Hamden 2021 Election: Candidates, Polling Places, Hours

Hamden CT

29 October, 2021

5:02 PM

Description

HAMDEN, CT — Hamden residents will head to the polls on Nov. 2 to cast votes in the town's most unpredictable municipal election in decades. The position of mayor and seats on the legislative council and board of education are all up for grabs. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2. Voters who are in line before 8 p.m. will be able to vote even after the deadline passes. You can find your poll location at the Secretary of the State website by inputting your information. You can request an absentee ballot here, or you can visit your town clerk's office. All voters are eligible to check the top box that lists "COVID-19" as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. The race for mayor features Democrat Lauren Garrett and Republican Ron Gambardella. Garrett, a former Legislative Councilwoman, defeated three-term incumbent Mayor Curt Balzano Leng in the Democratic primary election. Gambardella, also a former member of the Legislative Council, is making his third run at mayor, and first since 2009. Independent Albert Lotto is also registered as a write-in candidate. Lotto had petitioned his way onto the ballot in August but announced last month that he was dropping out of the race, citing pressure from "important" people in town and "venomous" messages he received. He recently registered as a write-in candidate. Leng is also registered as a write-in candidate but has said he is not an active candidate for the position he has held since winning a special election to serve the remainder of former Mayor Scott Jackson's term in 2015. Democrat Karimah Mickens is the only candidate for Town Clerk on the ballot. Melinda Saller, who unsuccessfully ran for Town Clerk on Leng's ticket in the primary election, has also registered as a write-in candidate. Return to Patch for results as they come in. Subscribe to free Hamden News Alerts for election results. For Legislative Council At-Large, residents can vote for up to four candidates. The Democratic candidates are: Katie Kiely, Dominique Baez, Cory O'Brien, and Laurie Sweet (who is also on the ballot as the Working Families Party candidate). The Republican candidates are: Lesley DeNardis, James Anthony, Andrew Tammaro, and Elizabeth "Betty" Wetmore. Jay Kaye, who ran for mayor as a Republican in 2019, is the Independent candidate. The Legislative Council district races are as follows: 1st District) Kristen L. Zaehringer, Democrat, and Laura Santino, Republican; 2nd District) Jeron Alston, Democrat, and Nick D'Amato, Republican; 3rd District) Abdul-Razak Osmanu, Democrat; 4th District) Sarah Gallagher, Democrat; 5th District) Justin Farmer, Democrat; 6th District) Paula Irvin, Democrat; 7th District) Adrian Webber, Democrat, and Cecili "Ceci" Shea, Republican; 8th District) Ted Stevens, Democrat, and Pat Destito, Republican; 9th District) Nancy Hill, Democrat, and Marjorie Bonadies, Republican. For Board of Education (Full Term), residents can vote for up to four candidates. The Democratic candidates are: David Asbery, Mariam Khan, Melissa A. Kaplan Charkow, and Siobhan-Carter David. The Republican candidates are: Austin Cesare, Kevin Shea, and Ralph Nicefaro Jr. The Working Families Party candidate is Nijija-Ife Waters. Residents will also vote to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education for two years. The Democratic candidate is Reuel Parks and the Republican candidate is Jeffrey B. Cohen.