Maturo: I Want to Give Residents 'A Community They Can Be Proud Of'

[Editor's note: Wondering about the Town Clerk, Board of Education, Board of Finance, Town Council or referendum numbers? We've got the .]

Maturo Wins By 31 Votes; Recount is Saturday (Updated 12:30am)

It was standing-room-only at Demir's Restaurant tonight on Main Street in downtown East Haven.

Family, friends and supporters of former mayor and now Mayor-Elect Joseph Maturo had gathered together at the East Haven hot spot to celebrate their candidate's victory tonight.

According to the official elections results, Maturo received 4,025 votes to current Mayor April Capone's 3,994 votes.

"I think the voters of East Haven are making an historic election today, by giving me the opportunity to be their CEO again after four years," Maturo told East Haven Patch, in between fielding congratulations, hugs and handshakes from supporters.

"I'm going to work hard to give everyone a community that they can be proud of," he said.

Maturo added that he is thankful for the second opportunity to serve as East Haven's mayor. And takes that charge very seriously and to heart.

"(As elected officials) it's our duty to serve each and every constituent. And that we serve them to the best of our ability," Maturo said. "And that's what I promise the people of East Haven."

Although the 31-vote victory margin has triggered a recount, Maturo said he is confident the numbers will, for the most part, stay the same.

"Those machines are iron clad," he said.

Capone — who said she won't concede until after this Saturday's recount — told East Haven Patch she was disappointed about today's elections results, but not deterred from future public service.

"I have enjoyed serving the people of East Haven," she said. "It really has been an honor and a priviledge."

"Leadership is not based on title," Capone said.

When asked if Saturday's recount is expected to change local voting tallies, both political camps said they felt most likely it would not.

Joe Popolizio: 'I Just Tell Them I Voted' (Updated at 6:30 p.m.)

East Haven voter Joe Popolizio wouldn't let me take his picture — but he was happy to talk about his extensive record as a voter.

Popolizio, 90, is a resident of Woodview Retirement Community along North High Street.

The complex has its own polling location today, District 5S, to provide as much opportunity as possible for its residents to vote.

Popolizio proudly wore his "I Voted Today" sticker on his buttoned-down striped shirt today, as he talked the importance of voting.

"I have been voting since I was 16," the World War II veteran told me with a smile.

When asked if he was a Republican or Democrat — or an independent — Popolizio said he doesn't vote and tell.

"I don't tell anybody what I am, I just tell them I voted," he explained.

And Popolizio was not the only Woodview resident to cast their ballot on Election Day.

District 5S Moderator Ann Marie Carlson said the polls there were very busy today.

"Voter turnout has definitely been higher," Carlson said. "It's more than ususal here... everybody really wants to get involved."

As I was leaving, I saw Popolizio sitting in the lobby.

I called to him again: "Hey Joe, are sure I can't take your picture for a story?"

"No," he shook his head with a laugh. "I dont think so."

He did leave me with one final nugget of information to share with East Haven Patch readers: He had shot several rounds of golf prior to voting this morning.

Not bad for 90. Way to go, Joe!

Voter Turnout Currently Stands at 33 Percent (Update at 4:45pm)

East Haven Registrar of Voters Donna Norman just told East Haven Patch that as of the 4 p.m. tally reported to the Registrars' Office by all of the town's five voting districts: 5,156 voters have cast their ballots at the polls today.

And that's 33 percent of the town's 15,469 registered voters.

Norman said that that current number is down slightly from this time in 2009, when by 4 p.m. 34.8 percent of East Haven's registered voters had already cast their ballots.

"So it's a bit lower," she said.

"Which is a bit surpsing considering the weather," Norman added.

When asked if there had been any serious glitches or issues at the polls during the day, the registrar said things have run smoothly so far.

"We haven't had any major problems," Norman said.

But she was quick to note that the next three hours will be a busy one at East Haven's polls, as voters go to the polls after work.

"But so far, it's been good," she said.

District 1 Voting Levels Holding 'Steady' (Updated at 2:30pm)

Although candidates and campaign supporters on both sides of the political fence said they felt voter turnout today at Tuttle School was higher then normal, election officials there said they are, so far, actually slightly disappointed in the number of voters who have already cast ballots.

"We are at less than half at this point," District 1 Moderator Amy Milano told East Haven Patch this afternoon.

