Derby Dems and Oxford Republicans pick First Selectman, Mayor candidates

Derby Democrat Dan Foley Jr. accepts his party's nomination for Mayor. Photo Credit: Debry Democrats.

The First Selectman races in Oxford and Derby are just about set with election day now less than four months away.

Oxford Republicans  held their caucus Tuesday night and nominated attorney George Temple over David Yish.

Meanwhile, in Derby, the Democratic party chose Dan Foley Jr. as their choice to oppose incumbent Republican Mayor Anthony Staffieri in November.

In Oxford, Temple was not chosen last week as the RTC’s endorsed candidate, that distinction instead went to Yish, who is currently on

the town’s Board of Selectmen.

George Temple. Contributed Photo.

But it was Temple who came out on top Tuesday night.

A former town attorney who currently runs a local practice, Temple said that he is running on quality-of-life issues, including more playgrounds, a football field and athletic complex for the high school and more corporate headquarters around the Waterbury/Oxford Airport.

Yish can still challenge Temple through a primary. Temple’s running mate, Jeffrey Haney, was chosen for the party’s Board of Selectman nod.

Temple will face Joseph Calabrese, who the Democrats are expected to nominate for the position at their caucus on July 25.

Incumbent First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers announced earlier this year that she will not be seeking a third term.

Calabrese, 55, is an unaffiliated voter, who, like Temple is running for office for the first time. He is an administrative assistant to Rogers.

Temple did win seats on the Seymour Board of Education and Police Commission when he lived there.

In Derby, it will be a rematch of Staffieri and Foley, a retired Derby teacher.

Staffieri is running for his fourth term. He defeated Foley in 2009.

Foley says he is running on four major topics: public safety/quality of life, economic development, municipal issues and education.

His full acceptance speech can be read here.

The full results from Oxford can be seen at the RTC website. The Derby results can be seen at the Democrats website.

For a rundown of the municipal races in the Valley, read Anne M. Amato’s story from earlier this month.

Derby and Oxford were not the only municipalities to hold caucuses Tuesday.

In Fairfield, Republican Board of Finance Vice Chairman Rob Bellitto Jr. was picked over David Becker and Hugh Dolan.

Bellitto is expected to face the Democrats endorsed candidate, fellow finance board member Michael Tetreau, in November.

The Fairfield Citizen has all the info on the Republican race at its website.

In Bridgeport, Rick Torres was picked by Republicans to be their candidate for mayor in November.

Incumbent Mayor Bill Finch is facing a tough battle on the Democratic side from challengers Mary Jane Foster, Charles Coviello and John Gomes. Jeff Kohut is running as an independent candidate.

Tom Cleary