BOSTON -- The vote Tuesday on New England's biggest bond referendum remained too close to call yesterday, and city officials in West Warwick, R.I., said the final results would not be available for a few more days.
The $130 million bond referendum for the city's water and sewer commission was initially thought to have been rejected. However, by yesterday afternoon, the vote was 15,593 for approval and 14,935 for defeat.
Republicans, meanwhile, made a big showing in the region's political races Tuesday, reflecting the nationwide trouncing of Democratic candidates.
In all of New England, there will be only one Democratic governor and one Democratic treasurer come January.
Although the race between U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Republican Mitt Romney gained most of the attention this year, several other races turned out to be equally interesting.
Kennedy won his race, but he'll be returning to a very different Senate, one where Republicans are the majority.
In Maine, the seat vacated by U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, a Democrat, was won by a Republican, U.S. Rep. Olympia Snowe. Mitchell is retiring.
Also in Maine, businessman Angus King, an independent, was elected governor with only 36% of the vote.
In Massachusetts, aside from Kennedy's win, the day was carded by the Republicans. Gov. William F. Weld and Lieut. Gov. A. Paul Cellucci romped over their Democratic opposition.
Also, state Treasurer Joseph D. Malone easily won reelection over state Sen. Shannon P. O'Brien, D-Easthampton.
But Joseph P. Suggs, Connecticut's treasurer, did not have such an easy time. The first-term Democrat lost to former investment banker Christopher B. Burnham, a Republican.
In the Connecticut gubernatorial race, Republican John Rowland defeated Lieut. Gov. Eunice Groark and Democratic Comptroller William Curry.
Also in Connecticut, U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat, sailed to victory by a more than two-to-one margin over Republican Gerald Labriola.
In Rhode Island, Republican Lincoln Almond defeated Democrat Myrth York for the governor's post, and state Treasurer Nancy Mayer was reelected to another term.
Almond takes over from former Gov. Brace G. Sundlun, a Democrat whom York defeated in the primary.
Casino gambling in five spots in Rhode Island was also defeated at the polls.
Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, a Democrat, was reelected by one of the widest margins in that state's history. He received about 75% of all votes in his bid to remain governor over Republican David Kelly.
Also in Vermont, Republican James Douglas was elected to the state treasurer's post, succeeding Democrat Paul Ruse, who chose not to run. Incumbents Sen. James Jeffords, a Republican, and Rep. Bernie Sanders, the House's only independent member, kept their seats for another term.
In New Hampshire, incumbent Gov. Stephen Metall easily kept his hold of the statehouse by defeating Democratic state Sen. Wayne King.
