(Oct. 13, 2016) Twenty-three percent of Berlin’s registered voters cast ballots in last Tuesday’s municipal election to return incumbent Mayor Gee Williams for a third term and to elect Zackery Tyndall as the new District 2 councilman.
In total, 717 of the 3,172 registered voters in Berlin cast ballots on Oct. 4, while another 23 voted absentee. Twenty-five absentee ballots where requested.
Voter turnout was highest in District 2 where 312 people voted, accounting for about 37 percent of the registered population. Lisa Hall vacated that seat to run for mayor, and Jack Orris, another newcomer, challenged Tyndall.
Turnout was lowest in District 3, just 13 percent, where incumbent Councilman Elroy Brittingham ran uncontested. In District 1, 24 percent of the registered population voted, and in District 4 about 15 percent cast ballots.
According to Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen, there were no write-ins and no ballots were voided this year.
When Williams first ran for Mayor in 2008 – he had been a councilman and was appointed interim mayor just before the election after Thomas Cardinale passed away in office – more than 31 percent of the town’s voters cast ballots.
There were also two council races that year. Brittingham ran unopposed in District 3 and Hall was elected in District 2, beating Jason Walter and Thom Gulyas, to earn her first term in office. Gulyas won an uncontested election for the at-large seat in 2014 after Paula Lynch retired.
Turnout was highest in 2008 in District 2 where nearly half – 46 percent – of all registered residents voted.
During the last mayoral election, in 2012, turnout was just under 17 percent. Williams defeated former Councilwoman Ellen Lang – a late entry, write-in candidate – 335 to122 votes. Hall was reelected in District 2 over former planning department intern Ronald Marney, and Brittingham won an in an uncontested race for District 3. Once again, District 2 had the highest turnout, about 25 percent.
In 2010 three incumbents – Dean Burrell in District 4, Troy Purnell in District 1 and Lynch in the at-large district – all won uncontested races. Turnout that year was just 4 percent, and only District 4 had more than 5 percent turnout.
No votes were cast in 2014 because new town election laws only require contested elections to take place. Along with Gulyas earning a first term on the council that year, Burrell and Purnell were reelected.
In total, 717 of the 3,172 registered voters in Berlin cast ballots on Oct. 4, while another 23 voted absentee. Twenty-five absentee ballots where requested.
Voter turnout was highest in District 2 where 312 people voted, accounting for about 37 percent of the registered population. Lisa Hall vacated that seat to run for mayor, and Jack Orris, another newcomer, challenged Tyndall.
Turnout was lowest in District 3, just 13 percent, where incumbent Councilman Elroy Brittingham ran uncontested. In District 1, 24 percent of the registered population voted, and in District 4 about 15 percent cast ballots.
According to Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen, there were no write-ins and no ballots were voided this year.
When Williams first ran for Mayor in 2008 – he had been a councilman and was appointed interim mayor just before the election after Thomas Cardinale passed away in office – more than 31 percent of the town’s voters cast ballots.
There were also two council races that year. Brittingham ran unopposed in District 3 and Hall was elected in District 2, beating Jason Walter and Thom Gulyas, to earn her first term in office. Gulyas won an uncontested election for the at-large seat in 2014 after Paula Lynch retired.
Turnout was highest in 2008 in District 2 where nearly half – 46 percent – of all registered residents voted.
During the last mayoral election, in 2012, turnout was just under 17 percent. Williams defeated former Councilwoman Ellen Lang – a late entry, write-in candidate – 335 to122 votes. Hall was reelected in District 2 over former planning department intern Ronald Marney, and Brittingham won an in an uncontested race for District 3. Once again, District 2 had the highest turnout, about 25 percent.
In 2010 three incumbents – Dean Burrell in District 4, Troy Purnell in District 1 and Lynch in the at-large district – all won uncontested races. Turnout that year was just 4 percent, and only District 4 had more than 5 percent turnout.
No votes were cast in 2014 because new town election laws only require contested elections to take place. Along with Gulyas earning a first term on the council that year, Burrell and Purnell were reelected.