Last July’s unfortunate death of Fairfield First Selectman Bill Gerber, suffering a brain tumor, has set off a February 3rd special election between his replacement, Democrat Christine Vitale and Republican State Senator Tony Hwang.
An intriguing battle on several levels, knocking on doors in the dread of winter, Vitale trying to keep the seat blue and Hwang who, as a state legislator, has survived difficult election cycles for Republicans representing Connecticut’s serpentine 28th Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Bethel, Easton, Fairfield, and Newtown.
Born in Taiwan, Hwang’s the first Asian-Pacific American State Senator in Connecticut history and an uplifting story to share.
But in those five victories he was a down ballot elector.
This time it’s straight up one-on-one. No one else on the ballot to lift you up or bring you down.
Hwang harnesses an engaging campaign style, some argue disingenuous, similar to Connecticut’s Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, always present, be it for the opening of a sandbox, matchbox or a mailbox.
After all, paper ballots are all about checking off boxes.
Why is this an OIB story? Just like we paid attention to November’s Stratford mayoral race, OIB enjoys Fairfield readers. They work here, have family here, own property here and love a political slugfest.
And, by the way, so does former four-term Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst who ran for GOP statewide office twice and has deep roots in Bridgeport.
Herbst has a history with Hwang that goes back nearly 20 years. Politics, like sports, is a game to keep score. You help someone, then don’t return the favor, okay. But, then, trample on their soil, taking misplaced credit, a different story.
The thing about Herbst, if he has something to say, he will say so verbally, having worked with him for several years. If he puts it in writing, Republican to Republican, that takes on a different dimension.
Commentary from Herbst:
I have been a Republican my entire life, casting my first ballot in 1998. I am not endorsing the Democratic candidate for First Selectman of Fairfield. But I am compelled to speak plainly about why the Republican candidate, Tony Hwang, is unfit to serve in this role.
This judgment is not ideological. It is based on experience.
I first met and worked with Tony Hwang in 2008, when I helped manage his successful campaign for State Representative in the 134th District, representing Trumbull and Fairfield. In the Obama wave election of 2008, Tony Hwang won because Trumbull put him over the top. The following year, when I ran for First Selectman of Trumbull, he offered no assistance—political, financial, or otherwise. His absence was conspicuous. The first time I encountered him during that campaign was on election night, at my victory party.
That pattern—engagement when personally beneficial, disengagement when it is not—has been consistent throughout his public career. Tony Hwang does not financially support other Republican candidates, nor does he meaningfully assist those on his own team. He treats public office like a personal branding exercise, routinely appearing at public events wearing clothing emblazoned with his own name, as if he were promoting a personal clothing line. It may seem like a small thing, but it perfectly captures a larger problem: for him, it is always about the spotlight.
The central issue is not merely ambition. It is narcissism. And narcissism is fundamentally incompatible with effective municipal leadership.
During my tenure as First Selectman, Tony Hwang repeatedly contacted local media to promote ribbon cuttings and press events involving projects within our town—without coordination or notice to my administration. We often learned of these appearances only after they were featured in the newspaper. This was not accidental. It was a deliberate and recurring pattern.
The same dynamic was evident during the recent UI transmission line fight. When Fairfield needed a unified front between state and local leadership, Tony Hwang chose to operate independently. He held meetings without coordination, resisted collaboration, and pursued actions that appeared designed to advance his own political interests rather than the town’s position. As counsel for the Town of Fairfield at that time, I witnessed firsthand how he actively undercut the administration of his fellow Republican, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick—conduct that conveniently positioned him to run for her job two years later.
In my judgment, Senator Hwang’s conduct during the UI transmission line fight caused real political damage to the Kupchick administration, as Ms. Kupchick was campaigning for re-election to a second term. His public undermining and internal criticism fractured Republican unity at a critical moment and, in a race ultimately decided by just 37 votes, likely made the difference. It was a stark example of his willingness to damage his own allies when it serves his personal ambitions.
The role of First Selectman is not about branding or visibility. It is about making tough, sometimes unpopular decisions. Someone who prioritizes personal exposure will inevitably fold under pressure—not because the issues are complex, but because the personal cost is too high.
In more than 25 years of being active in local and state politics, I have never publicly leveled this kind of criticism against a fellow Republican. This was not written lightly or easily. But the seriousness of the office and the conduct involved leave me no choice but to speak plainly to Fairfield voters. In my judgment—formed over more than 25 years in public life—Tony Hwang is among the worst, most self-absorbed and least trustworthy individuals I have encountered in government, in either party.
