sally E. Bahner and Diana Stricker contributed reporting for this story.

 

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