Few surprises in quiet election year

Mark Lauretano (R) was elected to the Salisbury Board of Selectmen and Marilyn Yerks (D) defeated Judge Manning (R) as Sharon’s representative to the Region One Board of Education in municipal elections Tuesday, Nov. 8.These were among the most significant changes in an election season where, in most towns, almost everyone who ran was elected.The closest race was in Sharon, where a recount had to be held Sunday to determine who would be the third selectman. John Perotti (R) edged ahead of petitioning candidate Howard Randall by a handful of votes (see article, Page A5).In Salisbury, Lauretano, a political newcomer who was the resident trooper in Salisbury for 20 years prior to his retirement earlier this year, beat incumbent Bob Riva (U), who ran as a petitioning candidate.Lauretano received 441 votes to Riva’s 402. Incumbent Democratic selectman Jim Dresser was re-elected with 500 votes. First Selectman Curtis Rand (D) ran unopposed.The Region One Board of Education will look different when it meets next month and elects new officers. Gone is long-time chairman Judge Manning of Sharon, who lost to Marilyn Yerks by a wide margin of 555 to 270. This is the first year in which Sharon residents voted on their Region One representative. Until this year, the regional rep was chosen by the Sharon Board of Education.The Region One board is mainly concerned with Housatonic Valley Regional High School and regional issues such as special education. In the past decade, most towns in the region have begun to elect their representative. Scooter Tedder (D) beat Mike Flint (U) for Salisbury’s Region One seat, 902-329.Laura Freund (D) held off a challenge from Steven Allyn (R) for North Canaan’s seat on the regional board, 276-236.Also in North Canaan, Nikki Blass’ run for a seat on the Board of Selectman as a petitioning candidate came up short, with 79 votes to Democrat Susan Clayton’s 141 and Republican Charles Perotti’s 321. Republican Doug Humes ran unopposed for re-election as first selectman.In Sharon, First Selectman Bob Loucks (R) ran unopposed, and incumbent Democratic Selectman Meg Szalewicz was re-elected with 195 votes.But the contest between Perotti and Randall was close enough to trigger a recount, with Perotti getting 347 votes and Randall 343.Brian Kenny and Darin Hudson, both Democrats, and Republican Electra Tortorella were elected to the Sharon Board of Education. Alexandra Hunter (D) beat Michael Tesoro (R) for a two-year vacancy on the board.And in Salisbury, Democrats Claude Rolo and Stephanie Jo Thomas are new members of the Board of Education, along with petitioning candidate Beth Vernali and incumbent Jeff Lloyd (R).There were no contested elections in Falls Village, but there is a new selectman — Republican Greg Marlowe, who replaces Peter Lawson.There was a similar lack of suspense in Cornwall, where incumbent First Selectman Gordon Ridgway (endorsed by both major parties) was re-elected, as were selectmen Richard Bramley (D) and Ken Baird (R).And in Kent, joining Democratic incumbent First Selectman Bruce Adams (who ran unopposed for re-election) are Democrat Tod Jones and Republican Susi Williams.

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