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Smith tops Smiley in Addison-5

NEW HAVEN — Rep. Harvey Smith, R-New Haven, on Tuesday won another two years representing the Addison-5 district thanks to a decisive, 895 to 698 victory over Democratic challenger Susan Smiley, also of New Haven.
Smith, rounding out his 12th year in the House, prevailed as a result of handily out-polling Smiley in the district-member towns of New Haven and Bridport. He topped Smiley 429 to 329 in New Haven, and by a 282-to-159 margin in Bridport. Smiley, a first-time candidate with an agricultural background much like Smith, took Weybridge, 210 to 184.
“It’s always an exhilarating and humbling experience to win and to know that there are many people out there supporting your efforts,” Smith said Wednesday morning.
Smith, a seasoned campaigner, could sense a lot of voter dissatisfaction with the Legislature’s recent performance as he made his rounds this past summer and fall. Both the House and Senate have substantial Democratic majorities. Statewide, the Dems lost an estimated eight to 10 seats in the House and two in the Senate (see related story).
“I heard that the state needs to find a way to quell spending,” Smith said of his campaign take-away.
Looking at the next biennium, Smith pledged to support measures to trim state spending and run it in a more economical way, as well as look at alternative ways of funding public schools. He also promised to support initiatives that will “lower the tax burden and increase economic opportunities” in the state.
“We also need to make a decision one way or another on health care,” added Smith, who has been a critic of the state’s ongoing transition to a single-payer health insurance system.
Smiley could not be reached for comment as the Addison Independent went to press on Wednesday.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].

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