Strong showing for Democrats, but Rowland holds on

On a sunny but chilly Election Day on Tues., Nov. 3, New Haven voters went to the polls to elect representatives in the state legislature and U. S. Congress, along with Connecticut's state offices. Across the state, incumbents won big, while voter turnout was moderate.

As usual, the Democratic candidates dominated races in Ward One--every Democrat incumbent on the Ward One ballot was victorious.

The overwhelming success of Democrats in Ward One stemmed from the fact that Yale students, who have a reputation as predominantly liberal, comprised a substantial proportion of voters, according to political science professor Alan Gerber.

* Governor

John G. Rowland, the youngest governor in the U.S., was re-elected by a staggering margin over Democratic opponent Barbara Kennelly, a Congresswoman from Hartford: Rowland received 607,997 votes compared to Kennelly's 341,671.

Richard Blumenthal, an incumbent Democrat re-elected to State Attorney General, attempted to explain why Rowland kept his office in a year when Democrats were more successful in general. "There are two factors," Blumenthal said. "One is the economy--people didn't want to rock the boat. The other was Rowland's move toward the center."

The results in New Haven's Ward One told a significantly different story, however. Voters chose Kennelly over Rowland by a three to one margin.

* U.S. Senate

Christopher Dodd, co-chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was elected to his fourth term in the U. S. Senate, beating Republican Gary Franks by a considerable margin.

* U.S. House of Representatives, Dist. 3

In the race for Connecticut's third district House seat, Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) easily beat Republican challenger Martin Reust. DeLauro was born and raised in New Haven's Wooster Square district and has enjoyed steady popularity there and throughout the state. "I don't think God could run against Rosa DeLauro," Joe Hull, Ward Eight poll moderator, said.

* State Attorney General

Democrat Richard Blumenthal was elected to his third term as Connecticut's Attorney General. He trounced his opponent, Republican Santa Mendoza, who has never before held public office. Blumenthal hopes to continue Connecticut's lawsuits against Microsoft and the tobacco companies. He also pledges to keep the pressure on deadbeat dads to pay child support.

* Secretary of the State

State Rep. Susan Bysiewicz defeated Republican Ben Andrews in the race for Secretary of State. Andrews' defeat was due in part to controversy stemming from his falsification of his age when he entered the military and his long-time tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service.

* State Treasurer

Democrat and Hartford Treasurer Den-ise Nappier will now become Connecticut's next state treasurer. She narrowly defeated her Republican opponent in the closest of Connecticut's races. Nappier just barely beat opponent Paul J. Silvester by a meager two tenths of a percent.

* State Comptroller

Democrat Nancy Wyman was re-elected as Connecticut's comptroller, the state's chief accountant. Her Republican challenger, Christopher R. Scalzo, who has served as the executive director of the state Republican party and as a state representative, could not get a majority of the voters to accept his idea to privatize the state's computerized accounting system.

* State Senate, Dist. 10

In the 10th District of the State Senate, incumbent Democrat Toni Harp defeated her Republican challenger, Steven Mullins, by a three to one margin.

* State House of Representatives, Dist. 94

In the 94th District of the State House of Representatives, William Dyson was elected to his 12th consecutive term unopposed.

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