The 2009 North Haven municipal elections were a resounding sweep for the Republicans, with Michael Freda taking the First Selectman position. Freda defeated incumbent First Selectman Janet McCarty by more than 1,600 votes with 4,873 to McCarty’s 3,232.

Republican second selectman candidate Tim Doheny defeated Stephen Fontana 4,404 to 3,591. Fontana received more votes than McCarty, and will be the town’s third selectman.

At 8:01 p.m., just after the polls closed in North Haven, Republican First Selectman candidate Michael Freda walked into Fantasia’s banquet room to a standing ovation and thunderous applause, despite the crowd not knowing the election’s outcome.

Before any results had been reported to the Republican’s gathering spot on Tuesday, the mood in the room was anxious, but hopeful, and as the numbers poured in, it shifted to uninhibited joy and celebration.

As each district’s results were called in to Republican Town Committee chairman Deborah Ward-O’Brien and then plugged into a spreadsheet projected on the wall, supporters cheered and high-fived one another in celebration of Freda’s victory.

“Has anybody in the house got a broom,” shouted Joseph D’Errico. “This is a clean sweep.”

In his victory speech, Freda noted the positive experiences he had during the campaign as he went door-to-door meeting residents, talking to businesses and town employees.

“I had the feeling that I was connecting with every single person on some level along the way,” Freda said.

That, combined with a determined and steadfast team of people, is what kept Freda moving forward in the campaign, he said. He took the opportunity on Tuesday to thank those who helped him along.

“Tonight is a night of thank yous,” he said. “I’d like to thank every citizen for giving me the opportunity to run for first selectman in this wonderful town we live in.”

“The other thing that continued to fuel my fire was the team I had behind me, who took time away from their businesses, their work, their personal lives and families, and for that I will be eternally grateful,” Freda added.

“I’m absolutely humbled to be handed the opportunity to serve the fine citizens of North Haven,” Freda said after the victory.

The new First Selectman, who will begin his two-year term on Dec. 1, said that a major focus of his administration will be bipartisanship.

“What people can expect from me is that I will reach out across all party lines,” Freda said. “I am interested in unifying North Haven.”

Freda also vowed for ease of communication between his office and the general public.

“People will find that I will be very responsive in returning all phone calls,” he said. “I will be working diligently to have my office serve all of North Haven.”

Ward-O’Brien said that she was thankful for all those who assisted in the victory.

“I’m very grateful for the Republican team members who I worked with,” she said, “and I’m very grateful for all of the North Haven citizens who came out and pitched in.”

“This campaign started nine months ago and it grew and grew and grew,” Ward-O’Brien added. “Every Saturday morning I would be at the headquarters, and I would receive 20 calls from citizens who wanted to help out.”

“We got everything that North Haven needs and deserves,” Ward-O’Brien continued, “and it was not because of a small group of residents – it was a lot of North Haven residents.”

Ward-O’Brien was thankful for the Republican triumph.

“It was a wonderful experience with a wonderful result,” she said. “I am ecstatic.”

On election night, approximately 50 individuals gathered at the Democratic Town Committee headquarters at 80 Washington Ave. Red, white, and blue streamers and flags were tacked about the former shoe store, and the Democratic supporters conversed with cautious optimism as they awaited the closing of polls. Gambardella worked the results whiteboard at the building’s forefront.

At 8:30 p.m., Gambardella and his assistants received the unofficial numbers. A hush grew from the headquarters’ front and worked its way to the rear. Before the anxious Democratic supporters had time to discern the silence’s meaning, McCarty took a microphone and addressed the crowd.

“The numbers are in and the people have chosen Michael Freda,” she said, with a slight but gracious pause before announcing the name of her opponent. The crowd collectively sighed. “But they have also chosen Steve Fontana,” McCarty continued, “so Mr. Freda will be your First Selectman, and Mr. Doheny your Second Selectman. Mr. Fontana will be your third.”

McCarty was composed and courteous in her defeat speech.

“I am honored by the votes that I did get,” McCarty said. “I am surprised, but I think that we did a great job. We took care of the people in North Haven. We kept taxes down. I don’t know what else we could have done.”

“We did the best that we could,” she added. “We worked really hard with the people we chose.”

McCarty urged her supporters not to dwell on the defeat, but to be proud of their accomplishments.

“Here we are, looking at each other and wondering ‘why,’” McCarty said, “but it is what it is. I am very proud of what we have accomplished.”

The departing First Selectman told her audience that her Democratic administration, only the second in North Haven history and the first since 1969, had run the town well.

“We showed that we could do it better than they did,” she said, “and we showed it to thousands of people, but not thousands enough.”

McCarty spoke of both her and her party’s future in North Haven politics.

“I still care deeply about the people of North Haven, education, and all of you,” she said. “I will see what happens in the future.”

“We will meet new challenges and keep taking care of the people of North Haven in any way we can,” McCarty added. “We will support the Board of Selectman and the people of North Haven wherever that takes us.”

After McCarty spoke, she handed the microphone to Democratic Town Committee chairman Peter Criscuolo. He reiterated McCarty’s pledge to continue supporting the town and its leaders.

“I’m disappointed, obviously,” he said, “but we will support the Board of Selectman, and we will always support the town, Democrats, Republicans, independents alike.”

“We will support the town with whoever sits in the First Selectman’s chair,” Criscuolo added. “Parties are important, but not as important as the town.”

Criscuolo was also gracious in defeat.

“They deserved it,” he said of the Republicans. “They did a wonderful job, also.”

After the speeches, McCarty and Criscuolo departed for the Republican headquarters to congratulate their opponents.