Vernon Voters Toast Champagne as Their Next Mayor

Daniel Champagne, a Vernon native and former police sergeant in his hometown, was elected as Vernon's next mayor on Tuesday. 

Official results show that Champagne, a Republican, received 3,101 votes, including election day registration voters and absentee ballots. Democrat Thomas DiDio, a Town Council member who is active in the Rockville Community Alliance, received 2,056. 

Champagne, who was so well-liked as a police officer - particularly in the D.A.R.E. program - that he received the nickname "Officer Friendly," said the feeling is "surreal." 

"I think it will sink in when I wake up in the morning," he said at about 10 p.m. after DiDio offered a concession handshake. 

When asked how he felt, Champagne said, "That's a question to ask me tomorrow."

He then chuckled said he was overjoyed, but added, "I am tired."
 
DiDio in a concession interview, said he would continue to volunteer with the RCA and at the municipal level but also seemed drained emotionally and physically. 

"I'd be lying if I said I was not disappointed," he said. "I was a clean campaign. I think we could have done better, but I think the message was a good one. "I do not plan on stopping anything I have done in the past."

DiDio said he congratulated Champagne and told him to call if he, "needed help in any way." He added, "We both want to make this town the best possible place to live."

Results show that the election was a complete Republican sweep. 

Click here for the official results: 

http://vernon.patch.com/groups/elections/p/vernon-2013-election-results