Alderman H. Tucker Braddock announces his run for Norwich mayor

H. Tucker Braddock, a three-term Democratic city councilor and longtime businessman, on Saturday announced his run for mayor of Norwich.

The former owner of A.P. Savage hardware store has served on a variety of boards and commissions in town, including the Harbor Commission, the Public Works Committee, the Board of Review of Dangerous Buildings, the Safety Committee, the Redevelopment Agency and the Winterfest Parade Committee.

In an interview, he said the role of the mayor is to promote economic development in the city.

“We have a beautiful downtown but we can’t grow it ... and with the contacts I have, I think I can accomplish something,” he said. “I think we need some changes in Norwich: we have to still hold the tax line but we have to grow in businesses.”

In a speech he was scheduled to give Saturday, he pledged to hold office hours during the day, examine areas in Norwich that would be eligible for Brownfield grants, develop

the waterfront to bring more young professionals to the city and fund the recreation department so that more children could be helped by it.

“This is our city’s greatest asset,” he wrote in the speech. “How many of the alumni from Norwich have gone on to great success in life and given back to the community many times?”

He also emphasized his long service to the community through the alderman position and his business, which he owned for 23 years, as well as his five grandchildren who live in Norwich.

Two other candidates already have entered the race for mayor: former Mayor and longtime City Councilor Peter Nystrom, a Republican, and Democrat Derell Wilson, a newcomer who currently works as at the Norwich Public Schools’ Aspire after-school program at Kelly Middle School.

Mayor Deberey Hinchey, a Democrat, opted not to run for re-election earlier this year.