"I would have anticipated that we should have higher numbers," Milano said. "But it is early in the day yet."

Milano said while the district's voting totals are not quite as high as election officials thought they might at this point in the day, they numbers are not necessarily low for the district either.

"It's been steady all day," she said, adding that while the lines have not extended too far out from the school's gymnasium — where the polling site is located — there has generally has been a wait to vote.

"It's not an excessive line, but there's always a few people (waiting)," she said. "And I consider that steady."

So Far, So 'Good' for Capone and Maturo (Update 12:30pm)

Both current mayor and Democratic mayoral candidate April Capone, and former mayor and Republican candidate Joseph Maturo Jr, say things have been running smoothly so far for their campaigns.

Capone, who was out early in the morning greeting voters at Deer Run School, said her sense has been that voter turnout has been "good."

"Things have been very good... and I've been getting a lot of positive feedback," Capone told East Haven Patch in between shaking voters hands before and after the polls.

Maturo said that his campaign has also been receiving a lot of positive support from voters as well.

"It's been going very good so far," Maturo told East Haven Patch, as he paused briefly from speaking with voters outside of Deer Run School.

"I have a good feeling," he said.

East Haven Patch has not yet had a chance to speak with independent, write-in mayoral candidate Oni Sioson during our polling travels today.

Voters Line Up to Cast Ballots at Deer Run School (Update 10am)

Assistant Registrar of Voters Connie Woznick told East Haven Patch that voter turnout at Deer Run School, which is the polling location for District 3 and 5, has been busy since the site opened its doors this morning.

"It has not stopped since 6 a.m.," Woznick said as voters lined up outside the school's gymnasium to cast their ballots.

Linda Napolitano, the moderator in charge of District 5 voting, agreed.

"District 3 and 5 has been very steady," Napolitano said.

And although there were a few kinks first thing in the morning, both Woznick and Napolitano said operationally things are running "pretty smoothly."

"We put systems in place to keep things flowing well," she said.

Woznick added that a short time after the polls opened, they decided to put up a sign to help direct voters to the correct check in table for their district.

Poll workers are also providing verbal directions to voters to ensure they line up at the correct tables prior to voting.

"We really try to go out of the way to make it easy for the voter," Woznick said. "The easier it is for them, the more likely they will come back and vote again next time."

When asked if the volume of voters was doing well due to having two voting districts located at the same site, both women said that certainly is playing a part.

But they both agreed that turnout, in general, for the two districts has so far been very good.

"Voters were lined up outside as early as 5:30 a.m," Napolitano said.

"Usually it starts to slow down at about 9 a.m.," Woznick said. "But not today."

Original Story

Students may be getting the day off but it is going to be a busy day for adults: It's Election Day in East Haven.

Democratic Mayor April Capone is seeking re-election to her third term to the town's highest elected position. Former five-term Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr, however, is hoping to unseat Capone and return to office as the Republican challenger. While independent, write-in candidate Oni Sioson is also vying for your votes to serve as East Haven's new mayor.

But the top of the ticket is just one of many elected positions that East Haven  residents will vote for today. There are also contests for Town Council, Board of Education, Board of Finance and Town Clerk.

In addition, residents will also be voting on at 200 Tyler Street. Voters will have three options to chose from: a Community Purpose, Educationl Purpose or Condominium Use.

Each of the city's five voting districts — District 1, 1S, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5S — will cast their votes today. Each of the districts will have a different ballot on which residents will cast their votes.

You can familiarize yourself with those ballots — and even print them out for review — before heading into the voting booth, as they are included in the gallery to the right that accompanies this article.

And you can check to see where your local .

Make An Informed Decision

With your help, East Haven Patch has compiled a collection of election news and information during the course of this campaign season. You can find it all on our Election 2011 Topic Page. There, you'll see:

• Mayoral candidate statements
• A map of polling locations
• Political blog posts and letters to the editor
• And much more

Documenting Democracy

East Haven Patch will be updating this article throughout the day with information and pics from polls, voter turnout numbers, results and reactions. We'll also be breaking news on Facebook and Twitter.

You can help document this day of democracy in action. Are there lines at the polls? Girl Scouts selling cookies? Candidates greeting voters? Friendly poll monitors? Share your pics and videos (click the green "submit your photos and videos" link), and your observations and thoughts in the comments below.