Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 31

gist CP- grje Jlaf ffoft $ontant NSIDE CONNECTICUT PAGE THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 1988 South Central Shore Edition Garafalo Reflects On Election Loss z. win." People told Garafalo how well he had done Wednesday. But the burly mayor shrugged his shoulders. "It doesn't amount to much." The results, including absentee ballots, in the Middletown town desk's office Wednesday showed Borges with 6,216 votes from Middletown, and Garafalo' with 6,024. As to why Garafalo would win in 73 towns, but not in his own, he said, "The lever pull is very strong in Middletown." Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a ratio of more than 2-to-l in the city.

At Middletown GOP headquarters, above a Main Street toy store, Garafalo watched the results grim-faced, with his hand on his wife's shoulder. "I left Middletown saying we got walloped," he said. When he arrived at the Sheraton-Hartford Hotel, where the state GOP faithful had gathered, someone in the parking lot told him the race was too close to call. Garafalo was uncertain about future bids for political office, including whether he would try for a third term as Middletown's mayor. For the remaining year of his mayoral term, Garafalo said, he plans to concentrate on the city's road-improvement program, renovating Macdonough School, and improving Palmer Field.

The roads and school improvements received voter approval Tuesday, and Palmer Field is receiving state aid. Garafalo said he also would work on finding solutions to Middletown's downtown parking shortage and on ensuring that development does not go wild. Despite waging a statewide campaign, Garafalo said, he does not have to reintroduce himself to his hometown because he never left. did what any person would have done," he said. "I tried to better myself.

I didn't take anything away from the city." '(t By JACQUELINE CUTLER Courant Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN Tired from the campaign, which was conducted on weekends and after his workdays as mayor, Sebastian J. Garafalo Wednesday likened his failed bid for state treasurer to "coming in one run shy of tying the ball game." Garafalo, a Republican, was bested Tuesday by Democrat Francisco L. Borges of Hartford by 11 percentage points. Unofficial results showed that Borges received 501,530 votes, or 55 percent of the total vote, to Gara-falo's 401,864 or 44 percent. One percent of the vote was split between two other candidates.

Despite his loss, Garafalo fared better than the top of his ticket. Julie D. Belaga, the Republican candidate for governor, garnered 41 percent of the vote, unofficial results showed. Wednesday, Garafalo said he was unsure why he got more votes than don't know," he said. "Maybe I'm better known than I think I am.

I campaiped in different areas of the state. Maybe people did pay attention to my credentials." Still, Garafalo said he was surprised that he had three percentage points more than Belaga. "I figured I'd match Julie, or be less. I guess my reputation precedes me," he said, and then quickly added, "I say that tongue-in-cheek." During the campaign, Garafalo, a former banker, was the height of caution. He never said he would win.

Instead he spoke in terms of hopes and what-ifs. Wednesday, however, the 54-year-old, two-term mayor admitted, "I expected to win. Being cautious is my nature. There was always the thought that this was going to be close. I was probably in the same atmosphere as the political pundits who were saying it was a horse race, and I kept hoping the party would Three GOP By JOHN G.

FALCIONI Courant Staff Writer Three Republican incumbents vying for re-election to the state House of Representatives from central Connecticut took it on their political chins Tuesday as Democratic newcomers unseated them. Unofficial results show that three of 13 challengers in central Connecticut and the Valley Shore area were able to fight the tide and unseat their opponents. All election results were still unofficial Wednesday. Residents in the 32nd, 82nd and 90th Assembly Districts will be represented by new legislators during the next two years. In the 82nd District, which covers Middlefield and part of Meriden, Meriden lawyer Thomas S.

Luby, a Democrat, won 58 percent of the vote to defeat incumbent Republican Richard P. Antonetti of Meriden, 3,117 to 2,252. Antonetti was trying to win his second consecutive term as state representative. In 1972, he served one term in the General Assembly representing West Haven. It was purely an issue-oriented campaign, and I had a lot of help Middletown Mayor Sebastian J.

