State may investigate complaint from Jewett City candidate
by Julie A. Varughese - published by Norwich Bullettin on March 12, 2007
JEWETT CITY --The state Elections Enforcement Commission may discuss Wednesday a complaint filed against the Republican borough warden candidate.
But 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.
Brooks, Ward and Democratic incumbent Cynthia Kata are running for the position in the May 7 election.
Ward's complaint stems from Brooks using the borough and town seals and information from the town's Web site on her campaign Web site, www.jewettcityborough.com. He said in the complaint those items are copyrighted.
Town Attorney Michael Zizka wrote a letter to the commission saying he didn't think a picture of a seal on Brooks' Web site was the same as the actual seal used to emboss documents.
Hatfield was mentioned in the complaint because Ward said she used the seals to make it look as though the town government is endorsing Brooks.
"This is just Ron trying to get in the paper. It's kind of a bizarre complaint," Hafield said.
Zizka wrote that a copyright violation should be pursued by the holder of a copyright -- the town or borough.
"In my view, you have to do more to trick people into thinking it's the town Web site," Zizka said Wednesday.
Lois Blackburn, clerk of the Elections Enforcement Commission, said the commission may meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 20 Trinity St. to discuss the complaint.
Hatfield resigned from being treasurer of Brooks' campaign after the complaint was filed. She said the commission told her there was no conflict in her working for Brooks' campaign.
Ward said he didn't approach either woman before going to the commission because he didn't think they would admit to wrongdoing.
Brooks said she took the items off her Web site after hearing about the complaint.
Ward said that proves Brooks wasn't sure if it was right to have them on the site.
"It's an idea of identity. The last place that anyone should use it is on their campaign Web site," he said.
But Brooks said 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. The town Web site states its contents are copyrighted.
Resident Christopher LaBrie said, "Sounds like politics to me. I suppose that's for the attorneys to sort through."
