Prospect Republicans retain council majority

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Republican Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield, right, addresses the crowd at Baki’s Pizzeria on Tuesday night after the election. –LUKE MARSHALL

PROSPECT — Republicans maintained their majority on the Town Council as all five GOP candidates were elected to the nine-member council Tuesday.

Republican incumbents Richard Blanc (1,512 votes) Megan Patchkofsky (1,599 votes), Jeffrey Slapikas (1505 votes) and Stanley Pilat (1,479 votes) all retained their seats. Republican Stephanie Lusas-Kolodziej (1,594 votes), who was appointed to the council in September, also retained her seat.

Voters re-elected Democratic incumbent council members Larry Fitzgerald (858 votes) Theresa Cocchiola-Graveline (1,014 votes) and Patricia Sullivan-Geary (982 votes). They will be joined by Democratic newcomer Paul Murray, who received 794 votes to fellow Democrat Daniel Moore’s 614 votes.

Nearly 38% of the 6,525 registered voters in town cast their ballot in the election.

Slapikas, who is chairman of the council, said he’s honored the voters re-elected him.

“I believe I have done a good job as the chairman of the council. And for them to call upon me to be back as a council member for my sixth term, I am proud to know I am doing something right because they are happy with the outcome,” Slapikas said.

Republicans also won the two available seats on the Region 16 Board of Education. Incumbent Roxann Vaillancourt (1,711 votes) and newcomer Robert Dyer (1711 votes) beat out Democratic candidate Kristen Cicchetti (977 votes) for the school board.

Republican Mayor Robert J. Chatfield ran unopposed for his 22nd term.

“I am honored to be here. It is just a good feeling, a load off my shoulders, and I can get back to work,” Chatfield said.

Republicans also secured seats down the rest of the ballot.

Republican incumbent Treasurer David Young defeated Democratic challenger Michael McInerney by 920 votes. Republican incumbent Tax Collector Anne Marie Burr defeated Democratic challenger Elizabeth Bartolucci by 1,120 votes. Republican incumbent Town Clerk M. Carrie Anderson defeated write-in candidate Brenda Richard by 1,627 votes.

The rest of the down ballot races were uncontested.

Democrats E. Gil Graveline Jr., Gregory Ploski and Ryan Russell and Republican Michael Dreher were elected to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Democrat Peter Blinstrubas and Republicans Lisa Marasco and Shawn Baumann were elected to the Board of Assessment Appeals. Republicans David Michaud and Carl L. Graveline and Democrats Kristine Carasone and Scott Martin were elected to the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Nazih Noujaim, who is also a member of the Region 16 Board of Education, attributed the overwhelming Republican victory to the work of Chatfield and the Republican Party.

“Regardless of what’s going on, he (Chatfield) is always there. If you see a fire call come in, he is there first,” Noujaim said.

Chatfield said the Republican Party works hard in town.

“We are a team. We all work together and we work for the town of Prospect. From the zoning board right on down to the [Board of Education], everybody does a fine job,” Chatfield said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to add voter turnout and reflect vote totals reported Wednesday morning by the Registrar of Voter’s Office.