CLOUTIER

COLALUCA

HAYDEN

HYDE

PATENAUDE

POMFRET

COVENTRY — Victory was bittersweet last night for Democrats as they picked up Town Council seats in Districts 2 and 4, increasing their majority on the council to 4 to 1, but lost both the District 5 council and School Committee seats to the Republicans.

City Council President Thaddeus Jendzejec lost to Republican Michael L. Cloutier by a wide margin. Jendzejec had assumed the presidency, unseating Frank Hyde, in an intraparty battle. Cloutier, who owns an Allstate insurance franchise in Warwick, ran on a platform contending that the community government should be led by business people, not politicians.

In District 2, incumbent Republican Greg Laboissonniere was ousted by a political neophyte, Democrat Anthony Colaluca, 23, by a close margin. In District 4, Republican Robert J. Thibeault Jr., a budget and financial analyst, who came in during a special election last February when Democrat Richard T. Sanetti resigned, lost to Democrat Bruce Thompson, a retired West Warwick firefighter.

“I’m just happy the party ran a clean campaign” said Democratic Town Committee Chairman Kevin McGee.

Regarding District 5, McGee added, “It was the people’s decision to make a change. It is a buoy to Democratic leadership and that the people are satisfied with the quality of leadership.”

In District 3, Hyde, who owns three music stores in Coventry, was elected to his third term on the council, easily turning back a challenge by Republican Richard Deery, a West Warwick machinist.

In District 1 incumbent Democrat Justin Pomfret, a musician, who owns Hickory Ridge Campgrounds, narrowly beat Republican challenger Bruce Capwell.

In the School Committee race, District 5 member Michael G. Reeves, a Democrat, lost by a narrow margin to newcomer Donna J. Hayden, a Republican, who runs a sleep disorder clinic in Warwick.

District 2 Democratic incumbent Katherine M. Patenaude won easily over Republican challenger Frank Frausto, a physical therapist.

In Coventry, registerd Democratic voters outnumber the Republicans by 2 to 1. About 300 absentee ballots have yet to be counted in yesterday’s election.

At Democratic Party headquarters, on Tiogue Avenue, voters seemed on pins and needles early in the night but seemed optimistic that their candidates would emerge victorious.

“We have a positive bunch,” said Stacey DiCola.