By Ann DeMatteo, Assistant Metro Editor

HAMDEN — Democrat Scott Jackson made history Tuesday when he was elected the town’s youngest mayor, and probably the state’s first popularly elected black suburban mayor.

Jackson, for four years the chief administrative officer to outgoing Democratic Mayor Craig B. Henrici, defeated Republican Ron Gambardella 7,182 to 6,063.

Jackson, at 37, is a year younger than Democrat Lillian Clayman was when she became the town’s first female mayor in 1991.

Jackson and his supporters were revved up Tuesday night at headquarters at 2600 Dixwell Ave. The excitement surged each time more numbers were posted.

Hard-working Republicans, meeting at American Legion Post 88, were somber as results came in, knowing Gambardella’s lead in the first districts to call in results likely wouldn’t hold up against Jackson.

“It’s not enough,” Gambardella said, shaking his head. “It’s nerve-wracking.”

Jackson took six districts to Gambardella’s three, the 2nd, 7th and 8th. And while Gambardella lost, Republicans were happy that they took five out of 15 seats on the Legislative Council, two more than the last term.

Jackson attributed the win to the people behind him. “The people we had behind us were strong, were positive and were progressive, and it resonated with the voters,” he said.

He credited Gambardella with running an issues-based campaign.

“All of the candidates gave people what they needed to hear to make decisions,” Jackson said to Gambardella when the Republican called him to concede shortly after 9 p.m. “I have a great deal of respect for you and what you accomplished. Make sure you stay involved.” Continued...

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Gambardella, a former at-large councilman, had said he wanted to develop a five-year budget plan, because of previous Democratic tax increases. He also had proposed to open government through a mayor’s advisory commission, a street and sidewalk commission and an education task force similar to a think tank.

Jackson, meanwhile, said that voters would be better served by a government professional. A Cornell University graduate, Jackson had worked as an aide to U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman and as a program manager with a state policy agency before becoming Hamden’s community development director. As Henrici’s chief aide, he worked on the first tax-cut budget in a decade.

Almost 40 percent of the town’s 33,566 registered voters turned out.

Poll workers reported a steady stream of voters throughout the day. Dominic Tammaro, the moderator at the M.L. Keefe Community Center, attributed the good turnout to candidates “doing a good job in campaigning,” and to how President Barack Obama brought the vote out in the predominantly minority district last year.

Hamden political leaders believe Jackson is only the fourth African-American mayor in the state’s history.

Democratic Town Chairman Joe McDonagh said there was a concerted effort to reach out to Democrats in the 3rd District. Jackson won 80 percent of the vote there in the September primary against Councilman James Leddy, D-9, who had sought the party nomination.

McDonagh said he attributed the win to “the wisdom of Hamden in electing the right man for the job.”

Democratic Town Clerk Vera Morrison won over Republican candidate Rosalie Cavanaugh, 6,117 to 4,319.

All six at-large council incumbents were returned to office: Democrats Jack Kennelly, Al Gorman, Carol Noble and James Pascarella, and Republicans Craig Cesare and Betty Wetmore. District council seats were won by Republicans Michael Iezzi Jr., Gabe Lupo and Lynn Campo, and Democrats Oswald Brown, David Hennigan, Kathleen Schomaker, Curt Balzano Leng, Michael Colaiaicovo and John DeRosa.

Ann DeMatteo can be reached at adematteo@nhregister.com or 789-5716.

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