Borst Will Not Seek Reelection

In November

By John Voket

First Selectman Joe Borst will not seek reelection to the town’s top office this November. He announced his decision to the Newtown Republican Town Committee Wednesday evening, and confirmed the news to The Bee early Thursday.

Mr Borst had little more to offer, except that he had already made plans to take a vacation with his family and “catch up with a lot of chores on my ‘honey-do’ list once I’m finished here.”

The announcement comes on the heels of a Democratic recommendation that former selectman Gary Fetzer and current Councilman Joe Hemingway be endorsed as the DTC’s candidates for first selectman and Board of Selectmen, respectively (see related story in this edition).

Republican Selectman Paul Mangiafico said he is among those being interviewed by the RTC for the first selectman’s position on the ballot come November. Mr Mangiafico said he believed his former running mate, Mr Borst, gave the decision to not run “much consideration and thought.”

“He obviously thought it was the right thing to do,” Mr Mangiafico said.

Several weeks ago, Democratic selectman and former first selectman Herb Rosenthal confirmed he, too, would not seek elected office in the next term, opening up a Democratic slot on the ballot. This week, the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN) met but did not conduct any substantial discussion regarding its members’ goals for the upcoming local election.

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