McAnaney Defeats Frenaye for Suffield's Top Job in Close Election

Republican Ed McAnaney unseated incumbent Democrat Tom Frenaye for the position of first selectman by 183 votes as Suffield turned a political page on elections Tuesday night.

The local GOP also retained a majority on the boards of education, selectmen and finance, putting party members in control of the town’s three key fiscal bodies. (Republicans retained a 6-3 majority on the school board and a 4-2 majority on the Board of Finance.)

Republican incumbents Joanne Sullivan and Tim Reynolds won uncontested seats on the board of selectmen along with Democratic incumbents Eileen Moncrief and Brian Fitzgerald. Republican Scott Lingenfelter, a former first selectman, has joined the finance board along with two Democrats, newly elected Chris Childs and returning incumbent Joe Sangiovanni. Democrats Lori D'Ostuni (incumbent), Michelle Zawawi and George Beiter join Republicans Mary Lou Sanborn (incumbent) and Scott Schneider on the board of education.

for a full list of candidates and winners in the 2011 Suffield municipal election. Suffield had 3,010 of its 8,274 registered voters, or 36 percent participate in the election.

"I think this victory statement is twofold," McAnaney said. "The voters sent a message to the effect that we needed to change the first selectman and change how we handle issues affecting the town, and secondly, that this was a result of [Tom Frenaye's] negative campaigning."

"I think tonight’s results are more a statement of the issues…of the fundamental differences between Tom and me," he said.

McAnaney cited from the Democratic Town Council, and aimed only at discrediting him as a candidate with no bearing on the issues of the election. The allegations stem from McAnaney's time as Suffield's probate court judge.

"I think the negativity is something we need to overcome," he added. "And this was not the time for it at all. We have to deal with them and they have to deal with us and this struck at the very relationships between people and that was unacceptable."

As with any political campaign, the combatants must come to some compromise and work together for the greater benefit of the community. At least that’s the theory some follow. For his part, the new first selectman is hopeful.

"I think the wounds can be healed quickly," McAnaney said. "But the Democrats need to take the first step to address the problem. They need to come off their position and address the issues accurately. This is not just Tom [Frenaye] but the entire Democratic Town Committee. They need to take the lead on this."

If Tuesday’s coincidence is any indication – both Republicans and Democrats booked rooms at the Suffield Inn to celebrate and in some cases console their candidates – then the parties may be able to work together and move forward.

For his part, Frenaye did shake hands with the winner and ask that they meet and talk in the coming weeks. McAnaney agreed, noting he looked forward to the opportunity.

Yet Frenaye was sad after learning of the results.

"I was feeling good about things starting today," he said. "Now I am disappointed. I thought we did some good things in town over the past two years and things worked well during this storm."

When asked why did the voters not endorse a second term, Frenaye said, "I think it is a choice of leadership style."

As far as the campaign and mailing was concerned, he did not back off any of the statements.

"[McAnaney] was the first one to put out some pretty negative stuff," Frenaye said. "And what we put out was no different than anything that has been sent my way the last two years."

"I think the statements we made [during the campaign] were accurate and I felt it was important to get this information out to the voters," Frenaye said. "He struggled with the probate court budget and I think he will have a tough time managing the town budget [that] is much larger. He will have a lot more help here than he did before, however.”

Looking forward, First Selectman-elect McAnaney commented, "In two years, I hope we will have a thorough fiscal plan and will keep up with the things that need to be done in town and hopefully not have to raise taxes to do it."

As for his first order of business, he said, "There are a number of infrastructure issues that need to be addressed, beginning with cleaning up from this storm and all the recent weather unpleasantness."

Frenaye hopes to be part of the rebuilding process.

"Generally, in Suffield, bridges between the parties get rebuilt very quickly," he noted. "People all know each other in town and we are all neighbors. We have done it before so we know how to work together."

"I don’t know what’s next for me," Frenaye added. "I like the town and I will be involved somehow, someway. It is home."