Farmington Election 2013 Results

Republican Nancy Nickerson has been elected as Farmington Town Council chairperson, according to results provided by head moderator Ann Newbury. 

The Republican party has swept all other races, as well, with the exception of the Board of Education race, which will undergo a recount. 

“The Board of Education race is too close to call," Newbury said. 

As it stands with the unofficial results, incumbent Democrat Ellen Siuta led the pack with 2,607, followed by Republican William Baker (2,552), Democrat Paula O'Brien (2,480), Democrat Bill Beckert (2,411), Republican Shawn Curtis (2,400) and Republican Mark Blore (2,399). Without a recount, all would be elected but Blore, according to current unofficial numbers. But since there is a point between him and Curtis and 11 votes between him and Beckert, a recount is needed. 

By law, if there is less than a difference of 20 votes in a race, it must be recounted unless it is waived, Newbury said. There will be a recount of every ballot cast, including absentees, on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 9 a.m. at a location to be determined.  

Right now, "there's a margin of error," Newbury said of the current results.

The Board of Education has proven the most contentious race this election, according to Phil Dunn, chairman of the Republican Screening Committee. Otherwise the campaigns were pretty tame. 

“That’s the only board that the Democrats hold the majority on and I think they were desperate to hold that majority," Dunn said, expressing frustration over a Democratic candidate who was originally elected as a Republican.

Paula O'Brien, the second highest vote-getter in the unofficial results, was chosen from three interested people interested in an open board seat and appointed in 2011 as a Republican. She was elected six months later as a Republican in a special election for the remaining two years on that term, Dunn said. About six months ago, she switched her party affiliation to Democrat and chose to run for re-election on the Democratic slate instead of the Republican one. 

O'Brien attributed her party switch to national politics. 

"I want to reiterate that my switch was not prompted by anything having to do with the present Board. My decision was purely personal and I was not influenced in any way by anyone at the Board table," O'Brien said. " I initiated the switch because the message of the national Republicans was not aligning with my beliefs."

Otherwise the Farmington Republican party was happy with the results. 

“I thought we did great," Dunn said. "Can’t do much better than we did."

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Robert Huelin congratulated Nancy on her victory. 

While the ballot calls for people to vote for two Town Council members in both voting districts, Farmington town charter calls for minority representation on the boards, so Democrat Amy Suffredini will hold her 1st District seat in addition to Republican newcomers Jon Landry and Peter Mastrobattista. 

In the 2nd District, Meredith Trimble, a current school board member and new candidate for the council, was the highest vote-getter at 1,593, followed by incumbent John Vibert (1,456) and newcomer Jeffrey P. Apuzzo (1,353). 

Here are the official results, unless otherwise noted, submitted to the Secretary of State's Office. The star next to the candidates' names signifies that they have been elected.