Strong Voter Turnout in Branford

Longtime Branford election officials said they have never seen anything like it: hundreds of people lined up before the polls opened at 6 a.m., standing in line, eager to vote in an historic presidential election. 

“I did vote for Trump,” said 100-year-old Fidelo Secondino after he voted at the Community House in District 1 in Branford Tuesday. Whatever he is has to be better than Clinton.” He listed a litany of reasons he believes Hillary Clinton is unfit for president, going back to when her husband was governor of Arkansas.

His daughter, Nicki Burns, also voted for Trump. ​“I’m Republican straight across,” she said. ​“I am so happy to see the turnout. If Trump didn’t do anything else, he got the people out.”

Same-day registration and voting are available for those who want to register on Election Day but only at Town Hall, 1019 Main St. Go to the basement conference room. Doors close at 8 p.m. today. 

The election moderators across Branford reported heavy turnout this morning. Besides the presidential candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump and their running mates, Branford voters were also voting for a U.S. Senate and U.S. House seat, along with local elections for state senate and state representative. State Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr., a Democrat, was seeking to retain his 12th District Senate seat, a seat Republican Bruce H. Wilson, Jr., aspires to. Wilson ran against Kennedy in 2014.

State Rep. Lonnie Reed (D‑102nd) is seeking her fifth term in office. Her opponent is Republican Chris Kelly, who is seeking political office for the first time.

Reed and U.S. Rep Rosa DeLauro (D‑3rd Congressional District) met outside the Mary T. Murphy School in District 6 in Branford to greet voters.

The Eagle asked what the two legislators thought of the presidential campaign.

“In many ways it’s been toxic and tawdry,” Reed said, and it has stressed the voters. ​“Going door-to-door, I had so many people wanting me to come in just to vent about how distressed they are,” about the Trump-Hillary debates.

On the other hand, Reed said voters have been pleased about the local and state legislative races. ​“People were so grateful that we were having a civil race locally, and I had people thanking me for that…they were literally hugging us and thanking us for talking about real issues, for behaving in a socially acceptable way.”

Reed said it’s important for Democrats and Republicans to work together. ​“The bipartisanship is not just a campaign slogan,” she said. ​“I’ve worked in a bipartisan way for a long time.”

DeLauro traveled to several towns in her district Tuesday morning. ​“It would appear the voting is record-breaking. People are really coming out,” she said.

In regard to the presidential campaign she said, ​“I think it’s unfortunate the public discourse has been so demeaned by name-calling.” She said Trump has lowered the bar on political discussion. ​“It’s destructive, it’s divisive, and it’s hard to put that genie back in the bottle,” she said in regard to Trump.

DeLauro said she was proud of Hillary’s campaigning and her public-policy discussion. ​“She laid out chapter and verse where she thinks we ought to go, specifically what we do about health care, about education, about seniors, about job training, and what we do about creating jobs.”

She said it felt fabulous to vote for a woman for president. ​“Never in my lifetime did I ever believe I would see an African American or a woman elected as president of the United States. It really is a great country,” DeLauro said.

Scanlon Runs Unopposed

We do know one winner before Election Day. He is Democratic state Rep. Sean Scanlon, who ran unopposed this year. Scanlon represents Guilford and two sections of Branford, Stony Creek and Pine Orchard. That he had no opponent did not stop Scanlon, a one-term state representative, from campaigning as if he had one, he told the Eagle.

“I think it is important even if you have no opponent or the toughest election of your life to treat the campaign the same way. I went out two years ago and knocked on 5,000 doors and went to a lot of events and tried to be everywhere I could, and this year was no different. Sometimes people give me quizzical looks and say ​‘why the heck are you at my front door,’ and I say ​‘for the same reason I was two years ago. I want to learn from you what are the issues that matter and since I am guaranteed to be there another two years, what I should be focusing on?’”

At many of the polling places, fathers and mothers brought their daughters with them to the polls. Christopher Bolick, of Short Beach brought his daughters, Sophie, 8, and Annie, 5, to watch him vote in the third district at Orchard House.

“Girls,” he said, ​“what’s important about the presidential election today?” They had been talking about this day in history in the car. The girls were a little shy but smiled broadly. ​“She is the first girl,” Sophie said as they left the building.

One man, a salesman and a longtime Republican, voted for Trump. He disliked many of Clinton’s actions as Secretary of State. He especially liked the idea that Trump was a businessman. ​“It’s important to run government as a business not as an entitlement,” he said. He did not want to give his name, but said he was glad the election was over for one major reason: ​“I can get social media back,” he said. 

Turnout Heavy

Walter Smith, election moderator at the Community House in District 1 said turn out has been heavy.

