MIDDLETOWN -
Republican Mayor Sebastian Giuliano on Tuesday prevailed over his Democratic opponent, winning a third term in a predominantly Democratic city.
About an hour after the polls closed, Giuliano's supporters gathered around him at the Republican Party's headquarters on Main Street.
Giuliano, 57, spoke of the importance of bipartisanship. "That message, I think, has resonated with the voters three times now," Giuliano said.
Giuliano said he thought he won because he doesn't "sugarcoat" the truth.
"Give the people the facts and trust them with it," he said of his approach. "They'll know what to do."
Giuliano's opponent, 29-year-old Daniel Drew, a Democrat, watched as Giuliano gave his speech.
In an interview outside the Republican Party's headquarters, Drew said he had no regrets and congratulated Giuliano. The Democratic Party's headquarters, just a few doors down, was mostly quiet, with a few people milling around.
"Tonight's his night," Drew said about Giuliano. "I'm really proud of the fact that we came close."
Daniel Russo, the Democratic town committee chairman and a candidate for the planning and zoning commission, applauded Drew's efforts.
"We couldn't be more proud of the effort Dan made," he said. 'I know we're going to see more of Daniel Drew in Middletown."
Unofficial results showed that the third mayoral contender, Ruthann Johnson, of the Realistic Balance Party, received less than 200 votes — considerably less than Giuliano's projected 4,379 votes and Drew's projected 3,896 votes.
Johnson could not be reached for comment.
Though Giuliano will remain in power, the Democrats appeared to have retained their control of the common council.
The winning Democrats are James Streeto, Robert Santangelo, Vincent Loffredo, Hope Kasper, Thomas Serra, Grady Faulkner Jr., Ronald Klattenberg and Gerald Daley. The winning Republicans are incumbents David Bauer, Joseph Bibisi and Philip Pessina and newcomer Deborah Kleckowski.
The results give the Democrats an 8-4 majority on the council — a majority they have held for the last 16 years. With the Democrats in control of the council the mayor will continue to struggle to get his initiatives passed.
Councilman Bauer said he was disappointed that voters didn't elect more Republicans.
"They did re-elect the mayor, but they didn't listen to his message to give him a better team to realize the goals that he stated," Bauer, the Republican town committee chairman, said. "We're going to be in the same stalemate that we've been in for the last two terms."
Bauer's thoughts turned to the next municipal election.
"We need a better strategy to try to give [Giuliano] that team in hopefully two years," he said.
About an hour after the polls closed, Giuliano's supporters gathered around him at the Republican Party's headquarters on Main Street.
Giuliano, 57, spoke of the importance of bipartisanship. "That message, I think, has resonated with the voters three times now," Giuliano said.
Giuliano said he thought he won because he doesn't "sugarcoat" the truth.
"Give the people the facts and trust them with it," he said of his approach. "They'll know what to do."
Giuliano's opponent, 29-year-old Daniel Drew, a Democrat, watched as Giuliano gave his speech.
In an interview outside the Republican Party's headquarters, Drew said he had no regrets and congratulated Giuliano. The Democratic Party's headquarters, just a few doors down, was mostly quiet, with a few people milling around.
"Tonight's his night," Drew said about Giuliano. "I'm really proud of the fact that we came close."
Daniel Russo, the Democratic town committee chairman and a candidate for the planning and zoning commission, applauded Drew's efforts.
"We couldn't be more proud of the effort Dan made," he said. 'I know we're going to see more of Daniel Drew in Middletown."
Unofficial results showed that the third mayoral contender, Ruthann Johnson, of the Realistic Balance Party, received less than 200 votes — considerably less than Giuliano's projected 4,379 votes and Drew's projected 3,896 votes.
Johnson could not be reached for comment.
Though Giuliano will remain in power, the Democrats appeared to have retained their control of the common council.
The winning Democrats are James Streeto, Robert Santangelo, Vincent Loffredo, Hope Kasper, Thomas Serra, Grady Faulkner Jr., Ronald Klattenberg and Gerald Daley. The winning Republicans are incumbents David Bauer, Joseph Bibisi and Philip Pessina and newcomer Deborah Kleckowski.
The results give the Democrats an 8-4 majority on the council — a majority they have held for the last 16 years. With the Democrats in control of the council the mayor will continue to struggle to get his initiatives passed.
Councilman Bauer said he was disappointed that voters didn't elect more Republicans.
"They did re-elect the mayor, but they didn't listen to his message to give him a better team to realize the goals that he stated," Bauer, the Republican town committee chairman, said. "We're going to be in the same stalemate that we've been in for the last two terms."
Bauer's thoughts turned to the next municipal election.
"We need a better strategy to try to give [Giuliano] that team in hopefully two years," he said.
