Ledyard chooses Rodolico over Allyn

Ledyard — Republican John Rodolico emerged as the clear winner in the town’s first four-way mayoral race, earning more than 50 percent of the votes Tuesday.

He ousted Republican incumbent and petitioning candidate Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr., 1,772 to 539 votes. Democrat-endorsed candidate and Gales Ferry Volunteer Fire Company Chief Anthony Saccone finished in second place, with 970 votes. Independent petitioning candidate Robert Lawrence received 56 votes. All are unofficial results.

There were 3,337 votes cast for mayor, which is about a 37 percent voter turnout.

“I think the voters spoke loud and clear tonight,” Rodolico said, surrounded by friends and family. “I think we had a very clear message about professional, proficient and open government. My job now is to follow through on that.”

This will be his first four-year term as mayor, but Rodolico is no stranger to municipal and state government. Last year, Rodolico campaigned against incumbent state Rep. Tom Reynolds, a Democrat, for a 42nd House District seat, but lost by about 1,000 votes.

He said he plans to begin his transition as the town’s new mayor by determining Town Hall staffing needs, beginning conversations with the new town council members and focusing on the budget, which he called his No. 1 priority.

Coming to the end of his first-four year term, Allyn said he was “absolutely stunned” when the numbers started coming in from Gales Ferry School, the town’s second district.

“I thought I either wasn’t hearing the numbers right or I should go hide somewhere,” Allyn said over the phone. “I’ve always said it was up to the residents, but there is still work to be done. This is still my town, and I still love Ledyard.”

Allyn said he felt as if he has done a good job accomplishing changes in town, assembling a Town Hall staff and that he has positioned the town to move ahead, but “that’s not the way it was seen in the street.”

In addition to the town’s new mayor, the town council and the school board have a total of six new members.

Elected to serve two-year terms on the 21st Town Council are Democrats Sharon Wadecki, Bill Saums and Mary McGrattan and Republicans John Marshall, Linda Davis, Kevin Dombrowski, Mike France, Steve Eichelberg and Sean Sullivan.

The council will also have to elect a new chairman with the departure of current Chairman Terry Jones. Councilors James Diaz and David Holdridge did not seek re-election.

The new school board consists of Democrats Michelle Hinton, Sharon Hightower and Rebecca Graebner, and Republicans Thomas Malone, Julia Cronin, Gordan Strickland, Mimi Peck-Llewellyn, Robert Beaver and Joan Disco. Ted Nunes, Stephanie Calhoun and John Phetteplace were not re-elected and current school board member Barbara Kil did not seek re-election.