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Ketcham has been Redding’s first selectman for 14 years and a member of its town government for 26 years. She said in February that she will not seek another term this year. The Redding Republican Town Committee endorsed Hocker as its nominee for the position at its monthly meeting last week.
“We are very pleased to put forward a candidate of Chris Hocker’s stature and involvement in the town,” Republican Town Committee chairman Ward Mazzucco said in a statement. “We feel he’s demonstrated the kind of exemplary abilities Redding has come to expect during Natalie’s tenure and that he is committed to preserving our town’s unique values while leading us into the future.”
Hocker, 62, is in his second term as a member of the Region 9 Board of Education, which oversees Joel Barlow High School. He is the board’s treasurer and chairs its Financial Advisory Committee.
Professionally, Hocker is vice president of planning at PowerBridge LLC, a construction company for electric power infrastructure. He has also been a member of the board of directors at the Boys & Girls Club of Redding since 1999, including a three years as president. During his term as president, he helped oversee the construction of the club’s facility.
“We see Chris as an exceptionally strong candidate. He combines the keen acumen and proven abilities needed to keep Redding on a strong course and lead us in the realization of key goals like the Georgetown Development Plan,” Mazzucco said.
The Redding Democratic Committee is not scheduled to name its candidates for municipal offices until July 23. The Democrats did not select an opponent to run against Ketcham in any of her seven campaigns for first selectman, according to the Secretary of the State’s records.
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