Norwich ― Voters on Tuesday elected Democratic City Council Alderman Derell Wilson as state representative in the 46th House District, which covers the urban and southern sections of Norwich

Wilson defeated Robert Bell, 2,241 to 1,873. The results were unofficial as of deadline.

With no incumbent in the election for the seat vacated by five-term incumbent Democrat Emmett Riley, Bell and Wilson ran cordial campaigns, agreeing on many issues while expressing some differences.

Wilson, 30, a paraeducator at the Integrated Day Charter School since 2017, grew up in Greeneville and has lived in his family’s home all his life. He has been active in politics and civic affairs since his youth when he served on the NAACP youth council and served as advisor to the statewide NAACP youth council.

Bell, 48, originally from Texas, first came to southeastern Connecticut in 2001, when he served in the Navy. He bought a home in Norwich in 2006, got out of the Navy in 2007 and worked for Sikorsky while remaining in Norwich. He now owns a property management company, Bell Logistics LLC headquartered on Main Street. His 16-year-old daughter, Emma Louise Bell, is a junior at Norwich Free Academy.