Rocky Hill candidates flip in and out of ballot

Mayor and council race shifts significantly as deadline reached for placement on November ballot

By: Jake Uitti
   ROCKY HILL — With the passing of Wednesday’s deadline for candidates to have their names placed on or withdrawn from ballots for the November election, the mayoral and council races in the borough have changed significantly.
   What was once a four-candidate race for mayor has now been whittled down to two.
   Republican Borough Councilman Richard Batchelder and Democrat Bill O’Brien have withdrawn from the mayoral race, leaving two independent candidates — Borough Councilmen Brad Merritt and Ed Zimmerman — running to fill the position.
   "I am withdrawing from the race and I’m endorsing Brad Merritt," Mr. Batchelder said. "When comparing my priorities, my interests, my background and my experience, I think it matches up very closely with Brad."
   Mr. O’Brien could not be reached for comment.
   There are two open seats for the Borough Council — those of Mr. Zimmerman and Eileen Uhrik, who is serving a one-year term after filling a vacancy left by George Morren, who took over as mayor when former Mayor Brian Nolan resigned the post.
   Mayor Morren is not running for re-election.
   After the dust settled Wednesday, four candidates will seek the two open council seats.
   Todd Hunter, who had been running on the Republican ticket with Ms. Uhrik, has withdrawn from the race, and will be replaced on the ballot by Mary Seither.
   "I grew up in Rocky Hill, I love it here," Ms. Seither said. "I’m very interested in having open government, having our taxes come down and I’m concerned about fiscal responsibility. I’m also concerned about emergency services."
   Mr. Hunter could not be reached for comment.
   Opposing Ms. Uhrik and Ms. Seither will be Dan Harrington, a Republican, and Bill Hallman, a Democrat, who have teamed up with Mr. Zimmerman to form an independent slate under the heading, "Commitment to Community."
   There are no candidates in the Democratic column for Borough Council.