NEW LONDON COUNCILOR NOLAN FILES CANDIDACY FOR STATE REP. SOTO’S SEAT

New London — City Councilor and police Officer Anthony Nolan on Wednesday announced his candidacy for the 39th House District seat vacated by former state Rep. Chris Soto.

Nolan registered his campaign committee, “Nolan for New London,” with the State Elections Enforcement Commission on Wednesday, a day after Soto resigned his seat. He lists Dianna Kulmacz as treasurer and Tracee Reiser as deputy treasurer of the campaign committee.

Nolan said in a statement he intended to start fundraising to qualify for the Citizen’s Election Program.

Soto, who won a second term in office in November, resigned Tuesday to take a job as legislative affairs director with Gov. Ned Lamont. Lamont has 10 days to set a date for a special election, which is expected to be held at the end of February.

Party nomination conventions have not yet been held but it could prove to be a crowded race.

The Green Party has announced support for Board of Education member and former President Mirna Martinez. Republicans have at least two people, Kat Goulart and Susan Gorra, who have expressed interest in running on the party’s ticket, and will be holding a nominating convention.

Democrat and longtime Board of Education member Jason Catala on Wednesday made public his intention to run as a petitioning candidate. A former city councilor and now in his seventh term as a school board member, Catala had registered as a candidate to run against Soto in the November election but later withdrew his candidacy and did not campaign.

As of Wednesday, Nolan was the only candidate registered with the state.

While Democratic party leaders already have announced support for Nolan as a candidate, members of the Democratic Town Committee in the first and second voting districts have yet to nominate and vote on a candidate. That could happen as early as next week.

Nolan plans a campaign kickoff Saturday at Mambo Bar and Restaurant at 200 Bank St. starting at 5 p.m.