South Windsor voters overturned the previous majority, giving Democrats control of the Town Council in Tuesday's election and making Dr. Saud Anwar the likely next mayor.
Former Mayor Tom Delnicki remained the top vote getter but his peers Kevin McCann and Cindy Beaulieu lost their seats and the party, its majority.
The results came down to just four votes - the number that separated McCann and Pendleton before absentee ballots were tabulated.
The new council includes:
Tom Delnicki
Saud Anwar
Ed Havens
Keith Yagaloff
Cary Prague
Carolyn Mirek
Jan Snyder
Steve Wagner
Liz Pendleton
"I'm very humbled and very honored," Anwar said, thanking the residents of South Windsor for coming out to vote.
"Whatever happens, we will come together to make our South Windsor family life better - both Democrats and Republicans," Anwar said
In the Dems camp, someone read a text from Cary Prague, who offered his congratulations to Mayor Anwar and Deputy Mayor Havens.
By phone, Prague said he was disappointed by the results and blamed the recently passed but divisive fields project for the loss.
Delnicki said the same.
"I do believe the athletic field proposal played a significant role in this because if you look at the three highest vote getters they’re the ones who said this isn’t the right project and the right time," Delnicki said. "I'm personally encouraged by my numbers but the end result is what it is."
The mayor will be formally chosen by the Democrats at the first council meeting.
Republicans retained control of the Board of Education, with Lisa Maneeley, David Joy, Matthew Riley, Phil Koboski and Rick Stahr keeping their seats along with Democrats Craig Zimmerman, Diane Behler, Carol Driscoll and Michael Gonzalez.
Democrats gained control of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The ballot question, whether the town should sell a .73 acre lot to Evergreen Walk, was approved by a wide margin.
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