Fairfield needs a First Selectman who governs with integrity and responsibility, not someone who measures success by headlines or personal branding. I do not believe Tony Hwang is capable of that. Fairfield voters should weigh that reality carefully—regardless of party.
Jesus people, when they say if you want a friend within politics, get a dog, or politics has no friends. They weren’t kiddin’. What does that say for the votes being courted and our political system? 🤣
Wait, what?
“I first met and worked with Tony Hwang in 2008, when I helped manage his successful campaign for State Representative in the 134th District, representing Trumbull and Fairfield. In the Obama wave election of 2008, Tony Hwang won because Trumbull put him over the top. The following year, when I ran for First Selectman of Trumbull, he offered no assistance—political, financial, or otherwise. His absence was conspicuous. The first time I encountered him during that campaign was on election night, at my victory party.”
Yet you stayed silent for 18 years as he representedTrumbull in Hartford? What, no “my bad” on Tony in his following reelection bid for the Trumbull people? I hold on to that revelation of Tony a while until Tony decides to abandon the Trumbull people for Fairfield pastures. 🤣
“He treats public office like a personal branding exercise, routinely appearing at public events wearing clothing emblazoned with his own name, as if he were promoting a personal clothing line. It may seem like a small thing, but it perfectly captures a larger problem: for him, it is always about the spotlight.”
It doesn’t seem like Herbst has a pep in his step for Hwang. The R’s used to keep those thoughts to themselves. It looked like Herbst seeped the F out. 🤣
Speaking of clothing line and emborder names, 🙂
Go Niners/Purdy
https://www.facebook.com/reel/4191145744548614
My bad, 🙂
embroidered
See Herbst, that’s how it used to be,
Herbst, “Now Trumbull/Fairfied/R’s, let’s get Tony Hwang out of Hartford because he is among the worst, most self-absorbed, and least trustworthy individuals I have encountered in government, in either party. Trumbull and Fairfield need a representative in Harford who governs with integrity and responsibility, not someone who measures success by headlines or personal branding. I do not believe Tony Hwang is capable of that. I know I managed his campaign and asked you to vote for him in the last election but that was MY BAD” 🤣
Thanks for the ESL Class, OIB
The Prophet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWt4wmZ_EMI
“Why is this an OIB story? Just like we paid attention to November’s Stratford mayoral race, OIB enjoys Fairfield readers. They work here, have family here, own property here and love a political slugfest.”
$ure Lennie! When will we be $eeing their OIB campaign ad$?
Lennie Catman, if you don’t reply to my text or pick up the phone, I will send the Speedys to campaign AGAINST the first of the two candidate who dare to place an OIB add. They better ask you of the impact the Speedys had on the Senator Sujata Primary and the Russo Special Elections. I have the traffic flow information for Fairfield. You’ve been warned Catman 😻.
Meow!
Senator Whang, Lennie called me, you can send your OIB campaign ad now.
Speaking of the crooked game of Power politics in American politics.
https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1nmgj0y/malcolm_x_white_liberals_and_conservatives/
Either this current engineered political game (migration) was diabolical or a mis-calculated, perhaps time will tell
I say that because, while ICE migration efforts and illegal immigration in this country have been playing out for quite with every president in my lifetime. It is now wrapped, framed by the liberal side, as a racist, fascist, dictatorial, Nazi political regime, AKA the Republican Party, per se.
I say misguided because if the intention is to galvanize the “people” as it did for Floyd, black American communities, for the most part, are going to be engaged. I can’t speak for the entire country’s black community, but they barely come out for the Juneteenth celebration in the Port, from my understanding.
Black Americans have no stake in this political immigration game being played as they do/did with policing in this country. It doesn’t affect them or is not a real tangible issue in making/improving America for them or in general, per se.
Like Tim’s silence on Tony, who is now speaking out but said nothing to Trumbull, voters to what has been a “sentiment” one year after helping Tony get elected? I mean, in general, an improved America, because poor people, I mean, white people, as well as Latinos, were being abused and gunned down by an unjust policing apparatus in America.
That being said, the politics of it, as well as the black outrage, can be disingenuous at times, considering the “fiery” but mostly peaceful protest following Floyd’s death and the national conversation following Nichols’ death by American police. JS Malcolm
Take Gen Now’s primary political slogan, “resistance”. What are you asking the People, particularly the black communities? I say particularly the black community, because of Malcolm X’s depiction of America’s cooked game of power Politics. So it is fair to ask what Gen Now’s call to the people is to resist against? Is American politics to resist or improve this experiment of governance? Why is there a resistance to obey the laws that this political system set forth and created?” Do like them, change them, in that democracy, in the democratic body called Congress. You feel they are not being held according, take it to the SCOTUS.