Garafalo sits in his the state treasurer's race to Democrat Francisco office Wednesday, a day after the Republican lost L. Borges of Hartford. TOWN BRIEFS MIDDLETOWN Millbrook Bridge Closed for Repairs The Millbrook Road bridge will be closed while it is being repaired, Mayor Sebastian J. Garafalo said Wednesday. During construction, which began Wednesday, Millbrook Road will be closed to through -traffic from the intersection of Randolph and Millbrook roads north to the intersection of Sand Hill and Millbrook roads.

Construction and detour signs are posted. East Main Street's southbound traffic will be detoured onto Sand Hill Road and then to Lee Street Northbound Millbrook Road traffic will be able to use Ridge Road or Fowler Avenue. Judge Dismisses Assault Charges Assault charges against a I Portland man were dismissed 1 Wednesday in Superior Court in Middletown. Niels L. Larsen HI, 29, who had pleaded not guilty to charges of; risk of injury to a minor and second-degree assault, appeared in court to hear the decision by' Judge Joseph A.

Licari Jr. Larsen had been arrested Aug. 24 on a complaint that he had struck a 4-year-old child in Portland earlier that month. New York Man, 33, Arraigned in Chase A New York man accused of leading state police on a high- speed chase on I-S5 in Old Saybrook and getting into a scuffle when he was stopped, was arraigned Wednesday in Superior Court in Middletown. Brisseau Chrisleu, 33, of I Brooklyn, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and interfering with or resisting a police officer.

Judge Joseph A. Licari Jr. set his bond at $3,000, Chrisleu said he was a Haitian citizen. About 2 p.m. Tuesday, a trooper tried to stop a car heading north near exit 66 in Old Saybrook, state police said.

Instead of pulling over, the driver, whom police identified as Chrisleu, accelerated to almost 80 mph. Chrisleu twice tried to run the trooper's car off the road before the cars were forced to stop when they met heavy traffic at the Baldwin Bridge, state police said. After getting out of the car, Chrisleu scuffled with a trooper and Chrisleu's four passengers, all Haitian nationals, interfered with the arrest, state police said. No one was injured in the scuffle. Chrisleu also was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, disregarding signals and speeding.

Each passenger was charged with disorderly conduct, but Assistant State's Attorney Michael R. Dannehy said Wednesday he would not prosecute those cases. Chrisleu was being held at the Morgan Street jail in Hartford awaiting a Nov. 13 court appearance. NEW HAVEN Police Investigation Of Robbery Continues Police are continuing their investigation of an armed robbery Tuesday that netted two thieves about $2,000 from two workers who were restoring a Shepard Street building.

Police said two gunmen wearing ski masks confronted the workers about 4:30 p.m. The gunmen, also wearing hoods and gloves, fled on foot, police said. There were no injuries. Incumbents Lose in Area Assembly Districts ShanaSureck Special to The Courant defeated his Republican opponent, Ronald Bushman, with more than 74 percent of the vote in the 84th District. DeZinno received 4,273 votes, Bushman 1,495.

The district also covers part of Meriden. In the 86th District race, Republican incumbent Robert M. Ward of North Branford defeated Democratic challenger Joan M. Fitch of North Branford by 75 votes, 3,277 to 3,202. Ward won by capturing 397 more votes than Fitch in North Branford.

The district covers North Branford and parts of Wallingford and East Haven. In the 89th Assembly District, incumbent Republican David O. Thorp of Cheshire defeated Democrat Edward Diana of Wallingford, 4,328 to 3,283. The district covers parts of Cheshire, Prospect and Wallingford. In the 100th District, Democrat David Lavine of Durham defeated George M.

Souto of Middletown, a Republican, 4,447 to 2,906. The district covers Durham and part of Middletown. In the 101st District, Linda N. Emmons of Madison, a Republican, defeated Democrat George E. Blair III of Madison, 5,426 to 2,704.

The district covers Chester, Killingworth and Madison. part of Montville. Murphy, a Democrat, took her hometown, but Hoye, a resident of Montville, received 60 percent of the votes in his town. In the final tally, Hoye received 3,389 votes to Murphy's 3,226. The incumbent in the 37th Assembly District, Democrat Mark H.

