Two Republican candidates from Cheshire filed documents in Februrary indicating their intention to run against veteran legislator Mary Fritz, (D-90) for the state Representative seat.
Now, the town's Republican leadership has announced that one of the candidates, Richard Abbate, has decided not to run against Fritz. "Rich Abbate has withdrawn from running in the 90th," Republican Town Committee Vice Chairman Tom Pinkham wrote in an email.
Pinkham added that Republican Guy Darter of Cheshire will be the sole local challenger to Fritz in November. Darter's latest filing with the State Election Enforcement Commission shows he has about $1,400 in contributions to his campaign.
Abbate, a former Republican registrar of voters in Cheshire, had formed a committee named "Abbate 2012." Abbate ran against Fritz in 2010.
Darter, who is the co-owner of Darter Specialties Inc., is a political newcomer. He has operated a specialty printing company for about 20 years.
