Politics Is Never Boring in Connecticut

Voters head to the polls in 29 cities and towns

By LEANNE GENDREAU

Updated 1:40 PM EDT, Tue, Sep 15, 2009

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Jessica Hill/AP

Of the 29 cities and towns holding primaries on Tuesday, only one has any allegation of scandal but there are some interesting issues.

Here are some of the most interesting races, in alphabetical order by town:

You’ve probably heard about the Bethel first selectman race because the incumbent, Robert Burke, has been accused of harassing a woman and her boyfriend by calling them 40 times.

According to police, there was a private, personal sort of relationship that became public when the woman went to police. He pleaded not guilty. These are only allegations, but it added a little more drama than usual to a local political race.

In Griswold, there’s an internal political battle dividing Republicans, the Norwich Bulletin reports. There’s a little issue of an endorsement issue in the first selectman race and whether it was legal. For all the details, check out the Bulletin’s coverage.

In New Britain, there’s a slight bit of drama in the race for city clerk over the fact that there’s a primary at all. And it’s all over the Democratic party throwing support to the challenger over the long-time incumbent for city clerk, the Hartford Courant reports.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you’re voting by absentee ballots, it must be in the hands of the town clerk’s staff by 8.

Here’s the full list:

Bethel, Republican race for First Selectman
Bridgeport, Democratic race for Council Member- Districts 135, 136, 137, 138
Bridgewater, Democratic race for Board of Finance and the Planning and Zoning Commission
Chaplin, Republican race for Board of Education, to fill a vacancy for two years
Cromwell, Democratic race for Selectman
Deep River, Democratic race for Town Clerk
Greenwich, Democratic race for Tax Collector
Griswold, Republican race for First Selectman, Board of Finance and Board of Education
Guilford, Democratic race for First Selectman
Haddam, Democratic race for First Selectman
Hamden, Democratic race for Mayor and Councilman in districts 1, 2 and 9
Hampton, Democratic race for First Selectman
Killingworth, Republican race for Selectman, Town clerk and Treasurer
Meriden, Democratic race for Mayor
Middlebury, Republican race for First Selectman and Selectman
Morris, Republican race for First Selectman and Selectman
New Britain, Democratic race for Town and City Clerk
New Haven, Democratic race for Alderman in wards 14, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30
Old Saybrook, Democratic race for Selectman
Scotland, Democratic race for Selectman
Sprague, Republican race for Board of Education
Stamford, Republican race for Board of Representatives- District 14
Sterling, Democratic race for Selectman
Stratford, Republican race for Mayor
Stratford, Democratic race for Zoning Commission, of District IV
Waterbury, Democratic race for Mayor
Watertown, Republican race for Town Clerk
West Haven, Democratic race for Town and City Clerk, Tax Collector and Councilman
Westport, Republican race for First Selectman and Selectman
Willington, Democratic race for First Selectman