Bethel Republicans have chosen petitioning candidate Will Duff as the First Selectman candidate for November. 

The vote was 318 for Duff and 279 for GOP endorsed candidate Pat Rist.  There was a 20% voter turnout for the Primary Wednesday.  Duff will now face Democratic incumbent First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker in a rematch of the 2013 race.

Duff says the Republican Party made a choice, and now is the time to move forward.  He says he feels the party still stands united.

Duff says responsibility and self-discipline are needed in town government.  He served two years as a Selectman, is a member of the Board of Education, a small business owner and a retired State Marshall.  Duff also previously served on the Bethel Board of Assessment Appeals. 

Duff says he has a track record of trying to make government smaller.  He also called for an increase in government transparency.  He is also calling for lower taxes.  Duff says he wants to make Bethel more affordable again, because having the highest property tax rate in the region benefits nobody and chases away business.

As a former Selectman, Duff says he was a proven leader and helped write the area's first ethics code.  He notes that the last time he was on the Board of Selectmen was the last year Bethel saw a tax freeze.

Duff wants to grow the town's economic and commercial base.