LIVE BLOG: Democratic Town Committee primary

THIS IS A LIVE BLOG. POSTING WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY

After losing the last two municipal elections, disapproval towards the leadership of the Democratic Town Committee reached a boiling point with several area lawmakers meeting requesting Joe DaSilva to step down as the DTC chairman.

After DaSilva declined, efforts went underway to primary individuals on the town committee...with the ultimate goal being removing the present leadership and taking the DTC in a new direction.

The last time there was a primary, the end result was Bernie Gallo losting his seat on the committee as well as his chairmanship. Will history repeat itself again with the end result being DaSilva losing his seat?

Today, Democrats in the 1st, 2nd and 6th wards in Danbury are going to the polls and, in essence, deciding who will lead the local town committee.

Stay tuned to HatCityBLOG as I'll explain the history of the rift among the members of the town committee, being you updates from the voting polls, and post LIVE video footage from City Hall after the polls close.

Here's a breakdown of who's on the ballots:

1st Ward:
Linda DaSilva, Bobbi Anders, Tina Merante, and Jack Gillotte
versus
Warren Levy, Jackie McGuire, Elefo Furtado, and Beth Bogues.

2nd ward:
Bernie Gallo, Ken Gucker, Gene McNamara, and Zach Rapp
versus
Tom Dyer, Lillian Esposito, Frederick Karrat, and Susan Ward.

6th ward:
Sonnie Council, Kurt Kleis, and Wayne Schlemmer
versus
Ben Chianese, John Gogliettino, Joan Hodge, and Richard Kaback.

Unopposed slates:
3rd ward:
Lori Kaback, Lynn Taborsak, Billy Taylor, and Bill Tanner

4th ward:
Tom Saadi, Alice Earle, Francis Kieras, and Rose Schlemmer

5th ward:
Catherine Conciatore, Joe DaSilva, Elenor Lewis, and Pat McCleary

7th ward:
Glenda Armstrong, Phil Cervone, Julie Kushner, and Bruce Lees.

NOTE: There was a consent form filed for another slate in the 5th ward but they did not get their petitions in on time.

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I will be doing a LIVE video stream from the various wards and ending at City Hall as the results come in.

UPDATE 9:00 PM: It's official, there will be new leadership at the Democratic Town Committee.

OFFICIAL RESULTS (winners in BOLD):

1st Ward:
Linda DaSilva: 133
Bobbi Anders 119
Tina Merante 126
Jack Gillotte 124

Warren Levy 157
Jackie McGuire 123
Elefo Furtado 137
Beth Bogues 137

2nd ward:
Bernie Gallo 118
Ken Gucker 114
Gene McNamara 110
Zach Rapp 121

Tom Dyer 101
Lillian Esposito 95
Frederick Karrat 91
Susan Ward 112

6th ward:
Sonnie Council 54
Kurt Kleis 39
Wayne Schlemmer 56

Ben Chianese 94
John Gogliettino 86
Joan Hodge 93
Richard Kaback 100


TOTAL:
Incumbents= 4
Challengers= 8

Challengers beat incumbents 2 to 1.

LIVE VIDEO STREAM