It took a while, but the 2017 race for seats on Bridgeport City Council will be contested. On Monday, the first non-incumbent for the four seats that are open on the city’s governing body filed to run for one of the positions.

 

Long-time Bridgeport resident Kerry Hess filed to run for one of three seats that are up on City Council. Hess will run against incumbents Dustin Vincent, John Wilson and Robert “Bob” Greer.

 

Greer, who is currently the mayor, is opting to run for a seat on Council. Current Council member Diana Marra is running for the position of mayor.

 

If Hess’s name sounds familiar on the political front, it should. His father was the former mayor Edgar “Bud” Hess and his words of advice finally led his son to file for office.

 

“My father suggested for a long-time that I should consider to run for office and after I retired and he noticed the time I had put in on the groups that I was serving for the city that it was time for the next step,” said Hess. “My friends and family have also encouraged me and I’ve kicked it around for the last month. (Monday) I went in and filed.”

 

Hess, 69, has lived all, but 15 years of his life in Bridgeport. Those 15 years were spent at Maple Lake. The 1965 Bridgeport High School graduate, who is retired from Union Carbide after 45 years of service, said his entire family was educated in the Bridgeport school system.

 

If the last name isn’t familiar, some may know Hess for his other roles that he’s involved in. He’s currently the director of administration for Bridgeport’s Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) and has been involved with that organization for five years. He also is the vice chairman of Bridgeport’s Emergency Services Council and handles work with the city’s emergency command vehicle when a situation warrants it being put into use, he said.

 

Hess said he spends hours each day, sometimes doing double volunteer shift, with the VIPS organization. It’s time he looks forward to.

 

“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it and enjoy the people of Bridgeport,” said Hess. “We’re blessed to have some of the best people in emergency services in the state right here in our city.”

 

“My main focus will be on emergency services, which is where I spend most of my time because I do that every day. I’ll be looking at many things, but my biggest concern that I would like addressed if elected is the problem with drugs in our city and region,” said Hess. “I have nine beautiful grandchildren and I, like many other parents and grandparents, want to do whatever I can to keep them safe from the scourge.”

 

Hess is the father of three children with his late wife Nancy. His children and Eric M. Hess, Kristin M. Carter, and Jeffrey A. Hess. He is currently married to Suzanne Hess.

 

The city will hold its election on June 13. The filing period ends Friday, April 14, 2017 at 4 p.m. City Clerk Andrea Kerr said the certificates have to be filed with her office and there is a filing fee of $25.

 

Click HERE for a story on the election that ran Jan. 10 on Connect-Bridgeport with additional election details.