Valley Independent Sentinel

Complaint Filed Against Mayor’s Re-election Committee

by Eugene Driscoll | Oct 19, 2009 3:13 pm

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Posted to: Derby, Derby Election, Election 2009

Derby —

A union representative has filed a complaint with the state Elections Enforcement Commission regarding a contribution to Mayor Anthony Staffieri’s re-election campaign.

James Castelot, a staff member with Council 4 AFSCME, filed the complaint Monday morning. Two messages seeking comment were left with Castelot.

Background

Last week “Staffieri for Mayor” returned two checks totaling $650 to Richard Antonucci, principal of Annex Associates, LLC, after the Valley Independent Sentinel reported that Antonucci did not list his association with the city on campaign contribution forms.

Ken Hughes, Staffieri’s campaign manager, said Antonucci’s contributions were legitimate. The campaign returned the checks because they did not want to see the issue to become a distraction in the campaign, Hughes said.

In the form, a copy of which is posted at the end of this story, Antonucci answered “no” to the question: “ . . . does contributor or business he/she is associated with have a contract with said municipality valued at more than $5,000?”

Antonucci was correct, Hughes said, because the city does not pay Annex for its services at the transfer station. Annex generates revenue from recycling materials at the transfer station and gives a percentage of its proceeds to the city.

The Complaint

However, the complaint from Castelot, who has worked on the behalf of two Department of Public Works employees fired last year from the transfer station, claims Annex does have a contract valued at more than $5,000.

The contract with the city and Annex does not specify a dollar amount, but city Democrats believe an investigation will show the contract is worth at least $5,000.

“The question I want answered is, ‘Why didn’t he disclose his association with the city?’ The people deserve to know,” said Dan Foley, Jr., the Democrat challenging Staffieri for the mayor’s office.

Hughes said last week Antonucci listed a job at a restaurant because that is where he makes the most money.

Nancy Nicolescu, a spokeswoman for the state Elections Enforcement Commission, confirmed a complaint had been lodged.

The complaint is under review, Nicolescu said in an e-mail, and, if warranted, could be added to the commission’s investigation docket.

Hughes said the money has been returned and that the Democrats are trying to create a political issue where there is none. Antonucci’s donations were a tiny part of the $26,000 Staffieri has received from people who want to see him re-elected, Hughes said.

In fact, Staffieri has raised more money than any other political candidate in the lower Valley.

Hughes said Castelot has represented two workers fired by the city who are trying to get their jobs back.

“Mr. Castelot is not a resident of Derby. I don’t know why he has an interest in Tony Staffieri’s campaign,” Hughes said. “No one else probably wanted to put their name to (the complaint).”

Seec Complaint

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