Danbury, Hartford and Waterbury mayoral elections were decided Tuesday. But Bridgeport is still up in the air.
Danbury Democrats are partying like it鈥檚 1999 鈥� the last time they won a mayoral election in the Hat City.
Gene Eriquez was the last Democrat in the city to win a mayoral election. And then, beginning when Mark Boughton won in 2001, Republicans captured the next 11 elections. But now, after defeating Dean Esposito in a rematch of the 2021 election, Roberto Alves will be the first Danbury Democratic mayor in more than two decades.
Democrats also won open mayoral races in Hartford and Waterbury. Arunan Arulampalam is the next mayor of the capital city. The 38-year-old Hartford Land Bank CEO takes over for Luke Bronin after defeating a Republican, a write-in candidate, and several petitioning hopefuls.
In Waterbury, the Brass City, Board of Aldermen president Paul Pernerewski, a Democrat, was tapped to replace Neil O鈥橪eary, who's retiring. Pernerewski beat Republican Dawn Maiorano and petitioning candidates Karen Jackson and Keisha Gilliams.
While other major cities have the race for mayor sorted out 鈥� including in New Haven, where Justin Elicker was re-elected again 鈥� Bridgeport鈥檚 messy mayoral situation won鈥檛 be resolved until at least a second Democratic primary election is held.
Incumbent mayor Joe Ganim, a Democrat, was the top vote-getter Tuesday. But challenger John Gomes, also a Democrat, got a local judge to throw out the results of a September primary after a video surfaced alleging ballot-stuffing in the Park City.
A date for the new primary hadn鈥檛 been announced as of midday Thursday.
Danbury is an example of a big night for local Democrats
Alves鈥� streak-busting win, plus Democrats gaining a supermajority and flipping city clerk, underscored a big blue night in Danbury.
First selectman flips in Brookfield and potentially in Fairfield, where a recount will be held to determine if Democrat Bill Gerber truly beat incumbent Brenda Kupchick, demonstrate gains in 黑料吃瓜网 at-large for Democrats.
A blue wave appears to have made it to the 黑料吃瓜网 shoreline as Democrats gained ground in places like Groton, Killingworth and Old Lyme.
One town that鈥檚 experiencing a major political shift: Killingly. Ginny Monk of the 黑料吃瓜网 Mirror reports that for four years, Killingly鈥檚 school board was controlled by ultra-conservative members of the Republican party. They got on the school board to restore the name of a mascot deemed offensive by Native Americans.
Along the way, students say they became collateral damage as the conservative board rejected a grant-funded plan to establish a mental health center inside Killingly High School.
But as state education officials continue to examine the way Killingly鈥檚 school board addressed student mental health, Democrats in the town have taken back the school board.
Democrats will hold a 5-to-4 majority after Tuesday鈥檚 election where six of nine seats were up for grabs.
CT is touting vaccinations as state begins to feel the impact of flu season
As of Thursday, three people have died from influenza and RSV this week in 黑料吃瓜网 鈥� the first ones of the season.
State public health officials are pointing to the deaths in urging residents to get vaccinated to combat the spread of influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
鈥淭he 2023-24 respiratory viral disease season is already an active one,鈥� 黑料吃瓜网 Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said in a statement. 鈥淎s we approach the holidays, I strongly encourage all 黑料吃瓜网 residents to make sure they are up to date on their seasonal vaccines, particularly older individuals and those with multiple medical conditions.鈥�
Two residents have died from RSV, also known as respiratory syncytial virus. And one has died of the flu.
State health officials encourage various people to get RSV shots, including those who are pregnant, infants and adults who are 60 and older.
Frankie & Johnny premieres Fridays at 4:44 p.m. during All Things Considered on 黑料吃瓜网 Radio. 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Matt Dwyer, Patrick Skahill, and Sujata Srinivasan contributed to this report.
