A lawsuit has been filed by a member of the Bethel Republican Town Committee against Richard Straiton and the Town of Bethel for alleged Charter violations.  Daniel Nostin filed the suit over what he called an abuse of process in the appointment of Straiton as First Selectman.  Matt Knickerbocker resigned on September 6th to take a position in Wilton.  Straiton resigned his Selectman's role and asked the Town Clerk to swear him in as First Selectman.  He did subsequently take the oath of office.  The suit notes that the Board of Selectmen should have chosen a member to be Acting First Selectman.  The vacancy in the First Selectman's Office requires a special election, as well as an appointment by the Board of Selectmen to fill the third seat. At the time of his resignation, Knickerbocker said the special election would most likely be held in early 2023. Nostin, Vice Chairman of the Bethel Republican Town Committee and a member of the Bethel Board of Education, is looking to overturn Straiton's swearing in.