Thursday, September 8, 2011

Democratic Registrar Of Voters Objects To Drew Campaign Actions

Tension over the September 13th primary for mayor, between Dan Drew and Christine Bourne, boiled over in August, as the Democratic Registrar and vice-chair of the Democratic Town Committee, Anne Tommasi, accused the Drew Campaign of impugning the integrity of the election process. As a result, the Town Clerk of the City, Sandra Russo-Driska, sent a stinging rebuke of the Drew 2011 campaign, with a reminder that the Registrar of Voters and Town Clerk’s Office work together to ensure a fair, accurate, and impartial election.

Democratic and Republican Registars both agree: “We’ve never, ever, ever, had a problem [until now].”
The controversy was over the selection of workers who would be assigned to the polls on election day. Tommasi, Russo-Driska, and the Republican Registrar, Janice Gionfriddo, each separately told me that the assignment of poll workers was always done by the Registrar’s office. This had not previously engendered controversy, even in the most heated and contentious primary elections. In past elections, if there were not enough trained poll workers in the party holding the primary, the Registrar’s Office would use trained poll workers from the opposing party. Gionfriddo told me, “We borrow moderators from each other all the time!”

“I started to do my job, totally impartial.”

This year, Tommasi said that troubles began from nearly the start. She said she used the same list she used for the primary election last year (for the state and national elections). In a phone call with the Registrar’s office, Drew challenged her process for selection, asking her how he could know that the poll workers she picked are not supporters of Chris Bourne. Gionfriddo told me this question was unprecedented, from either political party, in the many years she has been Registrar.

According to Tommasi, the Drew campaign then further escalated the interrogations and challenges. Most of this came from Geoff Luxenberg, the recently elected State Representative from Manchester, employed as Drew’s campaign manager. Luxenberg communicated with Tommasi in a series of emailed questions (see links below). Tommasi said that the questions made her very uncomfortable because they seemed to challenge her impartiality, “They raked me over the coals.” In one exchange, Luxenberg seemed to question why Democratic Town Committee endorsed candidates on the primary ballot could not serve as election workers.

Tommasi volunteered to meet face to face with Luxenberg, to resolve any issues and to avoid the possible misinterpretations that written emails can engender. She said the Drew campaign “refused to meet face to face”, apparently preferring the written record that emails would create. In response to a request for a meeting, Luxenberg wrote, “I hope you will respect the integrity of the request and provide clear and timely answers via email in accordance with your responsibilities. The questions are simple and I am sure you can provide answers in writing via email which will satisfy us.”

“I am disappointed and perplexed as to why ...”
Town Clerk Russo-Driska concurred that the Drew campaign had unreasonably questioned the integrity of the Registrar’s office, and had also questioned the impartiality of the Town Clerk Office, “the questions turned to interrogation.” She took the unprecedented step of sending a letter to all of the candidates on the ballot for the September 13th Democratic primary, “.... Mr. Geoff Lunxenberg [sic] (Drew 2011 Campaign) seems to feel the need to pressure, interrogate and intimidate YOUR Democratic Acting Registrar, Anne Tommasi regarding who is working at the polls and why.”

Drew categorically rejected the notion that there was anything which the Democratic registrar or Town Clerk should be upset about, “This is a manufactured controversy drawing attention from real issues like jobs and taxes. When I see letters like this [from the Town Clerk], I understand why people are fed-up. They want government to work to improve the economy, and that’s what I’m going to focus City Hall on doing.”

Russo-Driska said that her letter to all the candidates seems to have calmed the situation. Tomassi expressed her relief, “I’m glad that the town clerk stepped in, because she’s totally impartial.”

Democratic Town Committee Chair Also Challenges Registrar

Tommasi told me that Lisa Santangelo, chair of the Democratic Town Committee joined Drew in questioning the process used by the the Registrar's office, “She said I should not use Republican [poll workers].” Santangelo also objected to involving the Town Clerk in the process, according to Tomassi, because Russo-Driska is registered as a Republican. Tommasi defended the impartiality and professionalism of Russo-Driska, pointing to her 26 years of work ensuring fair elections, “For someone to question her made me very uncomfortable…. [The city] doesn’t have a Republican Town Clerk, we have a Town Clerk.”

I asked Gionfriddo if it was common for a Party Chair to challenge the work of the Registrar’s office as Santangelo did. She said, “I was surprised”. Tommasi went further, “They don’t care what the process is.... They want it done their way.”

Links
Russo-Driska letter to the candidates
Exchange of emails I
Exchange of emails II

24 comments:

Vinnie said...

First, it is apparent that the Dems are running scared knowing that they will lose the mayoral contest but also realizing that they will lose their majority hold on the Council; second, lets prepare ourselves for the Dems to run the sleazest campaign in the history of Middletown; finally,we need a mature, experienced Mayor who can stand on his own two feet.

Anonymous said...

Steve -
Great article!
Thanks for taking the time to research and write.

Anonymous said...

Great article! What else are the Democrats trying to hide by this tactic?

Anonymous said...

I hope this scenario finally opens the eyes of Middletown voters. The term "politics as usual" doesn't even apply to the actions of these democrats. They have reached a new LOW! This is why Chris Bourne is running against them. ENOUGH. Democratic voters please get to the polls on September 13th and take your party BACK!!!

Anonymous said...

How do I get a Chris Bourne lawn sign!

Anonymous said...

