Christine Vitale has been unanimously appointed Fairfield’s First Selectman and will serve until November 2027, the remainder of the late Bill Gerber’s term. Gerber died July 15 from surgical complications related to a brain tumor.
Vitale said she is “honored to continue to lead the town as First Selectman as I have these past two months. I remain committed to providing stability, bringing people together, and leading a professional and competent town government in service to our community.”
Tony Hwang, a five-term Republican state senator who represents Bethel, Easton, Fairfield and Newtown, announced Tuesday that he will petition for a special election to succeed the late Gerber. Speaking at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, he said he plans to file the required 2,100 voter signatures — 5% of Fairfield’s 42,000 registered voters — by the Sept. 9 deadline.
Hwang was unavailable for comment.
Vitale was Gerber’s running mate, elected to the Board of Selectmen in November 2023.
She served on the Board of Education from 2017 to 2023 and as chair from 2018 to 2022. She secured funding for the renovations at Mill Hill Elementary School and HVAC upgrades at Osborn Hill Elementary School, North Stratfield Elementary School, Fairfield Woods Middle School, Tomlinson Middle School and Fairfield Warde High School.
Prior to serving on the Board of Education, Vitale was an active volunteer in town, chairing multiple Parent Teacher Associations, leading Girl Scout troops and serving in leadership roles in the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County. Her professional background is in project management, and she has been working part-time while raising her three children.
She has lived in Fairfield for 29 years.
