Election 2012: LeGeyt Wins 17th, Witkos Declares Victory in 8th Senate District

State Rep. Tim LeGeyt won re-election to the state's 17th House District Tuesday night. According to early results, the candidate won by a tally of 7,171 to 4,689 over his Democratic challenger, David Peña of Avon. 

"The Republican Party is alive and well in the 17th District," he said. "I'm pleased that I won in each town." 

He also said he appreciated his opponent's professionalism.

"David Peña is a very fine guy," LeGeyt said. 

Peña did concede Tuesday night. 

"It comes to me as a suprise," Peña said of the results.

He said that Avon didn't have the voter turnout it did in the 2008 presidential election.

"The results are indicative of people voting strict party," Peña said. 

He thanked his supporters who helped him during the campaign and congratulated LeGeyt.

"We both ran a good, clean race," Peña, not noticing any negative campaigning.

Shortly before 10 p.m., Kevin Witkos also claimed victory in the state's 8th Senate District but said he had not received a concession from Democratic opponent Dan Seger and acknowledged all the numbers were not in. Official numbers were not immediately available. 

Witkos thanked supporters gathered at the Canton Indoor Golf Center and said the state needed to reign itself in fiscally. 

"We are standing on a fiscal cliff and are looking down on a sea of debt," Witkos said. "I pledge to do my best to stop the tax and spend Democrats in Hartford." 

Late Tuesday night, Seger said he had not seen all the numbers but acknowledged “all indications are that (Witkos) has won his third term as state senator of the 8th District.” 

As of Wednesdsay morning, the tallies, with 19 of 21 precincts reports, the total was 25,324 to 19,071. 

General election in Canton: 

The referendum questions about track and roofs projects both passed. (See related story).

The town also voted Republican except in the presidential and U.S. Senate races.  

In all 5,718, or 81 percent of the 7,079 registered voters cast ballots. 

Moderator Lorinda Pane said officials were surprised the number was not higher after the busy start Tuesday morning. 

"It's not as good as we hoped for," she said shortly after the polls closed. "It got slower in the last couple of hours." 

Canton results:

Question 1 — SHALL THE TOWN OF CANTON APPROPRIATE $3,236,575 FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL OR PORTIONS OF THE ROOFS AT VARIOUS TOWN AND SCHOOL FACILITIES; AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OF BONDS AND NOTES TO FINANCE THE PORTION OF THE APPROPRIATION NOT DEFRAYED FROM GRANTS?

Yes — 3,992
No — 1,149

Question 2 — SHALL THE TOWN OF CANTON APPROPRIATE $3,615,000 FOR ACQUISITION OF THE SITE FOR AND DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPPING AND FINANCING OF ATHLETIC FACILITIES, PARKING LOT AND ENTRANCEWAY IMPROVEMENTS AT CANTON HIGH SCHOOL; AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUE OF BONDS AND NOTES IN THE SAME AMOUNT TO FINANCE THE APPROPRIA TION?

Yes — 3,034 
No — 2,112 

Presidential 

Romney, Ryan (R) — 2,742
Obama, Biden (D) — 2,967
Anderson, Rodriguez (I) — 21
Johnson, Gray (L)— 61
Stein, Honkala (G) (write-in) — 10

U.S. Senator

Linda E. McMahon (R) — 2,723
Christopher S. Murphy (D) — 2,824
Paul Passarelli — (L) 94
Jeff Russell (G) (Write-in) — 1

U.S. Representative

Andrew Roraback — (R) 2,781
Elizabeth Esty — (D) 2,688
John Pistone (I) (Write-In) — 3

State Senator

Kevin Witkos (R) — 3,710
Daniel J. Seger (D) — 1,846

State Representative

Timothy LeGeyt (R) — 3,832
David Pena — (D) 1,715

Registrar of Voters (both elected)

Jack Miner (R) — 2,862
Lynn Homan (D) — 2,382