Duff Earns Republicans' Trust At Caucus

Board of Education member William Duff gained the support of Bethel's Republican Town Committee Monday night, earning 83 votes in support of his First Selectman bid at the party's caucus at Bethel Middle School.

"We're here to get elected," said Duff in his acceptance speech. He cited the failed Aquarion water deal as a weak spot for his presumed opponent, First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker.

"We have a fantastic opportunity before us," he said in his speech. "We can see what a group of people mobilized with one idea can do."

Republicans view the Aquarion deal, which suffered defeat at referendum last week, as a possible pin that could help put a Republican in the First Selectman's office in November. Duff said the issue would weigh heavy on the election.

"The way it was handled was so haphazard and clandestine," he said. "If it had been aired properly and publicly, I think the town of Bethel would have felt a lot better."

Dealing with the water company's financial woes would be difficult, Duff said, but not impossible.

"We need to address this thoroughly and properly," he said. "The people of Bethel can arise in a situation and do this ourselves."

Duff's competition, former first selectman Bob Burke, earned 18 votes at the caucus. Burke said he would "absolutely" plan a primary challenge, which would require him to gather signatures of five percent of Republican voters in Bethel.

Duff said he welcomed a primary against Burke.

"He's always been a gentleman to me," Duff said. "And it's part of the democratic process. I think that would help build a Republican Party I'm in favor of."

Duff will be joined on the ticket by selectman Paul Szatkowski, who earned 72 votes to challenger Bryan Terzian's 32. Other challengers -- including Kevin Gallagher for Board of Police Commissioners and James Roden for Board of Finance -- also failed to find leeway at the caucus, leading to a slate that matched the recommendations from the Republican Town Committee announced prior to the vote.

Officials said 108 electors were present in total.

The Full List:

• First Selectman: William Duff
• Selectman: Paul Szatkowski
• Treasurer: Daniel O'Grady
• Board of Education: Melanie O'Brien, Stuart Carlsen, Nicholas Hoffman, Bryan Terzian
• Board of Assessment Appeals: Alfred J. Bernard, Linda Curtis
• Board of Finance: Gary Regan, Bruce Cornwall, William Kingston, Timothy Draper
• Inland Wetlands Commission: Kenneth Stephens, Laura Ferguson, Peter Samardak
• Planning and Zoning Commission: Patricia Rist, Kitty Grant, Steven Deuschle
• Planning and Zoning Commision (Alternate): Phil Lambino
• Police Commission: Anthony J. Rubino, Richard Kolowicz, Hugo Greco
• Zoning Board of Appeals: Peter Verderosa, John Streaman, Nicholas Santaniello
• Zoning Board of Appeals (Alternate): William Foster