Brand, Coyner primary looms for Dems' nod for House seat

There was only one nomination for Fairfield's state legislative ballot lineup that as of this week wasn't a done deal -- in 132nd House District -- and after the Democratic Town Committee's convention Wednesday night, it's still not settled.

Kevin Coyner, a Greenwich firefighter, lost the nod by one vote to Board of Education member Sue Brand, but said he plans to qualify for a primary for the seat, currently held by freshman Republican state Rep. Brenda Kupchick.

The vote was 26 for Brand and 25 for Coyner.

"I will be going to a primary, there's no doubt about that," Coyner said. "I'm looking forward to the primary." Having competed 11 Iron Man athletic contests, the political newcomer said he's up for the challenge and believes that he is the Democratic candidate who can been Kupchick, who is running for a second term in November.

In accepting the nomination, Brand said, "I hope we can all move forward together to take the 132nd back ... We need a Democrat in the 132nd." Tom Drew, a Democrat, narrowly lost the seat to Kupchick two years ago.

Seconding Brand's nomination was Sue Barrett, a Fire Commission member who once represented the 132nd District at the General Assembly in Hartford. She said Brand is the only candidate who had won a townwide election and added that Brand voted in every election while "the other candidate" had missed a few.

"We should be able to take the high road to elect a Democrat to the seat I once held," Barrett said.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Ellery Plotkin, prior to the vote, said he would support the winner of the convention, but that if there was a primary, he would support the winner of that contest. He said the party was lucky to have "two fine candidates, both of which will be a good run against Brenda Kupchick."

"Any district in Fairfield County needs strong representation in Hartford," Plotkin said, "and certainly we're confident that we have the best candidates to do that for the people."

Republican Town Committee Chairman James Millington, however, said the town's legislative districts need Republicans representing them. "Connecticut is on the wrong course and we need to send a delegation of elected officials from Fairfield to Hartford who are going to change our course," he said.

All the other local legislative candidates in both parties for the November election were unopposed during their respective nominating conventions over the last week:

- In the 132nd House District, Republican incumbent Kupchick, a former Representative Town Meeting member, received the GOP nomination for a second term.

- In the 133rd House District, Democrats endorsed incumbent Kim Fawcett for a fourth term, while the GOP gave the nod to former Representative Town Meeting member Chris DeSanctis.

- In the 134th House District, Republican state Rep. Tony Hwang will be challenged for re-election by Democrat Heather Dean, a member of the RTM.

- In the 28th Senate District, Republicans unanimously endorsed longtime incumbent John McKinney, the minority leader in the Senate. At this time, Democrats do not have an candidate for the district seat, according to Plotkin.

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