First selectman begins her sixth term
By Bob Bumcrot

On November 3, First Selectman Susan M. Dyer was elected to a sixth two-year term by a wide margin. The incumbent Democrat received 410 votes, of which 32 were by absentee ballot, while her Republican challenger, Joshua N. DeCerbo, got  228, including 17 absentee votes.
Of 1,139 registered voters, 642 exercised their franchise. The 56.4 percent turnout was  what moderator Keith Harvil had expected for an election with no state or national contests.
“Josh worked hard,” Dyer said immediately after the official results were announced by Harvil.  She then thanked her supporters. “I appreciate the continued support of so many voters.”
DeCerbo seemed pleased with the results of his first-time run. “I’d like to thank everyone for their support in giving me the opportunity to help guide Norfolk,” said DeCerbo, flanked by his wife Ann, and children ,Ginny and David. His parents also attended the announcement of results.
During much of the day Dyer, DeCerbo and other candidates manned adjacent tables near the Town Hall polling site. When not dispensing coffee and doughnuts, DeCerbo worked on preparing his next teaching assignment, a physics class at the Masters School in Simsbury.
Other contested seats were won on the Board of Finance by David S. Torrey (Republican, 335 votes) and J. Michael Sconyers (Democrat, 434).  Board of Finance Alternate by Walter G. Allyn, Jr. (D, 421). On the Board of Education by Michele A. Cyr (R, 389), Jill A. Hall (R, 419), Carolyn Schenk Childs (D, 500) and Sally Carr (D, 350) and on the Board of Assessment Appeals by Ann R. DeCerbo (R, 377) and Matthew T. Riiska (D, 470).
Uncontested seats went to Selectmen James J. Stotler, Sr. (R, 384) and Leo Francis Colwell, Jr. (D, 467).  Town Clerk Linda S. Perkins (R and D, 603), Town Treasurer Chelsea Byrne (R and D, 587), Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate Lawrence Freedman (D, 472), Zoning Board of Appeals members Joann M.Munch (R and D, 578) and Lisa Bowden Carter (D, 482) and, finally, Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate Peter G. Mulville (D, 549).