It Is Election Day In Waterford - Will Anyone Show Up?

Tuesday, Nov. 5 is Election Day in Waterford, but perhaps the real question is who will care.

For the first time, Waterford will have a municipal election without a race for First Selectman. Why? In 2010 the town voted to extend the First Selectman's term from two years to four and in 2011 First Selectman Dan Steward won in a landslide, meaning he'll serve until 2015.

What it also means is that turnout could be low. While most municipal elections generally draw around 25 percent of all registered voters, Waterford Democratic Town Committee Chair J.W. "Bill" Sheehan believes this year's election could be much lower than that.

"My wish is 30 percent (of registered voters come out to vote), my goal is 20 (percent), my expectation is 15 (percent)," Sheehan said. "I don't know if we have the electorates' attention."

Waterford Republican Town Committee Chair Kathleen McCarty echoed similar concerns. However, she said the candidates are doing what they can to inspire people to vote and argued that voting is an important part of a living in a town.

“If you are concerned about education, safety, property taxes, the whole welfare of the town, it is important to have your vote known and heard," McCarty said. "That would be the first reason to be engage and involved in your own local government.”

The Races

The races themselves feature a majority of candidates with experience in municipal government. In perhaps the most noteworthy race, the race for the Waterford Board of Education, five of the six candidates either serve on the board or have served on the board. Overall, four of the six candidates will be elected to the board Tuesday.

On the Republican side, McCarty - the current chair of the board - is seeking reelection, along with the sole newcomer to the Board of Education, Lisa Barry. For the Democrats, incumbent Anne Ogden is seeking reelection, along with Donald Blevins, Gregory Benoit and Jessica McLoughlin, who all previously served on the board.

Blevins was formerly the chairman of the board before being voted out of office in 2011, along with McLoughlin. Benoit previously served on the board and was previously a Republican. 

For the Board of Finance, five people will vie for three spots. Incumbent Republicans Mark Wiggins, Ronald Fedor - who serves as chairman of the board - and Norman Glidden will take on challengers Marcia Benvenuti and Elizabeth Sabilia. Benvenuti has previously served on the Board of Finance and Sabilia is a current member of the Representative Town Meeting and former mayor of New London.

The RTM race comes with little drama. In both the Third and Fourth Districts, the minimum amount of candidates ran for the available spots, meaning that all running candidates will win. In both the First and Second Districts, only one of the six running candidates will not win a spot on the 22-person RTM.

The Ballot

To see the full ballot, click here.

Where Do I Vote?

There are four voting districts in Waterford. District One voters vote at Town Hall, District Two voters vote at Quaker Hill Elementary School, District Three voters vote at Oswegatchie School and District Four voters vote at Great Neck Elementary School.

The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. To see if you are registered to vote and where you should vote, click here.

Not Registered?

No problem. For the first time, people can register the day of the municipal elections. For more information on how, click here.

Will you vote this year? And if so, what candidates stick out to you?