It's all a political move to smear their names, say Republicans Brooks & Hatfield, about Jewett City Party's Ward filing a complaint

Jewett City Party candidate for Borough Warden, Ron Ward, filed a compliant with the State Elections Enforcement Commission which alleged that Melinda Brooks, the Republican Jewett City Borough Warden candidate, and Anne Hatfield, the Republican Griswold First Selectman had violated election laws by putting the Official Seal of the Town and the Seal of the Borough on the website, www.jewettcityborough.com, which is the official election campaign website for Brooks.

First Selectman Hatfield, the top elected official of the local Republican party, in a February 9th article published by The Reminder Newspaper, gave a strong endorsement to Brooks, the republican candidate for Warden. Hatfield stated, "She definitely has all the capabilities to manage the borough. She has a strong business sense. She is an excellent candidate. She is very successful in real estate."

The Reminder article revealed that Hatfield's endorsement went so far as to include her working for Brooks as the Treasurer for the Brooks election campaign. In the Reminder article, the Republican candidate announced her new election campaign web site, www.jewettcityborough.com and stated, "I may not always stick to party lines."


Hatfield reacts to allegations of election law wrong-doing

Immediately after allegations of election law wrong-doing, Republican First Selectman Hatfield stopped working for Brooks as her campaign Treasurer. Hatfield's name was removed from the Brook's web site and was replaced by a new campaign Treasurer. Even though she stepped down as Treasurer, Hatfield stated, "I remain in full support of Ms. Brooks."

First Selectman Hatfield explained her resignation, "I submit this resignation as a preventative measure against further negative campaign agendas and political attacks." Republican Hatfield reasoned, "My position as the First Selectman for the Town of Griswold will overshadow the Borough election."

Hatfield concluded by stating, "My position as the First Selectman for the Town of Griswold will detract from what is important, namely, the republican and democratic Warden candidates." In the resignation letter, Hatfield did not mention the fact that over 30 voters had organized an independent third party or that a candidate for Warden was nominated by the Jewett City Party.

First Selectman Hatfield authorized the use of public tax dollars to pay the Griswold Town Attorney to write a defense in response to the on-going State Election Enforcement Commission investigation.

In a March 12th Norwich Bulletin article, Town Attorney Zizka offered as a defense, "He didn't think a picture of a seal on Brooks' Web site was the same as the actual seal used to emboss documents." Mr. Zizka mentioned, "In my view, you have to do more to trick people into thinking it's the town Web site."

In the same article, Ron Ward said, "[First Selectman] Hatfield was mentioned in the complaint because she used the seals to make it look as though the town [of Griswold] government is endorsing Brooks." Ward explained, "It's an idea of identity. The last place that anyone should use it [the official government seals] is on their campaign Web site."

Republican First Selectman and former Brooks campaign Treasurer, Anne Hatfield, summarized her response by explaining, "This is just Ron trying to get in the paper." Hatfield described the allegations being investigated by the State Election Enforcement Commission by stating, "It's a kind of bizarre complaint."


Brooks reacts to allegations of election law wrong-doing

Immediately after allegations of election law wrong-doing, Republican candidate Brooks removed the Official Town Seal and Borough Seal from her campaign website. In a March 2nd article in The Day, Brooks said, "She never intended to use copyrighted material. Hatfield never gave her permission to use the copyrighted material. She didn't ask [to use copyrighted material.]"

Despite the Republican candidates admission that the material was copyrighted, Brooks concluded, "I think this is just dirty politicking." Brooks went on to promise, "If I made a mistake, I'll take full credit for it."

Ten days after promising to take full credit for her mistake, Brooks shifts responsibility to an anonymous and confidential town employee by stating, "A town employee told her the town seal was not copyrighted and the borough seal was created by a town employee's daughter for a contest."

On March 4th, the Republican candidate Brooks in a posting on her web site characterized her opponent by stating, "You are a trouble maker who likes to cry to the press. Get your own website and stay off mine. I would like to Thank You for drawing so much attention to my website. That is awesome."


Stick to the party line? A joint response by Brooks & Hatfield:

In a joint response to the on-going investigation into allegations of election law wrong-doing made by Ron Ward, the Jewett City Party candidate for Borough Warden, the Norwich Bulletin in a March 12th article reports:

"Melinda Seaman Brooks and Griswold First Selectman Anne Hatfield, who have both been cited in a complaint, say this is just a political move by Jewett City Party Borough Warden candidate Ron Ward to smear their names and create publicity for himself."


Jewett City Party candidate for Borough Warden responds:

On February 22nd, Ron Ward responded to his opponent removing the Official Town Seal and Borough Seal from her campaign web site by stating, "The decision to remove the emblems of borough and town government from her election effort website is commendable. Matching the content of the website to be within the requirements of the law eliminates the appearance that a candidate has received backing from the local government."

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Photo credits: Both pictures appeared in the Norwich Bulletin in a March 12, 2007 article entitled, "State may investigate complaint from Jewett City Candidate" a photo journalist was not credited.

Click here to read State Election Enforcement complaint filed by Ron Ward
Click here to read February 22nd JCP-eblog! post by Ron Ward
Click here to read February 22nd Hatfield treasurer resignation letter
Click here to read March 2nd article in The Day
Click here to read March 12th article in the Norwich Bulletin
Click here to read February 9th article in The Reminder Newspaper
Click here to read March 4th post on Brooks website