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Ryan Blessing rblessing@norwichbulletin.com, (860) 425-4205 rblessingNB

NORWICH Saying it's time for "young and new leadership to steer the city forward," Derell Wilson indicated Thursday he will announce his entry this weekend into the race for mayor of Norwich as a Democratic candidate.

Wilson, 25, said in a news release he "is ready to take on the challenge of reviving and rebuilding a city in desperate need of fresh ideas and new leadership."

He is the first Democrat to announce his candidacy. Wilson is seeking the mayor's seat after Democrat Deb Hinchey announced last month she would not seek re-election.

An employee of the Norwich school system, Wilson servedas both the local NAACP Youth Council president and president of the NAACP State Conference of Youth and College Divisions. He is the brother of Terell Wilson, a former Norwich alderman who died in an automobile crash caused by a wrong-way driver in April 2016 on Interstate 95.

Wilson plans to announce his candidacy at 1 p.m. Saturday in front of the William A. Buckingham House, also known as the Buckingham Memorial, at 307 Main St.

Wilson said he plans to use "Our City, Our Voice," as his campaign's theme, and he will promote "families first, advancing initiatives that invest in our children."

"Wilson wants to bring together all parts of the city as one cohesive unit, working together to be the most efficient city that Norwich can be," Wilson's statement said. It also said he will "move the city forward in an ethical, transparent and inclusive way."

Republican Peter A. Nystrom, president pro tempore of the City Council and a former mayor until he was defeated by Hinchey, announced March 4 he plans to run again for mayor. Alderman Tucker Braddock, a Democrat, also has been mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate.

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Democrat Derell Wilson, 25, to announce run for mayor of Norwich - Norwich Bulletin