Many in Easton Abstained From Part of Vote

EASTON, Conn. — It’s not unusual to see low voter turnout in municipal elections — only 34 percent of Easton’s registered voters hit the polls Nov. 8. But what is unusual is the large number of Easton voters who didn’t bother to vote for all the elected positions once they got to the polls.

According to the unofficial results obtained from the town clerk’s office, which is still pending final approval from election moderators, of the 5,105 registered voters in town, only 1,754 came out to vote Nov. 8. Of those 1,754 voters, many skipped voting for candidates in the races for first selectman, Board of Selectman, town treasurer, Board of Education and constable, just to name a few.

In the race at the top of the ballot, First Selectman Thomas Herrmann earned 1,098 votes, write-in candidate Richard Seclow earned 18 votes and write-in candidate Robert Webbe earned 337 votes. But 260 residents who went to the polls didn’t vote for a first selectman candidate.

In the Board of Selectman race, Selectman Robert Lessler earned 632 votes, Selectman Scott S. Centrella earned 973 votes and 142 voters skipped this race.

In the town treasurer spot, Christine Calvert ran unopposed and earned 1,335 votes. But 412 voters abstained from voting in this category.

Two separate elections were held for the Board of Education seats. Vida E. Peskay, who ran unopposed, earned 954 votes, while 792 people abstained from voting. Regina Bobroske earned 959 votes, while 784 people did not cast ballots.

In the constable race, seven people were elected totally nearly 6,000 votes but 1,067 didn’t bother to vote for a single candidate.

“This election is different from any election I have seen for two reason: the small number of voters that we had and the low turnout,” said Town Clerk Derek Buckley. “This is different from any election I have seen in many years and the reason for that, I just don’t know."

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