By 10 a.m. about 850 people had voted. ​“There were people waiting in line at 5 a.m.,” Smith said. There was still a line out the door by mid-morning.

“I hated the campaign that was something that shouldn’t happen in a presidential election. It’s more like a TV show, ​“said Tony Castellon. He and his wife Kathy both voted for Hillary.

Stephanie Hart, who was with her young daughter, said ​“I voted for Clinton because she’s qualified to be president,” the young mom said.

Over at District 3, in Short Beach, Chris Collins, the moderator, and Peggy Carpenter, the assistant registrar, said there was a line of voters waiting for them to open the door at Orchard House when they arrived at 5 a.m. Voting began at 6 a.m.

Voters parked their cars as RTM member Peter Jackson stood outside with his signs and his dog in tow.

“This was a first. To have a line outside the door at 5 a.m.,” Collins told the Eagle.

Voting was brisk all day long.

Carpenter said the mood was one of expectation and relief. ​“They were glad to be here, glad to be voting and glad there was an end to this election.” 

By 10:45 a.m. 703 residents had cast their vote in District 3.

The Glance Meter

Over at the Fourth District, standing outside the Fire Headquarters where he served as chief for many years were Democratic Selectman Jack Ahern, Jim Perito, Lonnie Reed and Kiley Kennedy (State Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr.’s daughter). Ahern judged the barometer of this year’s election by the ​“glance meter.” No one was greeting voters on behalf of the Republicans.

Ahern said, ​“That’s when people look at you.” He added, ​“It’s been busy in all the polling places. There have been lots of smiles.”

There was a bit of a hiccup at District 4 when the machine failed to count the ballots in the first 45 minutes. Moderator Dorothy Stenger said an auxiliary box and a new machine were brought in and the uncounted ballots will be fed into the new machine.

Due to the problem, Stenger said she didn’t have an exact count, but estimated that approximately 900 people had voted by 10 a.m. The line moved quickly and there were lots of voting stations within the hall.

Arsnia Khan, 32, voted for Hillary Clinton. ​“She’s better qualified. I don’t agree with what Trump has said about my religion,” she said. ​“I’m still in shock.”

Michael Montuori, 24, said he voted for President – Trump – at the very end. He said he comes from a ​“divided family… My dad is a strong Democrat.”

Montouri said, ​“I don’t like him in particular… I like Pence.” He added that he wished Pence were running for President, and noted, ​“I don’t like Hillary.”

The line at the Indian Neck School, which covers District 5, snaked all the way down the long hall. Moderator Larry Hally (pictured) said it had been that way since the doors opened at 6 a.m. and there was a 20- to 25-minute wait. He said 825 people had voted by 10 a.m.

“People were waiting outside, but it was cold, but we let them in and told them to ​‘play nice.’” He said in his six years as a moderator, he’s ​“never seen anything like this… it’s the most I’ve ever seen.” He added that they had a good team working the polls and that they were trying to accommodate people who had trouble standing in line.

Penny O’Neill said she voted for Clinton. ​“She’s by far the most qualified. I support her 100 percent.”

David Chadwick, 25, voted for the Green Party’s Jill Stein. ​“None of the other candidates represented my views,” he said. ​“I educated myself and she was closer to my views… She’s walking the walk that she’s talking.”

“This is historical,” said an elderly woman who did not wish to be identified. ​“We fought hard to get women to vote. She said she voted Democratic ​“all across.”

Lillian Olejarczyk, 84, who stood in line for 45 minutes, said she been watching the election ​“intensely.” She said, ​“I’m tired of all the yelling and screaming.” She added that she voted for Clinton ​“as the lesser of two evils… I couldn’t stand Trump.

“It’s pretty exciting,” she said. ​“I hope she goes for the straight and narrow and has some integrity.”
 
​“This was the easiest decision I made in my adult life,” said Pat DeMaio, 53, after voting for Clinton.

There was a sense of history for many, especially those eager to elect the first woman president of the United States. ​“This is the biggest election of your lifetime,” said one voter to her daughter as they left the parking lot en route to vote.

District Polling Places

Here are the addresses of polling places by district. 
• 1st District: Recreation Department Community House, 46 Church St.
• 2nd District: St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road
• 3rd District: Orchard House Adult Day Care Center, 421 Shore Dr.
• 4th District: Fire Headquarters, 45 Main St. 
• 5th District: Indian Neck School, 12 Melrose Ave.
• 6th District: Mary T. Murphy School, 14 Brushy Plain Road
• 7th District: Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road

The Branford Eagle’s editor, Marcia Chambers and Eagle reporter Sally E. Bahner will participate in BCTV’s live coverage on election night, starting at 8 p.m.
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