I'm really confused as to why the Democratic Party Chair and the candidates would be concerned over who "worked" at the polls. It's my understanding that the workers are not allowed to express any kind of political statements; wear any kind of buttons once IN the polling place. They are there to process the voters through. What exactly to they think that the people are going to do???

Anonymous said...

Well after reading the attached e-mail the questions asked by Mr.Geoff Lunxenberg were by no means any form of interrogation or calling the registrar of voters or the town clerk’s integrity into question. The quote from Anne Tommasi “E-Mail has become difficult because it appears it’s raising more question than answers” makes no sense at all and is totally unacceptable, this is how it works I e-mail you with a question you e-mail me with the answer if I need clarification I e-mail you back. E-Mail correspondence protects all parties from any deniability in further discussions on the issue. My question is why would the registrar of voters or the town clerk’s office have a problem corresponding by e-mail? Could it be deniability? As a taxpayer in Middletown paying for the city’s e-mail system with my tax dollars I demand that the registrar of voters and the town clerk correspond by e-mail in reference to this issue! This goes directly to the accountability of the register of voters and the town clerk.

Anonymous said...

So, let's get this straight....you are going to tell City Officials the best way to communicate their points because your a tax payer? Obviously you didn't read all the emails...because if you did you would draw the conclusion that the Dems obviously felt the need to quesiton a process that has worked extremely well in the City of Middletown for as long as I've been a resident, which is over 60 years...twice as long as our Democratic candidate Mr. Drew has been alive! Lay off...let them do their jobs!!!

Anonymous said...

Who are you to question the accountability of the Registrar and Town Clerk???? Seriously...you are a joke! Demanding they use email! THEY DID USE EMAIL...that's what caused this problem! What is wrong with sitting down face to face as offered when email obviously wasn't working! Wow....get your heads our of politcs as usual Middletown! I've been a resident more than 40 years and elections have always been run very well. Let them do their jobs! Keep your politics out of it!

Anonymous said...

OK folks..apparently you have never used email to communicate with the Town Clerks staff...I have in my job, and they always respond quickly and efficiently! The obvious problem was that in this case, emails were created more of issue than soliving them! Get real..stop telling people how to do their jobs...keep politics out of it!

Anonymous said...

I agree with anonymous 12:55. The question! Is Sandra Russo-Driska so vain that she thinks a question asked about the process is directly attacking her integrity? The answer is YOU DECIDE. This is not about you Sandra it’s about the process.

middle man said...

this article and others like proves to me there is no impartial media anywhere. writers have taken situations out of context on a regular basis creating a situation that creates differences that really dont exist. lets get solutions to issues worked out amoungst ourselves instead of through these forums of debate.

Anonymous said...

This is just another example of the leadership of the Democratic Party by Lisa Santangelo. She is allowing the entire party, especially certain individuals, to be dragged down by her views of the Middletown voters and their ability to make a decision that goes against "her vision". Watch out if Dan Drew is elected and she becomes his administrative assistant.

Anonymous said...

Whoever said it's not about Sandra...you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! I guess that's why she sent the Dems a letter trying to get them to stop putting politics in the election process. She got tired of the inserting themselves where they didn't belong...If she's vain...God help us all if Drew gets in...talk about vain!

Anonymous said...

To anonymous 1:18, My comment was not political as was yours by bringing politics into your statement, maybe we the tax payers should not question our politicians or employees of the city, should we be lead around like sheep, Please explain to the tax payers of Middletown why e-mail was not working and how e-mail caused the problems. I could see if the e-mail system was down, was the system down? As for the comment setting down face to face this allows both parties to deny what was or was not said. Remember the only stupid question is the question never asked. You are the joke but the sad part is the joke is on the tax payers. I will be awaiting your answer.

Laura said...

I find it incredible that the Dems are basically questioning the integrity of the Republican poll workers. My husband has been a Republican Moderator for 10 years. I am personally offended that they are implying that he, in some way, would do something to jeopardize the results. There has never been any evidence of this and nothing that would suggest that any of the poll workers have or would do something of this caliber. I really hope that the people of Middletown see what is going on! I hope that these kind of antics forewarn them of whats to come!

Anonymous said...

I myself would prefer going back to the old days and use smoke signals to communicate.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to Middletown Dan! Are you ready???

Anonymous said...

HOW would you like it LISA SANTANGELO or DAN DREW or anyone else if someone emailed you at work and asked called your integrity into question with no facts??? Horrible and shameful. I am taking down my Drew lawn sign tonight.

Madam Nirvana (Molly Salafia) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Anonymous said....
Registrar and Town Clerk should be commended for upholding the dignity of their respective offices. They have always performed to the letter of the law. Imagine who would be controlling the city, should Dan Drew win.. Go Chris Bourne.

Madam Nirvana (Molly Salafia) said...

To question the integrity of a poll worker/moderator without burden of proof of such allegations of impartiality, a poll worker who has taken an oath to be fair, and impartial, is not only slanderous, but it should infuriate any professional and anyone else who does his or her job with dignity.




https://www.facebook.com/groups/votesalafiawomen/

Anonymous said...

So Molly, how does your outrage about questioning integrety without the burden of proof square with the insulting and slanderous cartoons you author? Is it only other's opinions that require proof, while you may throw dirt as you please?

Anonymous said...

The cartoons are biting yes, insulting maybe, that's subjective, but not slanderous- you do not know the definition of slander & defamation-