Politics & Government

Bellitto Files to Run for First Selectman [Update]

Says He'll Wait to Discuss Campaign Until After Board of Finance Finishes Review of 2011-12 Town Budget

Updated at 3 p.m.

Robert B. Bellitto Jr., vice chairman of the town's Board of Finance, has filed paperwork to run for first selectman.

Bellitto, 42, is an attorney with Bellitto & Bellitto, a Fairfield law firm, and was elected to a six-year term on the Board of Finance in 2007. He lives on Wheeler Park Avenue and is married with three children - Bridget, 21, Robert James, 12, and Kathryn, 18 months.

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Bellitto, a Republican, said in a statement that he is "not making any formal announcement of candidacy at this time."

"As the vice chairman of the Board of Finance, my responsibility and focus over the next several weeks will be on the town budget. When that process is completed, I will turn my attention to run for first selectman," Bellitto said in the statement. "Fairfield is facing enormous challenges in the weeks, months and years ahead. I will be there to help my hometown meet these challenges and put Fairfield first."

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Bellitto's paperwork isn't to form an exploratory committee, as David Becker, a Republican member of the Representative Town Meeting from District 1, had filed in November. Bellitto's paperwork is to form a candidate committee. The committee's treasurer is former Republican Selectman Steve Elworthy.

Bellitto's law firm handles residential and commercial real estate closings, wills and probate and corporate and business law, according to biographical information from Fairfield Republicans.

Bellitto has served as chairman of the Board of Finance's Budget Subcommittee since 2009 and as the board's liaison for contract negotiations between the town and unions representing town and Board of Education employees since 2010. He has been a member of Fairfield Woods Middle School PTSA's executive board since 2009 and is a former member of North Stratfield School PTSA's executive board. He helped form an after-school program at North Stratfield School, according to information from Fairfield Republicans.

Bellitto graduated from Fairfield University with a bachelor of arts degree in English and received his law degree from Suffolk Law School in Boston. He attended Jennings School, Fairfield Woods Junior High School and Fairfield College Preparatory School before going to Fairfield U., according to information from Fairfield Republicans.

On a personal side, Bellitto favors music by heavy metal bands and Frank Sinatra, collects baseball memorabilia and likes Monty Python and George Carlin. He enjoys watching movies made before 1960.

Meanwhile, Becker, as of Jan. 10, had received contributions totaling $6,135, according to paperwork in the Town Clerk's Office.

Democratic First Selectman Ken Flatto, who has been in office continuously since 2001, has not announced whether he is seeking another four-year term.

Flatto on Wednesday welcomed Bellitto to the arena, saying he has always believed in competition. Flatto said he hoped political endeavors by Bellitto and Becker do not impact their review of the proposed 2011-12 town budget, adding that his possible re-election bid also would not affect his budget deliberations.

"My hope is nobody starts posturing," Flatto said.

Flatto said he expected by spring to make a decision on whether he will seek another term as first selectman. Sources said Flatto is under possible consideration for a job in Gov. Dannel Malloy's administration.

Flatto was first elected to the town's top job in 1997 but was defeated in his re-election bid in 1999 by Republican John G. Metsopoulos. Back then, the term for first selectman was two years. Flatto defeated Metsopoulos in a rematch in 2001, and he won re-election in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Flatto's re-election in 2007 was to a four-year term.


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