Powers of the Niantic section of East Lyme, made a successful bid for state senator in the 20th Senate District. In another close race, in the 48th Assembly District, Andrew McCall Norton, a Republican from Colchester, narrowly defeated his opponent, Democrat Joseph T. Ploszaj of Salem. Both candidates were vying for the seat left vacant by Democrat Kenneth L. Przybyszof the Uncas-ville section of Montville, who ran a successful race in the 19th Senate District this year.

Norton took 3,579 votes to Ploszaj's 3,497. The 48th Assembly District covers Colchester, Salem and part of Montville. In the 83rd Assembly District, covering part of Meriden, Republican incumbent John J. Zajac Jr. received 4,273 votes; Democrat Rose Z.

Cignatta received 3,314 votes. Benjamin N. DeZinno a Democrat from Meriden, overwhelmingly Senators Attribute Losses to Lever Projects Pass in Cheshire, Middletown, Portland from the top of the ticket," Luby said "But Antonetti was one tough opponent." In the 32nd District, another Democratic challenger, Vincenzo Maz-zotta of Portland, defeated incumbent Republican Robert F. Jahn of Cromwell by capturing nearly 61 percent of the vote. The district covers Cromwell, Portland and part of Middletown.

Mazzotta took 4,990 votes to Jahn's 3,206. In the 90th District, the Democratic challenger, Mary G. Fritz of Wal-lingford, defeated incumbent Republican Carleton J. Benson of Prospect. The district covers parts of Cheshire, Prospect and Walling-f ord.

Fritz received 4,012 votes, almost 59 percent; Benson received 2,869 votes. Unopposed candidates were reelected in three districts. In the 34th District, which covers East Haddam, East Hampton and Haddam, Democrat Dean Markham of East Hampton will serve his fifth term. In the 35th District, covering Westbrook, Essex and Clinton, Republican Sidney J. Holbrook of West-brook will serve a third term.

In the 85th District, which covers part of part of Wallingford. Two other first-term Republicans lost their Senate seats to Democratic challengers. Sen. Eric R. Benson, 31, of Franklin, lost the 19th Senate District seat to Rep.

Kenneth L. Przybysz, 39, of Montville, by an unofficial vote of 16,452 to 10,533. The district covers Norwich, Sprague, Franklin, Colchester, Montville, Salem, Boz-rah, Lebanon, Lisbon and East Haddam. In the 20th Senate District, Pierce F. Connair, 60, of East Lyme, was ousted from office by Mark H.

Powers, 32, a state representative from East Lyme. In the unofficial tally, Connair collected 11,983 votes to Powers' 15,505. The district covers Deep River, East Lyme, Essex, Lyme, New London, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Waterford. Connair said he carried the towns in the western side of the district, but it was not enough to offset the Democratic tide in New London and Waterford. "I'm glad that the party lever went off," he said, acknowledging at the same time that he probably, benefited from the lever two years ago.

Eaton said he and other one-term GOP incumbents worked hard in their campaigns this fall. "It just wasn't enough," he said. "In the presence of the landslide, (re-election was just a literal impossibility." Residents in the 32nd, 82nd and 90th Assembly Districts will be represented by new legislators during the next two years. Wallingford, Democrat Mary M. Mushinsky will serve her fourth term.

In the rest of the races around the area, incumbents fought off their challengers. Democrat Paul Gionf riddo of Middletown retained his post in the 33rd District, capturing 4,417 votes to Republican Richard Winter's 1,864. The district covers part of Middle-town. In the 36th District covering Deep River, Lyme, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook Republican John J. Tiffany II of Lyme defeated George J.

Eckenroth of Deep River, 4,961 to 3,474. Elizabeth H. Murphy of East Lyme lost to Republican John T. Hoye by 163 votes in the 37th District, which covers East Lyme and In three other Senate races in the region, two incumbent Republicans survived challenges and a veteran Democrat, Amelia P. Mustone, 58, of Meriden, easily held the 13th Senate District seat representing Meriden and part of Middletown.

Mustone beat John A. Francis, 42, Meriden's assistant fire chief, by a vote of 17,552 to 8,263, unofficial results show. In the 34th Senate District, three-term incumbent Republican Philip S. Robertson, 43, of Cheshire, and the Senate's president pro tern last term, beat Democrat Arthur M. Concilio, 49, a North Haven businessman.

