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Redding voters will go to the polls for the municipal election Tuesday as they do every two years, but for the first time in 14 years Natalie Ketcham will not come out on top. With the popular first selectman deciding not to run, two candidates are battling for the right to take the seat behind her desk at town hall.

Fellow Republican Christopher Hocker, 62, a Region 9 Board of Education member, has Ketcham's endorsement to keep the town leadership in the hands of the GOP, and Selectman Julia Pemberton, 47, hopes to swing the pendulum back to the Democrats.

Hocker pointed out that the previous two first selectmen, Hank Bielawa (R) and Mary Anne Guitar (D) each served for a decade.

During an interview at Redding Ridge Deli Wednesday afternoon, Pemberton said, "Essentially, we had 24 years of one-party in the first selectman's role. Natalie has done a wonderful job modernizing many of the functions of Redding's government and the Georgetown Streetscape is just one example of her legacy — along with the purchase of open space.

"Republicans and Democrats are alike in that both believe in open space and good schools, but I don't think it's good for any one party hold power for so long."

During an interview at the Fairfield University Bookstore that morning, Hocker expressed his belief that no drastic changes are needed. 

"I think Natalie has done a terrific job for the town," he said. "The fact that she has never had a significant opponent in just seven elections ... I don't want to mess with that blueprint, which is basically a non-partisan approach to whatever is going to achieve the goal. Any new person is certainly going to have a learning curve, but will bring a new set of eyes and probably have some ideas of how to do some things differently, but I wouldn't expect a radical departure."

Family Life

Hocker is married to Deb Haws, his wife of 31 years, and the couple has two grown sons, Cory and Will, and Cory and his wife recently gave them a granddaughter named Kate. Hocker is a Redding resident of 20 years.

Pemberton and her husband, Adam, moved to Redding 24 years ago and got married five months later. The couple has three daughters, Tori, Allie and Hannah, who is a senior at Joel Barlow High School.
 
"It's been a wonderful town to live in and raise a family," Pemberton said. "I grew up in Weston. Redding is very much like Weston was growing up there, very rural and laid back — just a great community." 

Professional Life

Pemberton is Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Connecticut Challenge, which she said raised $1.65 million from its charity bike ride in July to benefit cancer survivors. She manages all of the social media like Facebook and Twitter.

In fact, Pemberton said she started a Facebook page for the town of Redding in 2011, so residents can use their smart phones to access information when power is lost during major storms.

Hocker is Vice President of Planning for PowerBridge and has over 20 years of experience in the electric power industry, where he has been involved with project planning, licensing and permitting, government and community relations, business development and corporate communications. 

Hocker said he has worked on $600 million to $800 million projects for large, complex electric transmission lines.

Public Life

Pemberton had served on the Region 9 Board of Education for eight years after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2001 and was chairman from 2005 to 2007. She left the board in 2009 to run for the Board of Selectman when Tina Miller decided not to run. She is now in her second term.

Pemberton said she joined the Region 9 Board of Education with the goal of increasing transparency and fiscal responsibility at a time when the Barlow building project was already behind schedule and over budget. Later as chairman, she said she worked to improve upon the board's public image.

"I'm a collaborative leader and certainly my experience on Region 9 shows I'm a person not afraid to tackle difficult issues in an open honest way and being focused on finding solutions," Pemberton said.

Hocker is currently on the Region 9 Board of Education where he serves as treasurer.

The Region 9 board acts as its own Board of Finance, so both candidates say they gained valuable experience passing budgets that meet the district's needs, while keeping costs down. And both believe their ties to the school district will make it easier for town officials to work with the superintendent and school administrators and board members. 

Though the Board of Selectmen does not control education budgets, Hocker says this is valuable.

"I think I understand their own issues and pressures," he said. "It's helpful to have an open and trust-based line of communication with the schools."

Taxpayers Feel Maxed Out

Hocker said town budgets were passed by voters on the first try the past seven years, because of the modest 1 to 2 percent spending increases on the municipal side.

Despite that, he added, "A lot of people feel maxed out with the property taxes they pay. Over 70-percent of the budget goes to the schools. It's great to have high quality schools. It's a reason for the town's attractiveness." However, he said there is some tension felt from property owners who feel they shoulder a disproportionate share of the tax burden and want to see some relief. 

Pemberton agrees.

"People in Redding are feeling maxed out," she said. "Nineteen percent of residents in Redding earn less than $50,000 a year and eight percent under $25,000, so that is a significant number of people who are struggling and we have to keep Redding affordable and family friendly for residents of all ages." 

The Big Issue

Both Pemberton and Hocker say getting the stalled redevelopment project on the old Gilbert & Bennett wire mill property in Georgetown started up again is vital to increasing Redding's commercial tax base and easing the tax burden on residential property owners.

Georgetown Land Development Co., which owns the 50-plus-acre property, poured millions of dollars into it to make a mixed-use commercial and residential development before the recession hit, money dried up and construction was halted. 

Hocker and Pemberton both say the town must do all it can to facilitate access to state grants and aid from state officials to get things going again. From a corporate partner to universities using the space, both candidates are excited by the possibilities.

"It's an essential component to give our taxpayers relief by increasing increasing our tax base," Pemberton said. "We have no commercial tax base without a vibrant Georgetown."

What's the Difference?

Chris Hocker and Julia Pemberton want most of the same things for Redding residents, but how do they differ?

Hocker believes his business background would serve him well in helping to make a revenue-generating Gilbert & Bennett project a reality for Redding. During his career he's been part of a team that develops, gets permits and works out the finances for complex infrastructure projects. Hocker said is also familiar with the regulatory, legal, finance, real estate issues that arise.

"I honestly feel my professional background is directly applicable to bringing the development project in Georgetown to a successful outcome," he said. "I think the number one difference is the professional work experience. It's not a knock on her, but her experience is different. I've had exposure of how to bring together a complex project like this. I think it's a significant difference."

While Hocker touts his professional experience, Pemberton leans on her years of public service.

"I have the leadership experience," she said. "I've been serving on the Board of Selectmen for four years — working hard to improve services for taxpayers and holding down increases in taxes. The last five years the Board of Selectman's Budget's average increase has been one percent.

"As first selectman, I'll carry on the best traditions of Redding with a commitment to a family-friendly Redding with open space and excellent schools, while bringing a fresh perspective to town government, including  a top to bottom review of each department's finances and operations to identify areas where we can be more efficient, find savings and opportunities for revenue — and that comes from a fresh perspective and 12 years of serving Redding as a town official, particularly as a selectman."