Wallingford Election Results 2023: Cervoni Beats O'Connell For Mayor

WALLINGFORD, CT — Republican Vinny Cervoni will become Wallingford’s first new mayor in 40 years after defeating Democrat Riley O’Connell in Tuesday’s municipal election.

Cervoni had 7,732 votes, while O’Connell had 6,698, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of the State's Office.

Cervoni, currently the chairman of the Town Council, will succeed Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., who announced earlier this year that he wouldn’t seek re-election after serving 20 consecutive terms in office.

Republicans also maintained their 6-3 majorities on the Town Council and Board of Education.

O’Connell lost to Dickinson by fewer than 400 votes in the 2021 election to claim his 20th consecutive term in office.

O'Connell congratulated Cervoni in a post on Facebook on Tuesday night.

“The results for tonight are in, and unfortunately they are not what we were hoping for,” O’Connell wrote in the post. “It was the most votes a Democrat received for mayor in over 30 years, 300+ more than we received in 2021, but it was not enough.

“I congratulate Vincent Cervoni on being the next mayor of Wallingford. I wish him, and all of the other successful candidates from tonight, the best of luck as they navigate this new chapter in Wallingford's history. May it be a chapter that brings this town we all love in the right direction.

“While words will fail to do me justice, I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, each and every person that supported us over the course of this campaign. The 16,000 doors we knocked, the 1,000's more phone calls we had, none of this would have been possible without you. You have proven in every way, shape, and form that you love Wallingford, and that is what makes this community so special.

“Being your candidate for mayor, something that I've been so fortunate as to experience twice, will always be the greatest honor of my life. I've made countless friends on this journey that will last a lifetime. While I can tell you that this is officially the last time I will run for mayor, I promise to never stop trying to make my community a better place; for our future, and for all of our futures.”

In the Town Council races, incumbent Republicans Christina Tatta, Craig Fishbein, Autumn Allinson, Joe Marrone and Tom Laffin all won, and will be joined by Christopher Regan, who claims the vacancy created by Cervoni's run for mayor.

Incumbent Democrats Vinnie Testa and Sam Carmody were re-elected and will be joined by Jesse Reynolds.

In the Board of Education races, Republicans Jennifer Passaretti, Ray Ross, Marla Roscoe, Donna Regan, Rajan Doering, and Caroline Raynis all won, while Maureen Reed, Michael Votto and Melanie Rossacci won seats for Democrats.

Below are the unofficial vote totals of every race, as reported by the Secretary of the State's Office:

MAYOR

Democrat Riley O'Connell: 6,698

Republican Vincent Cervoni:7,732

Write-In Perry Palmer: 0

TOWN COUNCIL

Democrat Jason Michael: 6,364

Democrat Bruce Conroy: 6,051

Democrat Kristi Doerr: 6,510

Democrat Samuel Carmody: 6,961

Democrat Jesse Reynolds: 6,638

Democrat Vincent Testa Jr.: 7,668

Republican Autumn Allinson: 6,850

Republican Joe Marrone III: 7,123

Republican Christopher Regan: 6,623

Republican Craig Fishbein: 7,385

Republican Tom Laffin: 7,247

Republican Christina Tatta: 8,547

Republican Jeff Necio: 6,164

Petitioning Candidate Darrell P. Stancuna: 829

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Democrat Benjamin Hyland: 6,134

Democrat Maureen Reed: 6,739

Democrat Michael Votto: 7,126

Democrat Melanie Rossacci: 7,024

Democrat Sandy Storck: 6,290

Republican Caroline Raynis: 6,740

Republican Jennifer Passaretti: 7,335

Republican Ray Ross: 7,717

Republican Marla Roscoe: 6,547

Republican Donna Regan: 7,008

Republican Ryjan Doering: 7,281