Unofficial vote totals have Robertson winning. 16,233 to Concilio's 12,236. The 34th Senate District covers Cheshire and North Haven and parts of East Haven, Hamden and Wallingford. In the 33rd Senate District, Republican Kenneth T. Hampton, 62, of Haddam, a two-term senator, defeated Democrat Charles W.

Wiltsie HI, 32, an East Hampton resident and the owner of a Port-, land auto dealership. The vote in that district, which comprises Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, East Hampton, Haddam, Killingworth, Madison, Marlborough, Portland, Westbrook and part of Middletown, was 17,070 for Hampton to 14,613 for Wiltsie, unofficial results show. By STEVE BURKHOLDER Courant Staff Writer One-term Republican incumbents who lost Tuesday in three state Senate races in the Valley Shore region said the party lever was a key to the abrupt break in their political careers. The irony of being swept into power in 1984 with GOP ticket leader Ronald Reagan and out of power Tuesday by Democratic Gov. William A.

O'Neill was not lost on the candidates Wednesday. Richard S. Eaton, a first-term senator from Guilford, acknowledged Wednesday that Reagan's coattails helped him into the 12th Senate District seat and added: "I think that I was adversely affected by the landslide this year. "It's an irony that people should vote to eliminate the party lever but use that lever to elect or defeat candidates," said Eaton, 43, who lost to Democratic challenger Thomas J. Sullivan, 54, also of' Guilford and president of Greater New Haven State Technical College.

"ItH be something that I'll tell my grandchildren about," Eaton said. State voters Tuesday abolished use of the party lever. Final unofficial results show that Sullivan won 15,509 to 14,457 in the 12th District, which com- irises Durham, Middlefield, Bran-ord, North Branford, Guilford and By RICK GREEN Courant Correspondent Officials in Cheshire, Portland and Middletown Wednesday applauded the millions of dollars in capital projects approved in Tuesday's voting. Residents came out firmly in support of capital-improvement projects, ranging from schools to sewers, on the ballot questions. Only one proposal was defeated.

CHESHIRE Town officials said the overwhelming approval of a $6.7 million expansion of the town's sewage-treatment plant will help solve a lot of development questions there. "We're very pleased with the results. The issue was very important to the future of the town," said Edward T. O'Neill, town manager. "It's definitely in the short- and long-term interests of the town." The referendum calls for design and construction of an expanded treatment plant and use of more advanced waste-treatment technology.

It was approved, 5,154 to 1,800. Overall, voters endorsed seven of eight capital projects on the ballot in Cheshire, totaling about $11.6 million. This included a $2.95 million renovation and expansion at the Town Hall. The only referendum item rejected was a $250,000 Willow Street reconstruction project, which was rejected 3,348 to 3,250. Also approved were: $475,000 for a new Mount Sanford Road bridge; $550,000 for a new Marion Road bridge; $550,000 for land acquisition for a north Cheshire fire station and for open space and conservation areas; and $500,000 for fire-safety renovations at town schools PORTLAND In Portland, School Superintendent LeRoy E.

Dyer welcomed the $580,000 for school improvements that voters approved Tuesday. He said work would begin by spring on construction of new classrooms at the overcrowded Valley View School. The construction is expected to cost $195,000 and will be. completed by next fall. About $325,000 of the money will be used to bring all four town schools in line with state fire codes and handicapped-access regulations.

The remainder would be spent on a new boiler at Gildersleeve School. MIDDLETOWN Middletown voters supported $12.3 million in financing for school renovations and road improvement. Residents voted 5,774 to 1,644 to approve $8.2 million in road repairs, reconstruction and resurfacing, and drainage work. The improvements are expected to take 2V4 years to complete. An additional $4.1 million was approved to bring the Macdonough School Into compliance with state, and local fire and safety codes.

-4 PORTLAND Middletown Company To Present Site Plan The Planning and Zoning Commission tonight is scheduled to review a site plan proposed by a Middletown company -interested in relocating its business into a vacant building behind Town HalL Contours a manufacturer of metal parts that operates at two locations on East Main Street in Middletown; will show how it plans to use the Waverly building and property. Richard M. Nokes, company president, said the company could operate much more easily if consolidated under one roof nn Waverly Boulevard. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Town HalL.