Primary to decide GOP mayoral candidate

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NAUGATUCK — The fate of three Republican mayoral candidates will be determined at the polls next week.

A Republican primary for the party’s mayoral candidate is Sept. 16 from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Republicans Seth Bronko, Burgess Alex Olbrys and Deputy Mayor Tamath Rossi are vying for the top spot on the ticket.

Bronko, 26, received the Republican Town Committee’s endorsement to run for mayor in July. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in entrepreneurship from University of Connecticut and owns Bronko Construction with his father, former Mayor and current Burgess Michael Bronko.

For more information on Bronko’s campaign, visit www.sethfornaugatuck.com.

Olbrys and Rossi submitted petitions to force the primary.

Olbrys, 23, holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Southern Connecticut State University. He is a first-term burgess and works as a customer service manager at Walmart.

For more information on Olbrys’ campaign, visit www.alexolbrysformayor.com.

Rossi, 49, has served as the deputy mayor — the burgess who receives the highest number of votes — for the past 12 years. She currently owns a paralegal business as well as a retail business in Naugatuck.

For more information on Rossi’s campaign, visit www.rossifornaugatuckct.com.

The winner of the Republican primary will run against Democrat N. Warren “Pete” Hess, a Naugatuck attorney, for the mayor’s seat in November.

Republican Registrar of Voters Matthew Katra said all seven polling locations will be open for registered Republicans to cast their votes. The polling locations are Cross Street School, Andrew Avenue School, Western School, Central Avenue School, Maple Hill School, Oak Terrace and City Hill Middle School.

Only registered Republicans will be able to vote in the primary.

Katra said residents who are either registered as an unaffiliated voter or are not registered to vote had until Sept. 11 to register online or by mail. Walk-in registrations will be accepted at the Registrar of Voters office in Town Hall until Sept. 15 at noon. Voters who are registered with a party are no longer able to switch parties to vote in the primary, Katra said.

“Connecticut law requires a 90 day period before someone can switch parties and vote in their new party’s primary. That day was June 16,” Katra said.

Residents who need an absentee ballot must request one from the Town Clerk’s office. Ballots can be sent out by the office until Sept. 14, and all ballots must be received by Sept. 16.