The State Elections Enforcement Commission recently voted to investigate possible campaign financing and election violations involving Town officials in relation to the November 2, 2021 Municipal Election. The Registrars of Voters referred citizen complaints they received to the commission after consultation with a staff attorney at the SEEC.

The complaints allege that First Selectman Allan Cahill violated CGS 9-160, a campaign finance law which prohibits the “use of public funds by incumbent or for promotional campaign or advertisement” when he encouraged residents to “vote for me to continue our town’s progress” on the Town website on the day of, and the days preceding, the Election.

Other complaints involve Town Clerk Shannon Pearl Haddad regarding errors on the ballots, which the Town Clerk is responsible for producing. These involved the inclusion of a position on the Planning and Zoning Commission which did not exist, and on the Board of Education, the omission of one candidate’s endorsement and the inclusion of another candidate who had withdrawn his name. Though the errors were eventually corrected, the complaint alleges that Ms. Haddad failed to re-issue absentee ballots to voters who received those that contained mistakes, a statutory requirement.  The complaints also allege that Ms. Haddad failed to endorse an absentee ballot, which consequently was rejected, and issued an absentee ballot to William Pearl, who owns property in Hampton, yet is not an elector in town.  His attempt to vote in two municipalities forms the basis of a third investigation.

There was also an allegation that Ms. Haddad was present in the polling place several times during the Election. Though Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks can perform their official duties when seeking re-election to those posts, they are prohibited from entering the polling place for any reason other than to vote if they are a candidate for any other office. Ms. Haddad was seeking a seat on the Board of Education.

Gazette Staff