MONROE – As of 3 p.m., 2,157 people, or 16.8 percent of registered voters, had cast a ballot in Monroe. The breakdown:
Fawn Hollow – 540
Stepney El – 571
Monroe El – 511
Masuk High – 535
At 3 p.m. two years ago, 22.68 percent of voters had already participated. The higher turnout may be because the last local election was between two new candidates. This year, there is an incumbent.
The low turnout could also be because people are still trying to get their lives together after losing power, Republican assistant moderator Lorraine Riedel said. At 3:30 p.m., 102 people still did not have power in Monroe, according to the Connecticut Light & Power website.
Diane Hall, of Cross Hill Road, walked into the Monroe Elementary to cast a vote at 3:40 p.m. She said she was voting for Republican incumbent Steve Vavrek for first selectman because, “he’s tightened the belt. We needed to make tough decisions and he did it.”
She said is Vavrek is reelected, she would like to see him continue to run the town like a family would a personal household budget.