Norfolk voters favor Obama, Murphy
By Bob Bumcrot

November 4 in Norfolk dawned clear and rather warm. Reflecting the broad
interest in this election were the many signs arrayed along
Route 44 from Maaser Park to the Blackberry Inn. There were six signs for
Obama/Biden and one for McCain/Palin. Congressman Murphy had seven
to Cappiello’s four. Seven signs were for House for State Senator and none
for Witkos, his opponent. In the run for state representative, Rigby had 13
to Riiska’s 12.
Of the town’s 1175 registered voters, 1014, or 86 percent, cast ballots, plus
nine provisional ballots for president submitted by people claiming not to be
registered anywhere. According to long-time town Democratic Party leader
Frank Dooley, Norfolk participation has edged above 90 percent in several
previous elections.
Oddly enough, of the total of 1014 votes cast, only 848 were for president.
Out of this total, 640 were for Obama, 188 for McCain and 20 for
Nader/Gonzalez.
In the race for District 5 of the U. S. House of Representatives, which
Democrat Chris Murphy won for a second term, Norfolkians polled 330 for
Murphy, 317 for David Cappiello.
Despite having no signs along Route 44, Republican Kevin Witkos won the
District 8 seat in the State Senate. The vote here was 588 for Witkos and
542 for Arthur House.
Interest in the contest for State Assembly in District 63 was heightened
by the write-in campaign of Norfolk resident William Riiska, who
entered the race against Republican John Rigby after Democratic
incumbent George Wilber resigned. Wilber stepped
down after admitting that he had paid $100,000 to a woman who alleged
that he had sexually abused her 30 years ago. The
resignation came too late to remove Wilber's name from the ballot.
Riiska faxed an application for a write-in slot on the ballot just before the
deadline. Although it was initially rejected because of a requirement that
the application be delivered in person, a judge later ruled that it should be
accepted. Riiska lost to Rigby by more than two to one, but he carried
Norfolk, 438 to 353.