CT State Senator Gathering Petitions For First Selectman Run

FAIRFIELD, CT — Having served in Hartford since 2009, Sen. Tony Hwang is looking to bring his political career a little closer to home.

Hwang, a Republican, this week announced he is seeking to become first selectperson of Fairfield. He said he is gathering petition signatures toward a 5% threshold to force a special election to replace Bill Gerber, a first-term Democrat who died July 15 at age 60 following surgery to remove a brain tumor. There were more than two years left of Gerber’s term when he died.

“As your state senator, I have worked across party lines, built bipartisan coalitions, and partnered with community leaders, nonprofits, small businesses, educators, and first responders,” Hwang said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “I have always demanded accountability and transparency, and I have delivered real results by listening, engaging, and working side by side with my neighbors. As first selectman, I will bring that same commitment home.”

Selectperson Christine Vitale, also a Democrat and Gerber’s running mate in 2023, has been serving as interim first selectperson. According to Fairfield’s town charter, the procedure for filling the role is as follows: “a replacement, who shall be registered with the same political party as the person vacating the office, shall be designated by the remaining Selectpersons. If the Selectpersons designate one of themselves to fill the vacancy, they shall designate another elector to fill the vacancy of Selectperson so created.”

If the vacancy is not filled within 30 days, it shall be filled in accordance with the procedure set forth in Chapter 146 of the General Statutes for filling vacancies in the office of selectman.

That statute reads, in part, that if the remaining selectpersons do not fill the vacancy within 30 days, the “elective town officers” of the former selectperson’s political party will fill the vacancy.

“Any person so appointed shall serve for the portion of the term remaining unexpired or until a special election called as hereinafter provided upon petition of a number of electors of such town equal to five per cent of the names on the last-completed registry list thereof, but not fewer than fifty such electors. Such petition shall be filed no later than fifteen days after the appointment by the remaining selectmen or such elective town officers, as the case may be.”

Fairfield’s third selectperson, Republican Brenda Kupchick, was first selectperson from 2019 to 2023. Before that she served five terms in the state House of Representatives.

Kupchick and Vitale did not respond to phone messages seeking comment.

Hwang first won election to the General Assembly in 2008, defeating incumbent Democrat Tom Christiano for the 134th District seat that then included parts of Trumbull and Fairfield. 

He won reelection twice before running for the 28th District seat in the state Senate in 2014, where he defeated Kim Fawcett 56% to 44%. Hwang rolled to reelection in 2016 with over 60% of the vote, but subsequent races have been tighter. He defeated Tim Gavin in 2022 50.7% to 49.3% and then cruised to a more comfortable 54.6% to 45.4% win over Rob Blanchard in 2024.

In his campaign statement, Hwang touted his ability to work across party lines and partner with community and education leaders and others.

“I have always demanded accountability and transparency, and I have delivered real results by listening, engaging, and working side by side with my neighbors,” he said.

He pledged to “work to ensure our local government is accessible, responsive, and focused on solutions” and said he would “do everything I can to unite our community, strengthen our connections, and make certain every resident feels heard, valued, and respected.”