Residents in the region have a lot to decide on Election Day. In addition to President/Vice President, there are federal offices and General Assembly seats that need filling. Ballots for every town in Connecticut are now available for viewing online. Voters can check their registration status online and find the location of their polling place.
The U.S. Senate race features incumbent Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican challenger, Bethel State Representative Dan Carter.
Two Congressional Districts represent the Greater Danbury area. To the north, Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Esty is being challenged by Republican Sherman First Selectman Clay Cope for the 5th District seat. Lower Fairfield County 4th District Congressman Jim Himes, a Democrat, is being challenged by Redding state Representative John Shaban, a Republican.
Danbury residents will be voting on two bond questions. Newtown residents are deciding on Charter revisions. Most towns in the region also have Registrar of Voters races on the ballots as well.
Residents in Bethel, Newtown, Redding and Ridgefield will be voting for a new Judge for the Northern Fairfield County Probate Court. Bethel Town Treasurer, former Bethel Probate Court Judge Daniel O'Grady is the Republican candidate. Democrat Sharon Wicks Dornfeld has practiced law in Danbury since 1983.
The full list of write-in candidates in Connecticut has been released. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says there are 20 candidates each for president and vice-president, two for U.S. Senate, 10 for U.S. Representative as well as a number of people vying for state offices.
General Assembly races
The 24th state Senate District includes Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield and Sherman. Republican incumbent Mike McLachlan is seeking a 5th term in office. He is being challenged by small business owner Democrat Ken Gucker.
The race in the state Senate's 26th District features the same match up as 2012. The District includes Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton. Republican State Senator Toni Boucher is seeking a 5th term and is being challenged by Democrat Carolanne Curry.
The chairman of the Fairfield Board of Education is looking to unseat the incumbent Republican state Senator in the 28th District, which includes Newtown. State Senator Tony Hwang faces a challenge from Democrat Philip Dwyer, who served the community through the YMCA and three different elected offices.
One of only two open State Senate seats is for the 30th District, which includes New Milford. Clark Chapin opted not to seek reelection. Republican Craig Miner is currently serving his 8th term as state Representative for Bethlehem, Litchfield, Morris, Warren and Woodbury. In the legislature, he is a member of the Appropriations, Environment, Labor & Public Employees, and Public Safety committee. Democrat David Lawson teaches in Dover Plains, New York. He lives in New Milford with his wife, and that's where they raised their children. He is serving his fourth term on the Board of Education and is currently the chairman.
A political newcomer and a former Selectman are vying to fill an empty legislative seat in Bethel. The 2nd State House District seat is being vacated by Dan Carter, and covers parts of Bethel, Danbury, Newtown and Redding. Democrat Raghib Allie-Brennan and Republican Will Duff are each seeking to be the area's next legislator.
There is an open state House seat in the 67th District of New Milford. The position is being vacated by Republican Cecilia Buck-Taylor, who is retiring after two terms. The race to succeed her features a Democratic Town Council member, Mary Jane Lundgren, and a Republican youth sports coach, William Buckbee.
A two term Republican incumbent is being challenged by a community organizer to represent the 106th District of Newtown. Republican incumbent Mitch Bolinsky faces off against Democrat Eva Zimmerman, who works with the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group.
Republican Stephen Harding is running unopposed for reelection to the state House's 107th District of Brookfield and parts of Bethel and Danbury.
A three-term incumbent is not being challenged as he seeks another two years representing New Fairfield, Sherman and parts of New Milford and Danbury in the state House. Richard Smith will serve a 4th term representing the 108th District starting in January.
A political newcomer is looking to unseat a two term incumbent in Danbury's 109th State House District. Democrat David Arconti Jr. is being challenged by Republican Veasna Roeun, a veteran who worked for the state Labor Department.
A 26-year incumbent is being challenged for the state House seat representing the 110th District in Danbury. Democrat Bob Godfrey is seeking a 14th term. Republican Emanuela Palmares is looking to unseat the Deputy House Speaker. This is probably one of the most controversial race in the region. Palmares released a web video and radio commercial featuring Godfrey's words during a candidate forum, calling the downtown area a “dumping ground” for poor people and ethnic minorities. She says that kind of thinking that deters downtown from its full potential. Palmares noted that the asset of Danbury's downtown is its diversity, not what's holding it back. Godfrey said the words were taken out of context. He was citing The Business Council of Fairfield County's Connecticut Economic Competitive Diagnostic, which included revitalizing the urban cores of Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford and Waterbury. Danbury was not mentioned. He says more needs to be invested in cities, as he has done for Danbury.
A political newcomer is challenging a Ridgefield state Representative, who is seeking his 10th term in office. Incumbent Republican Representative John Frey has served 18 years in the 111th District. Democrat Joseph Dowdell is an engineer in the high voltage industry.
A freshman lawmaker is unopposed in his bid for a second term. Monroe state Representative JP Sredzinski will again serve the 112th District, which also includes Newtown.
With John Shaban running for Congress, there is an open seat in the state House 135th District to represent Redding, Easton and Weston. Bonnie Troy is a Green Party candidate, cross-endorsed by the Democratic Party. Adam Dunsby is the Republican First Selectman of Easton.
There is an open state House seat in the 138th District, which includes parts of Danbury, New Fairfield and Ridgefield. The position is being vacated by Republican Jan Giegler, who is now the Danbury Town Clerk. The two men competing for the job are a community college professor and a City firefighter. Republican Michael Ferguson serves on the Danbury Board of Education, is an adjunct professor at Naugatuck Valley Community College and works at the Information Desk at Danbury Hospital. A Danbury firefighter and Marine Corps veteran, Democrat Jeff Tomchik also serves as president of the Danbury Professional Fire Fighters, Local 801.
