Groton - Until Republican Jim Streeter's election in May, every Groton City councilor for years had been a Democrat.

But with Streeter's resignation to serve on the Town Council, the local Republican Party has endorsed Keith Hedrick, who ran unsuccessfully for the council in May, to fill the vacant seat.

A majority vote by the council - entirely Democrats following Streeter's resignation - is needed to fill a vacancy, but the city charter gives no specific instructions governing who they must choose.

"The charter says nothing about party affiliation, it doesn't say anything about the recommendations," said city Mayor Dennis Popp. "It's kind of new ground for us."

The next council meeting is Monday night, but Popp said he was not sure if filling the vacant seat would be on the agenda.

Earlier this week, the city's Republican committee endorsed Hedrick, a Navy veteran who has lived in Groton for the past 12 years.

"Keith is a strong individual and we feel he is very capable of handling himself," said assistant party Chairman Robert Zuliani. "That's why we're thrusting Keith in there. The committee endorsed him 100 percent."

Streeter said he ran for Town Council just months after winning a seat on the City Council because he felt stymied as the body's only Republican. Last week's election, in which Streeter received more votes than any other candidate, ensured a continued Republican majority on the Town Council.

Hedrick said he hopes to be able to maintain a minority voice in the City Council and said he would advocate for revisions to the city charter that would bring minority representation to the council.

"It allows not necessarily an opposing opinion, but a different opinion," Hedrick said. "Sometimes, instead of having it go 'All in favor please say Aye,' then everybody raises their hands, we can try to have some real discussion."

In this month's municipal elections, Hedrick was elected to Groton's Representative Town Meeting, a post he will be able to keep if selected to serve on the City Council.

m.collette@theday.com