Walsh is Likely New Selectman

James F. Walsh, an attorney and moderator of the Representative Town Meeting, is the Republicans' choice to fill the vacancy on the Board of Selectmen that was created when Selectman Ralph A. Bowley passed away April 10, according to Republican sources.

Walsh, former chairman of the Republican Town Committee, has been a member of the Representative Town Meeting for about 10 years, serving both District 3, which encompasses the town's Greenfield Hill neighborhood, and District 1, which includes the town's Southport neighborhood.

James Baldwin, chairman of the Republican Town Committee, confirmed tonight that Walsh was the party's choice to succeed Bowley and had, in fact, been Bowley's choice before he died.

"It makes perfect sense it would be Jim," Baldwin said of Walsh. "He's the moderator of the RTM. There are many reasons he's the right person to take on that role - very significant is the fact that he's Ralph's request," Baldwin said.

Walsh was elected moderator of the RTM after Republicans gained control of the 50-member legislative body in the November 2009 municipal election. He is a member of the RTM's Legislation and Administration Committee.

Sources said no other Republican was under consideration for Bowley's seat.

But the decision on who will become the town's new Republican selectman is subject to approval from First Selectman Ken Flatto and Selectman Sherri Steeneck, who are both Democrats. The only requirement is that a Republican replace Bowley, since Bowley was a Republican.

But an "unwritten rule" between the town's Republican and Democratic parties is that a vacancy on a town board be filled by the person endorsed by leaders of the party that has the vacancy. That was the case when Democratic Selectman Denise Dougiello passed away in July 2008, and Steeneck took her seat. Steeneck was the choice of leaders in the town's Democratic Party.

Baldwin said he hasn't had conversations with Flatto about Bowley's successor, but Baldwin said the tradition of accepting the party's choice was important.

If Walsh proves acceptable to Flatto and Steeneck, the vacancy in the RTM moderator's position would be filled by Peter Ambrose, a Republican from District 2 who is now deputy moderator and chairman of the RTM's Finance Committee.

James Millington, the RTM's majority leader, said he holds Walsh in very high regard and would support Walsh in any office he sought.

Bowley, before he became ill, had planned to run for first selectman in 2011 with Walsh as his running mate.