The Independent View: CT State Court Settles Dispute Over Identity of Independent Party Officers

Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this post.

On August 22nd, a Connecticut State Trial Court ruled that the Waterbury-based Faction of the Independent Party includes the True State Party Officers. The Opposing Faction, the Danbury-based Group, plans to Appeal.

The Decision by Judge Trial Referee A. Susan Peck comes as the Waterbury Faction prepares to hold a Nominating Convention Today, when at least Three Candidates are expected to compete for the Gubernatorial Nomination: Bob Stefanowski, the Republican Nominee; Oz Griebel, a Petitioning Candidate; and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, a Republican.

The Waterbury Faction tends to prefer that the Independent Party run Candidates who are Not also Major Party Nominees.

The Danbury Group generally prefers to Cross-nominate Republican Nominees using Connecticut Fusion Ballot Access Law, CGS §§ 9-453(t) & 9-242.

In Her Decision, Peck Rejected the Danbury Group’s request for an Injunction Blocking Waterbury from Nominating Candidates for Statewide Office and concluded that Michael Telesca and Rocco Frank Jr., the Waterbury Leaders, had properly filed Bylaws in 2010 that establish its Faction as a Statewide Party. “This will be appealed tomorrow,” said Matt Grimes, a Lawyer for the Danbury Faction.

The Trial Court Directed Secretary of the State Denise Merrill to Accept Statewide Nominations only from the Waterbury-based Group, the Independent Party of Connecticut.

Grimes said the Decision was a Surprise. The Two sides had Reconciled themselves to not having a Ruling before the September Deadline for Submitting Nominations to the Secretary of the State. “Both sides had been in discussions as recently as yesterday about how to get through the 2018 election,” He said.

Fusion Cross-Endorsements have been Pivotal in some Races, giving Candidates Multiple Places on the Ballot. Without the Votes cast for Dannel P. Malloy on the Working Families Party Line in 2010, the Democratic Nominee would not have been Elected Governor. State Rep. Pamela Staneski (R-14th District Milford), won by 150 Votes in 2014, when 253 of her Votes came on the Independent Line.