Norwich Mayor Hinchey says she will not seek another term
Announcement comes in wake of Derby uproar, which she says helped identify her priorities
Norwich — Mayor Deberey Hinchey announced Wednesday that she will not seek a second four-year term in office this fall and plans to return to her career as a clinical social worker or pursue new opportunities in the economic development field.
Hinchey, 64, the city's first female mayor, informed City Hall staff of her decision Wednesday and will discuss it with the Democratic Town Committee at its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. She said she informed her staff because she has started to seek employment positions to start after she completes her term.
Hinchey said her decision was not based on last week's finding by the city Ethics Commission that she and four Norwich Public Utilities officials violated the city ethics code by participating in a lavish trip to the Kentucky Derby last May, hosted by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative. Hinchey said, however, that the controversy did make her long for a private life again.
“It helped me to identify where my priorities are,” Hinchey said in an interview in her office Wednesday morning. “It made me realize no matter what I do, I'm still the mayor. I don't have the luxury of being a private citizen.”
The city Ethics Commission found last week that all five city officials violated the city's ethics code and recommended Hinchey reimburse the city $1,932.50 — 25 percent of the estimated $7,730 per person cost of the trip after deducting $50 for the allowed gift limit for city officials.
Hinchey said she accepts the Ethics Commission’s ruling and will abide by whatever sanctions are approved by the City Council when it acts on the commission’s recommendations.
“I accept those findings,” Hinchey said. “I’m not the kind of person who is bitter or blames other people. I went. I’ll pay the consequences.”
The FBI also is investigating CMEEC, its member public utilities and the city of Norwich for undisclosed reasons.
Two potential mayoral
candidates emerged in the aftermath of Hinchey’s announcement Wednesday. Former Republican Mayor Peter Nystrom, defeated by Hinchey in a three-way race in 2013, said he will decide whether to run in about two weeks. Democratic Alderman and retired Norwich businessman H. Tucker Braddock also said Wednesday he is considering running for mayor.
Nystrom said he has worked well with Hinchey over the years, including the four years when their roles were reversed, with Nystrom as mayor and Hinchey as an alderwoman. He welcomed her support for the $3.3 million downtown revitalization bond, for example. Nystrom also approved of Hinchey’s comments accepting responsibility for the Kentucky Derby trip and the proposed reimbursement.