Republican State Sen. Tony Hwang announced Tuesday that he plans to run for Fairfield first selectman if he succeeds in petitioning for a special election.

“It’s time for me to come back home,” said Hwang, who’s lived in Fairfield for over 25 years. “I've been honored to serve our community as a PTA representative, a representative town meeting member, then as a state representative, and then as a state senator representing Fairfield.”

Hwang’s news conference came after the town’s prior first selectman, Democrat Bill Gerber, died last month following two brain surgeries for an aggressive tumor. Gerber named Democrat Christine Vitale as acting first selectman when he was diagnosed in June.

“The sudden passing of the Fairfield first selectman has really left our town, the town of Fairfield, with a profound sense of loss and an urgent responsibility, and that responsibility is choosing a leader that can guide, heal and unite our community,” Hwang stated.

Under the town’s charter, a vacancy in the first selectman’s office is to be filled with someone of the same party by the remaining members of the Board of Selectmen within 30 days of the opening. Currently, that’s Vitale and Republican Brenda Kupchick, a prior first selectman who Gerber ran against in the last election.

Vitale and Kupchick couldn’t come to a consensus before the deadline. That meant the decision goes to a group of elected Democrats, since that was Gerber’s party. They’re set to meet Monday, Aug. 25 to choose a permanent replacement. Vitale told News 12 she would be honored to continue the job.

But whoever is chosen may not end up serving the rest of Gerber's four-year term. State law allows anyone to petition for a special election for up to 15 days after that appointment. All that's needed is signatures from 5% of the town’s registered voters. Hwang estimated that to be around 2,500 people.

“I will not be coming into this role with a steep learning curve. In fact, I think in these very difficult, challenging times, I bring a resume and toolchest of skillsets and relationships that I can immediately put into effect to the benefit of our community,” Hwang said.

He was joined at the announced by supporters, including Laura Devlin, chair of the Fairfield Republican Town Committee.

“It's not just a legal authority that we have. We have a moral obligation to let the voice of the people be heard in choosing who is going to lead our town through the next two plus years,” Devlin said.

Vitale said she was surprised to learn about Hwang's plans.

“I don't really have a comment on Sen. Hwang announcing his candidacy because right now in the process, those democratic officials haven't acted yet, and it's my understanding it really wouldn't be the proper time to be calling for a special election until that phase of the process is completed,” Vitale told News 12. “After they act, our town residents have the option to petition for a special election. I totally respect if that is the direction they choose to take, and I would be honored to earn their support.”

If a special election proceeds, it's unclear when it would happen. An elections attorney at the announcement said it wouldn’t be Nov. 4, which is this year’s Election Day because the nominating process and if necessary, primary process, would have to be followed first.