Fetzer, Hemingway ‘Jump Ahead’ Of Town Committee Interview Process

By John Voket

According to Jim Juliano, chairman of the Newtown Democratic Town Committee, Gary Fetzer and Joe Hemingway announced intentions to seek Board of Selectmen seats before they were even interviewed by the party’s candidates committee, and long before a formal endorsement is historically handed down by the party.

Mr Juliano and candidates’ committee chair LeReine Frampton both said Mr Fetzer’s and Mr Hemingway’s announcement of candidacy may have been premature, in that the town committee is still actively soliciting any interested town Democrat who might want to come forward for consideration for the board of selectmen, the first selectman’s seat, or any opening on the ballot come November.

“They would like to get this out of the way. But we never endorse this early in the year,” Mr Juliano said. “My assumption is [they] want to jump ahead.”

Mr Juliano explained that the typical process involves a period of soliciting, during which party faithful as well as Democratic newcomers are welcomed to the process, and given due consideration if they want to volunteer for any elected or appointed offices.

“Then the candidates’ committee will do the vetting — ask all the questions,” Mr Juliano said. And if Mr Fetzer gets the endorsement, it will be confirmed by the party caucus.

“But at this time, if anyone is interested, they should know a Democrat can still go and request to run for the Board of Selectmen or any open seat,” the party chair said.

He added that the candidates’ committee is scheduled to meet March 25, and could very well complete its selectmen interviews and make a recommendation to the full town committee the same evening.

Ms Frampton said Democrats should not be discouraged from coming forward for consideration because of the Fetzer / Hemingway announcement.

She said there is at least one other local Democrat who expressed initial interest in being interviewed for the first selectman’s endorsement, but declined to provide that person’s name to The Bee, saying the aspiring candidate had not yet confirmed his or her availability to interview on March 25.

Ms Frampton said, however, that the Democrats plan to put up a candidate for every available position on the November ballot.

“We want to ensure the best qualified candidates are representing the Democratic Party and the people of Newtown next November,” she said. “We’ve never endorse this early, not even with an incumbent.”

She said typically, while the town committee is aware of the candidates’ committee recommendation much earlier, the formal endorsement may not come until a few weeks ahead of the party caucus in late July.

Mr Juliano said he was happy to see a contender of Mr Fetzer’s caliber come forward so early, and that it reflected on his desire to “get his face out there before the public.”

“Gary was on the Board of Selectmen for almost ten years,” Mr Juliano said. “He’s got an impressive resume.”

Ms Frampton said the advantage to the Fetzer / Hemingway team making their intentions public is a jumpstart in campaigning before any other top of ticket candidates are formally announced.

But, she said, giving an impression that they are already the Democratic party’s choice for the seats “may discourage other interested and qualified Democrats from applying because they are under the impression an endorsement has [informally] already been made.”

Responding to a request for comment, Mr Fetzer said in an email reply: “This is a democracy, the more people who want to get involved, the better it is for Newtown, no matter if they are Republicans, Democrats or Independents, and regardless of the office they are seeking.”

Mr Hemingway responded similarly, saying: “Gary and I made our announcement at last week’s DTC meeting. The DTC will follow the normal procedures. Gary and I are being interviewed Wednesday prior to the Legislative Council’s public hearing.”

If a candidates’ committee endorsement is forthcoming next week, the Fetzer / Hemingway team will likely be the first local campaign out of the gate in 2009.

Republican First Selectman Joe Borst told The Bee that he has not yet decided about whether to seek a second term, and his former running mate Paul Mangiafico said he is strongly considering a run for the town’s top seat.

An announcement regarding both Republicans is expected by month’s end.