Tetreau, McCarthy Vahey to Launch Campaign June 27

First Selectman Michael Tetreau, who gained the town's top job in a special election June 9, and Cristin McCarthy-Vahey, minority leader of the Representative Town Meeting, will formally announce their joint run for the town's Board of Selectmen on June 27.

The formal announcement and launch party, to which Democrats Tetreau and McCarthy Vahey have invited Fairfield residents, is from 5 to 7 p.m. at Colony Grill, 1520 Post Road in downtown Fairfield.

Tetreau, a former Board of Finance member, is running for first selectman; McCarthy Vahey is running for selectman.

Robert B. Bellitto, Jr., vice chairman of the town's Board of Finance and a Republican candidate for first selectman, said Monday that he did not yet have a running mate for the Nov. 8 election. "At this time, no, but an announcement will be forthcoming. I'm thinking within the next week I'll have a final decision and final announcement to make," he said.

David M. Becker, a District 1 Republican on the RTM who also is running for first selectman, said Republican Selectman James Walsh hadn't announced whether he is seeking election as a selectman, and no other Republican had come forward as a selectman candidate. "No one on the Republican side has put their intentions forward to my knowledge," Becker said. Walsh, who gained a seat on the Board of Selectmen after former Republican Selectman Ralph Bowley died in April 2010, wasn't immediately available to comment on whether he planned to run for selectman, and, if he did, if he would run with Bellitto or Becker.

The Board of Selectmen, the first town board that votes on funding requests and proposed town budgets, is comprised of a first selectman and two selectmen. Members are the three highest vote getters among each party's first selectman candidate and running mate in a municipal election.

Bellitto and Becker both wished Tetreau and McCarthy Vahey well.

"I consider both Mike and Cristin to be friends and colleagues," Bellitto said. "I think they're good people and I wish them the best of luck."

Becker said, "I certainly wish them the best and look forward to a spirited debate about Fairfield's future."