Stephen Devoto Wins Middletown's Zoning Primary Election

Stephen Devoto has won Middletown's planning and zoning primary election with 710 votes, according to the town clerk's office.

Robert Blanchard earned 610 votes, Dan Russo, 592; and Paul Turenne, 568. 

"It feels fantastic," Devoto said moments after learning the results. "I'm just so thrilled at the support I got from Middletown Democrats at the polls. They obviously voted on the basis of my experience and commitment to the issues of planning and zoning and not on the basis of back-room endorsements."

Wesleyan Professor Stephen Devoto was vying for one of three Democratic P&Z spots against Town Committee-endorsed candidates incumbent commissioner and former DTC Chair Russo, newcomer Blanchard and Turenne, associate registrar at Wesleyan.

Devoto says he poised for the campaign ahead of him, where he'll be matched up against Democrats Blanchard and Russo and Republicans David Bauer, Robert Simpson and Jeremy Clark. 

"I'm looking forward to having conversations with my fellow Democrats," he said, "and hearing from the chair and other candidates and hoping we can work on the issues together," Devoto said.

Earlier in the evening, with just two hours remaining before Middletown's Democratic primary election numbers were final, 946 voters cast their ballots for planning and zoning board seats — or 9.11 percent — nearly double the turnout at the halfway mark.

Halfway through Tuesday’s primary election, only five percent of the city’s registered Democrats have turned out at the polls.

At the 1 p.m. count, according to Republican Registrar of Voters Janice Gionfriddo, 520 of Middletown’s 10,383 registered Democrats have voted.

Even though four individuals are running in the primary election, there is only a single slot on Middletown's Planning and Zoning Commission — Russo is the only Democrat up for re-election. That means the three candidates who prevail in Tuesday's primary election will still be vying for a single seat against Republican counterparts in the November election.

According to city charter, says Gionfriddo, the majority party may control a maximum of four of seven total seats on Middletown's zoning board. The board has seven members and three alternates, each serving a four-year term.

Related Stories

• Voter Turnout Tops 9% 2 Hrs Before Dem Primary Ends
• Middletown's Zoning Board Primary Sees 4 Democrats Vying for Seat
• Meet Stephen Devoto, Democratic Candidate for Zoning Board
• Meet Dan Russo, Democratic Candidate for Planning and Zoning
• Meet Paul Turenne, Democratic Candidate for Planning and Zoning