Farnen To Face Leeper In Election; GOP Backs Bateson For BOF

FAIRFIELD, CT — It's official. In next month's special election for state representative, Republican Brian Farnen will face off against Democrat Jennifer Leeper.

Farnen, a Representative Town Meeting member for District 9, received the Republican Town Committee's endorsement at a meeting Monday after announcing his candidacy for House of Representatives District 132 in November. The seat was previously held by Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, a Republican, who resigned after winning the top elected position in the town government Nov. 5.

Kupchick nominated Farnen, who was the only Republican to seek the endorsement, at the Monday meeting, calling the moment "bittersweet." Kupchick said Farnen has the heart, grit and bipartisanship needed to serve in the state General Assembly.

In his acceptance speech, Farnen said his top priorities as a state representative would be controlling spending, creating jobs and rebuilding the economy.

"I want my children to have a future in Fairfield and in Connecticut," he said. "... The status quo right now is not working."

Farnen, who was endorsed unanimously by the committee members who reside in District 132, has served on the town meeting for six years and works as general counsel for the Connecticut Green Bank. He is running against Fairfield Board of Education member Jennifer Leeper, who received the Democratic Town Committee's endorsement last week after her opponent, activist Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, ceded the race to Leeper.

District 132 includes Southport, downtown Fairfield and much of Fairfield's coastal area, as well as a northeastern section of town. The election is set for Jan. 14.

Also Monday, the Republican Town Committee unanimously voted the recommend Ed Bateson to fill the vacancy on the Fairfield Board of Finance that was created when board chair Tom Flynn was elected Nov. 5 to the Board of Selectmen. Bateson was a selectman on the previous Board of Selectmen but did not run to keep his position in the recent local election, instead winning an uncontested seat on the Representative Town Meeting as a member for District 1. Bateson cited his experience in Fairfield government and desire to rebuild public trust when accepting the recommendation Monday.

"I expect to hit the ground running," he said. "... I know the issues, I know the members of the Board of Finance."

Under the Town Charter, Flynn's seat is to be occupied by a Republican appointed by the Board of Selectmen until the vacancy can be filled by election. Flynn's term on the Board of Finance expires in 2023.