Judge Sets Date For Special Election In Fairfield: Report

FAIRFIELD, CT — In the ongoing battle over the special election for a seat on the Board of Selectmen, a Superior Court judge has set June 6 as the date after the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, according to the Fairfield Citizen.

The Citizen reports the attorney representing Republican Selectmen Chris Tymniak and Ed Bateson first wanted the date to be held in August and then asked for July 11, while Democrats were pushing for early June and were willing to move it to June 13.

Republican Laurie McArdle, who was elected along with Tymniak last November, resigned her seat this past December, citing an increase in business travel, with three years remaining in her term.

Related:

• DTC Chairman: Republicans Refuse To Carry Out the Will of the People
• RTC Vice Chairman: Town Charter Expresses 'Will of the People'; Democrat-Backed Petition Out of Bounds
• Republicans Thwart Special Election for Selectman Seat in Fairfield
• Fairfield Democrats Look to Force Special Election for Selectman Seat

Bateson, the Republican Town Committee’s endorsed replacement, was approved in a vote by Democratic First Selectman Mike Tetreau and Tymniak to fill the vacancy.

However, the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee submitted 3,199 petition signatures to the Town Clerk for certification on a petition to require a special town-wide election to decide a replacement for McArdle’s seat. A total of 2,031 signatures were required, according to state statute.

The Republican majority on the board recently thwarted that attempt by declaring the special election null and void with an amendment to a resolution setting the date for the election.

The matter eventually ended up in court.

The Citizen reports the judge is expected to rule Monday on the Republicans’ request for an expedited review by the state Supreme Court.

Read more at the Fairfield Citizen here.