'If I made a mistake, I'll take full credit for it,' said Republican candidate for Warden about alleged use of copywrited material.

State Panel Looking Into Complaint Lodged Against Griswold Candidate
By Megan Bard - Published by The Day on March 2, 2007

Griswold — The state Elections Enforcement Commission is investigating a complaint the Jewett City Party candidate for borough warden filed against his Republican opponent.

On Feb. 20, Ron Ward alleged that Melinda Seaman Brooks inappropriately used the Town of Griswold and the Borough of Jewett City seals on her campaign Web site.

Ward, in his complaint, also implied that First Selectwoman Anne P. Hatfield, Brooks' campaign treasurer at the time, allowed Brooks to use the seals and other copyrighted information taken from the official town Web site. Ward wrote that Hatfield may have allowed Brooks to use the information to “give the appearance” that municipal government has endorsed Brooks' candidacy.

Hatfield, who is vice chairwoman of the Republican Town Committee, has since resigned as Brooks' campaign treasurer.

Neither Hatfield nor Brooks had received a copy of the complaint or were aware of its filing until contacted by a reporter. When Brooks heard about the complaint, she removed the information in question from her site pending the outcome of the state investigation.

Ward said he did not call either woman to tell them about his concerns because he did not expect them to answer him.

“I would not expect my opponent to truthfully be open to answering questions when I'm basically saying you've done something wrong,” he said. “That's why we have a state agency to regulate these issues. ... You need an outside third party to investigate this.”

Brooks said she never intended to illegally use copyrighted information on her Web site or give the impression that Hatfield, in her capacity as first selectwoman, had endorsed her candidacy. She said Hatfield never gave her permission to use the material and that she didn't ask.

“If I made a mistake, I'll take full credit for it,” Brooks said. “These concerns were never even brought to my attention. I think this is just dirty politicking.”

Ward said Brooks' Web site's address and the site's use of the town and borough seals suggested it was the official site of the town and borough.

Brooks said Hatfield did not help create the Web site and that she purchased the domain name, jewettcityborough.com.