Steven Wawruck Re-Elected First Selectman in Windsor Locks But . . .

Republicans gained control of the Windsor Locks Board of Selectmen Tuesday, but Steven N. Wawruck Jr. was re-elected first selectman.

Dennis Gragnolati, Wawruck's Republican challenger, gained enough votes to win a seat on the board of selectman and knock Democratic incumbent Joseph Calsetta off the board. Republican incumbent Selectwoman Denise T. Balboni was re-elected garnering the most votes, unofficially 1,319, of the four.

Unofficially Wawruck had 1,261 votes, Gragnolati had 1,084 and Calsetta had 1,019.

Members of the Republican Town Committee said it was an historic victory because they can't remember when there was a Democratic first selectman and two Republican selectmen. The last time there were two Republican members of the board was in 1997-99 when Douglas Glazier was first selectman and Douglas Hamilton was second selectman, Paul Smith, a Republican committee member, said.

Balboni said she is appreciative of the voter support she received and hopefully the results will send a message to Wawruck to be more reasonable.

"I can't wait to be at the table with two Rs," Balboni told Republican Town Committee members during their celebration at Ads Pizza.

Wawruck said he is grateful for the support he received from voters for another term but said it was a bittersweet victory with Calsetta's defeat.

"Words can't describe the loss," Wawruck said.

He said he was disappointed in the turnout and the Democrats will have to analyze the numbers to see what happened.

"I congratulate the Republicans, they swept a lot of offices," Wawruck said. "It looks like it was a vote against the Democrats."

Gragnolatit said he was disappointed that he wasn't elected first selectman but thanked everyone who supported him in his effort.

"I hope to do a good job on the board of selectmen," Gragnolati said.

Both sides said they will work together for Windsor Locks when their term starts in three weeks.

"We will work cooperatively with Steve every way we can," Balboni said.

Smith said the Republican majority won't be obstructionists.

"We want our voices heard," Smith said.

Board of Finance member Cornelius O'Leary, a Democrat, said he thinks the storm had an impact on the lower turnout in voters. With Democratic majority of voters, a lower turnout probably benefited the Republicans, he said. They will have to analyze the numbers to find out what happened, he added.

O'Leary said he believes there should be no problem with the two political parties working together on the board of selectmen.

"I think the Republicans and Democrats in this town aren't too far apart on too many issues," O'Leary said.