FAIRFIELD – As Acting First Selectman Christine Vitale is about to announce a special meeting to appoint a permanent first selectman on Aug. 25, state Sen. Tony Hwang had his own related announcement on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
The five-term Fairfield senator in the 28th District held a press conference Tuesday at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church to say he is going to petition for a special election as a Republican candidate to replace the late Bill Gerber, who died on July 15. He later told the Fairfield County Business Journal he would file the petition with the necessary 2,100 signatures – 5% of the town’s more than 42,000 registered voters by the Sept. 9 deadline.
The first step towards officially replacing Gerber begins with an Aug. 25 meeting of elected Democrats – a meeting that became necessary when sitting Republican Selectman Brenda Kupchick did not second a vote at a special Board of Selectman meeting earlier this month to elevate Vitale to permanent first selectman.
Acting First Selectman Christine Vitale, a Democrat, issued a statement to the Journal that read: “If I am selected on Monday, I will be honored to continue to serve the Town as First Selectman. After that vote occurs, if residents want to support a petition for a special election, I will welcome the opportunity to once again earn their support.”
She went on to state the town charter and the names and titles of the Democrats who will vote Aug. 25.
“As defined by the Charter and state statute, the Democratic elected officials who will vote to fill the vacancy in the First Selectman position are: Christine Vitale (Selectman); Charlene Sabia-Lebo (Constable); Jay Wolk (Constable); Kevin Flynn (Constable); Ruth Smey (Constable); Jonathan Delgado (TPZ Alternate); Joseph Siebert (TPZ Alternate); Harold Zawadski (ZBA Alternate); Elise McKay (ZBA Alternate); and Matthew Waggner (Registrar of Voters).
The meeting will occur at 7:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 501 Kings Highway East, Room 295A/B, Fairfield. The meeting will be public, and all are welcome to attend. The agenda for the meeting includes:
- Call to order by temporary chair
- Roll call by temporary secretary
- Election of Permanent Chair
- Election of Permanent Secretary
- Nominations for First Selectman
- Vote to appoint First Selectman
- Acceptance of appointment office
- Adjournment
In an interview following the press conference, Hwang shared his reasons for running for the seat via petition although he made it a point to acknowledge the loss of Gerber, who was elected to his only term in 2023 by 37 votes over Kupchick.
“I think the first thing that needs to be acknowledged is the sudden passing has been a jolt for all of us,” Hwang said. “We were the same age. It was a shocking loss. It’s important to acknolweged that.”
As for the timing of his call for a special election and running for the seat?
“One of the biggest parts of it is to be able to utilize my experience as a state senator and the work that I have done to be able to help our community and businesses,” he said. “Most people did not realize there always another pathway. State statute allows and affords a petitioning process.”
He is challenging the “special electorate” option to choose a new first selectman, as allowed under the town charter that is ironically going to be on the ballot this November.
“What is far more important: To give people the vote or have a special electorate decide the vote,” he asked.
He believes since the Board of Selectmen didn’t decide on a permanent replacement within 30 days of his death that the decision should now be up to all voters.
“Without that occurring, there will be a select electorate has the power to choose the first selectman,” he added. I believe every one of us deserves a chance to choose a new leader. Give people the vote.”
When asked if he thought Kupchick should be given the opportunity to run again for first selectmen in a special election, Hwang deflected.
The succession plan is the first part. It is very important that when someone is running for selectperson the set of criteria is significantly different than the first selectman. The greater weight that is given to the weight of a first selectperson is far greater than a selectperson for where the town goes for the next two years.
“Could Ms. Kupchik have a legitimate claim or rationale?” he asked. “I can’t speak for her. I want to announce my candidacy. If that happens, I look forward to having that conversation.”
When asked if he would give up his senate seat if he is given the chance to run for first selectman, Hwang said that’s a decision he will make when and if the petition is approved and his name is on the ballot.
As for now, Hwang just wants to get enough signatures for a petition to force the special election, which could theoretically be set for the municipal general election on Nov. 4 depending on the town clerk decides.
