Kata Retains Jewett City Seat
by Julie A. Varughese, published by Norwich Bulletin - May 8, 2007
JEWETT CITY --Voter turnout in Monday's borough election was seven times greater than the 2005 election, thanks to a spirited three-way race for warden that sparked interest through candidate blogs and door-to-door canvassing.
The publicity even interested a few Griswold residents in voting, but they were turned away after being told it was a borough-only election, election moderator Joe Lussier said.
The election featured the first time in a decade an incumbent warden had been challenged, and it was also the first time an optical scan voting machine was used.
Incumbent Democratic Warden Cynthia Kata won with 165 votes --or 49 percent -- beating Republican candidate Melinda Seaman Brooks, who got 125 votes --or 37 percent. Jewett City Party candidate Ron Ward captured 47 votes -- or 14 percent.
The turnout was 26 percent, compared to 3.73 percent in 2005.
Kata, a four-term incumbent, said she expected to win because of her track record in the borough. She takes credit for keeping the tax rate at 2.5 mills, obtaining grants for a $19 million state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility and improving sidewalks and roads, among other items.
"It's back to business," Kata said about retaining her position.
Normand Foucher, 59, said he voted for Kata because she was recommended.
"Everybody's always saying she's done a good job and she's respectful," he said.
Opponents said during the campaign season Kata did not do enough to prevent a 44-percent sewer-rate increase and a separate water-rate increase or to attract economic development and is not in the borough enough to take care of it.
Brooks, 38, said she planned on running for a town of
"I think the fact that it's pretty close, that shows that people are ready for change," she said.
Ward, 43, said his goal was to create enough interest in the race to encourage people to vote.
Timothy Sharkey, a first-time burgess candidate and the only Republican to sit on the new Board of Warden and Burgesses, said he hopes to create better communication between the borough, the town and the fire department.
The new voting system required voters to fill in circles on the ballot next to the names of desired candidates within a booth, then slip it into an optical scan voting machine.
Lussier said there was little confusion Monday on how to use it. Election workers helped voters through the steps.
"We have very few problems," he said at 2 p.m. "People have been mystified by it, and many people say they like it."
Election Results
Warden:
165 - Cynthia Kata, Democrat (Winner)
125 - Melinda Seaman Brooks, Republican
47 - Ron Ward,
Burgess:
225 - Alan D. Geer, incumbent Democrat (Winner)
198 - Patrick Sullivan, incumbent Democrat (Winner)
197 - Stanley Drobiak, incumbent Democrat (Winner)
128 - Timothy P. Sharkey, Republican (Winner)
95 - Joseph David Lobe Jr., Republican
68 - Alan Aho, Republican
59 - Angela K. Adams,
33 - Katrease Gerace,
Bailiff:
183 - William J. Czmyr, Democrat (Winner)
75 - Benjamin E. Hull, Republican
52 - James L. Couillard,
Clerk:
294 - Valerie A. Pudvah,
endorsed by Democrats and Republicans (Winner)
Tax collector:
274 - Leona Sharkey,
endorsed by Democrats and Republicans (Winner)
Treasurer:
252 - Linda Cote, Democrat (Winner)
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