Ex-mayor reclaims post by 14 votes

11/9/2005

MONROE - C.D. "Al" Cappuccilli, a former six-term mayor, defeated incumbent city of Monroe Mayor John Iacoangeli yesterday in a tight race between two political rivals.

Meanwhile, voters in the Summerfield School District approved a $5.3 million bond issue, while those in Frenchtown and LaSalle townships split on a number of local fire levies.

In Monroe, Mr. Iacoangeli lost to his predecessor, Mr. Cappuccilli, by 14 votes. Yesterday was the third straight race between the two men, Mr. Cappuccilli holding a 2-1 edge in their ongoing electoral battle. Mr. Iacoangeli won the office two years ago by a 12-vote margin.

"If my opponent wants a recount, I'm happy to oblige him," Mr. Cappuccilli said last night in a reference to a recount battle the two men had after the 2003 election. "Otherwise, I can't wait to get started."

Mr. Cappuccilli will meet a council with a mix of new and familiar faces: incumbents Bill Burkett, Dorothy Edwards, and Linda Compora, and newcomers Edward Paisley, John Martin, and Brian Beneteau. Several of the new council members ran on a slate with Mr. Cappuccilli.

In Luna Pier, voters chose longtime councilman Todd Deal to succeed outgoing Mayor Jerry Welton, while filling four open seats on city council with incumbents Chris F. Heid and Kenneth Kruzel, and newcomers Nola Young and Darrell Adams. Mr. Adams was elected to serve the final two years of Mr. Deal's term as a city councilman.

Voters in Petersburg elected longtime mayor Leroy Burguard to a sixth consecutive term while filling three seats on city council with newcomers Joanne Tollison, Jenna LaRocca, and James Holeman in a seven-way race that featured two incumbents.

Summerfield Schools will begin planning a work schedule for the $5.3 million in capital improvements voters approved yesterday in the district's first bond request since the 1960s.

"We're very excited," Superintendent Jack Hewitt said.

Voters in LaSalle Township renewed their 0.75-mill fire levy, while in Frenchtown Charter Township, voters split on a pair of fire levies on yesterday's ballot, approving a 2-mill renewal but defeating a 1-mill additional levy for fire operations.

"This isn't going to be good for us. We're already starting the new year in a deficit, so it's going to hurt us," said Frenchtown Fire Chief Jim Grahek.