When it comes to ICE and illegal immigration in this country? Please remember to level your BLM banner at your political headquarters. I say/said that because illegal immigration is primarily a Latino/South of the border issue, per se.
I assure you immigration is not a black issue of concern for black Americans, or at the very least the way you, libs, want it to be.
While gentrification plays well in conjuring up emotional support in the minds of black Americans and perhaps other non- white racial groups. However, there is a thing called “Latino gentrification” in what has traditionally been primarily black communities, with the increasingly becoming “Latino gentrification” in part due to illegal immigration. How it plays out in the long run for America is to be seen. However, as of now, ICE is pro-black, per se. That is why I say it could be a diabolical plan by the conservatives instead of a miss calculator of the liberals.
Either way, and that being said, the recent ICE shooting was completely avoidable and preventable on many levels of judgment calls, including that political resistance mantra. Because of the end of the day, American politics and its politicians/ political system created immigration laws. So if you are here illegally, you broke the law, period. Either change it, or fix it in that democratic process. But to just resist it, that is just insurrection. No? JS
What say you, Chris? Is the call for resistance in the laws created by white people’s insurrections?
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2308825732958872
I thought this was AI-generated, but based on other videos, the ICE did have a phone in his hand at the time of the shoot.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/09/us-news/dramatic-footage-from-ice-agents-phone-shows-fiery-confrontation-between-renee-nicole-good-wife-seconds-before-minneapolis-shooting/?sr_share=facebook&utm_social_handle_id=107460655948318&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_social_post_id=647435871&utm_medium=social&sr_share=facebook&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawPONuhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3MTJqNlpTbEhNa3JzTFpvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiOPNQhjeHycBA1b5BLJl_7WL5-zGZwhKLnKDtI2hGZhd4h93-QmRiBqkD3z_aem_ujNdWyEWrC-GFJpHwlJaxg
This so-called resistance movement is political anarchy and the primary cause of this mother’s death. Considering this was, and she was part of a concerted effort to obstruct justice, impede law enforcement, and the laws in this country set forth.
As much as the white liberals would like to suck in the Black Americans to gain political power and create a sence of political outrage against Law Enforcement like Floyd. I don’t see it happening. For starters, the victim/martyr was white, coupled with the mounting videos, it is fairly obvious this was not just some ICE agent of Trump, Gestapo, a police officer going around killing innocent citizens that the left are trying to politically portray it.
Perhaps, if it were a black Somalian immigrant mother, you could have conjured up some Anti-white/anti-American, anti-law enforcement to promote your political cause. But it is a white woman, you are creating a political George Floyd is going to be a stretch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt7EX4Tgr30
P.S “Disingenuous” based on my mental process, and voice from what I saw, calling this officer a murderer is wrong, and that call to resist, where this mother was coordinated and engaged in to actively to obstruct law enforcement in doing their lawful job to find and seek out people who enter and reside in this country illegally, that this country set forth. Calling this officer a cold-blooded murderer of a law enforcement officer is beyond disingenuous. remember that as you call on others to resist because you bear some accountability in Reena’s death;
To be fair, I guess you can say, you want to call her a martyr for your political call to resist. That perhaps would be more, or should I say less, disingenuous as you try to build that political power base in that Crooked American political game for power/funds. In my opinion.
https://www.mobilize.us/bridgeportgenerationnow/event/882738/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPORApzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeK8IzYdyG8TgLXp5hgytVstlFIfkVzYLOskaKe6CThQKJNnnZGrtumDfni8Q&brid=fTxDVtjP8uScUwarYNH-hA
Interesting read, people. Trained with tactics. Hmmmm!
https://nypost.com/2026/01/08/us-news/renee-nicole-good-was-minneapolis-ice-watch-warrior-who-trained-to-resist-feds-before-shooting/
Try to play nice as you battle for America’s political thorn of cooked politics/ funding
The Prophet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryr75N0nki0
Wow, holy shit, people.
Overly reacting, to slightly combative civilians. Jesus Christ people. I know you like your coded words to make you feel like you not being a lying ass POS, in this cooked game but did this left wing news outlet contributor not see this law officer get hit by the SUV.
Jesus Christ people, IDK it seems to me there is a whole lot of stroking going one with the words. JS
Try to play nice, peace out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OnWnwwxNPA
for shits and giggles.
P.S. John, I know you tend to call out Lennie’s leniency regarding my many babble posts and my intellectual grammar, lack of, or the misuse of do/don’t usage. But I have a prescription. So it’s OK🤣
Hope to see you at one of your civics discussions after May 10; time will tell. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1218248092973548