State Representative Arthur O’Neill (Southbury, Bridgewater, Roxbury, Washington) will be the Republican nominee to fill Lou DeLuca’s seat in the Connecticut State Senate, and the odds-on favorite to win in January’s special election.

Three other candidates have reportedly indicated their interest in DeLuca’s seat.

Hailing from Seymour, Republican Town Committee Chair Brian Koskelowski, who drives the local senior citizens bus and whose father is the 7-term Republican incumbent First Selectman, and has served on the Library Board, is said to be interested.

Four-year incumbent Oxford First Selectman August “Augie” Palmer III - whom voters dumped last Tuesday in favor of relative newcomer Democrat Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers – needs something to keep him occupied, and reportedly declared his interest.

And finally, three-term incumbent Watertown Councilman Bob Kane, whom the voters returned to office last Tuesday, is probably the most credible alternative, but will not have the support he would need from the party and senior elected officials to bootstrap a campaign in eight weeks over the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years break during which, trust me, nobody but you and me are paying any attention whatsoever to politics.

Art enjoys the respect and support of his peers, and no doubt will have the full backing of the Governor, State Party Chair, and anybody else with a real say in the matter.

O’Neill’s chances to hold this seat for the Republicans are good. Based on actual voting over the years, it is the most Republican seat in the Senate. Given that, we’ll begin speculating on the likely aspirants to fill Art’s shoes in the 69th shortly. Feel free to begin without me in the comments below.