Petition signatures have been presented to Bethel officials by Republican Town Committee Chairman Will Duff in his effort to force a Republican Primary for First Selectman.  Duff, a former Selectman and the First Selectman candidate two years ago, is a current member of the Board of Education.  149 petition signatures were needed in order for a primary to be held, and Duff says he's submitted more than 200.

The party-endorsed candidate is Planning & Zoning Chair Pat Rist.  The primary will be held September 16th.  Typically votes are held on Tuesdays, but because of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, the vote will be held on a Wednesday. 

Either Duff or Rist will then face off against three-term Democratic incumbent First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker.