New face in the race for mayor

Norwich Democrats back Derell Wilson over veteran Braddock

Norwich — A political newcomer from a family with a long track record of civic involvement in Norwich was endorsed Monday as the Democratic candidate for mayor.

Derell Wilson, 25, defeated veteran Norwich politician and businessman H. Tucker Braddock 31-21 in a paper ballot vote at Monday’s Democratic endorsement caucus. No other candidates faced challenges Monday.

Braddock, 71, is in his third term on the City Council and is a retired Norwich businessman, having owned the A.P. Savage hardware store in Greeneville and Sprague Development Corp.

Braddock said he will not seek a primary challenge.

Wilson, brother of Terell Wilson, who served for one term on the City Council, said Monday he plans to run for mayor full time. He had been employed as a site coordinator for the Norwich Public Schools’ Aspire after-school program at Kelly Middle School.

“I do plan to enjoy this endorsement, but now the hard work begins,” Wilson said.

Norwich now has four mayoral candidates on the November ballot. The Republican Town Committee last week unanimously endorsed Council President Pro Tempore and former Mayor Peter Nystrom, and the Libertarian Party endorsed former mayoral candidate William Russell. Another former mayoral candidate, Jon Oldfield, is a petitioning candidate.

Wilson served for 10 years as president of the Norwich NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth Council and was chairman of the state NAACP Youth and College Council for 1½ years. He said he stepped aside from the state chapter to devote time to his mayoral run.

Wilson, who earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry at American International College in Springfield, Mass., is a youth and high school football referee for the East Coast Football Officials Association.

The town committee unanimously endorsed a slate of six

Council candidates, none of whom are council incumbents. Endorsed candidates were Samuel Browning, Zato Kadambaya, Robert Phoenix, Stephanie Burnham, Joe DeLucia and Kevin Saythany, a current Board of Education member.

Board of Education candidates, also endorsed as a slate, included incumbents Robert Aldi, Yvette Jacaruso and Joyce Werden and newcomers Mark Kulos, James Maloney and Heather Romanski.

Patrice David was endorsed unanimously for city treasurer.