Carmen DiCenso, right, signs paperwork for his mayoral run Tuesday after being nominated by the Democrats to run for mayor.
The Derby Democrats messed up Tuesday by using a secret ballot to nominate a candidate for mayor.
What the error means for endorsed candidate Carmen DiCenso remains to be seen, according to Linda Fusco, chairwoman of the Derby Democratic Town Committee.
“The person this impacts the most is Carmen DiCenso, and I’ve apologized to him a million times,” Fusco said.
A “resolution hearing” with state Democratic Party officials has been scheduled by telephone for 5 p.m. Friday (July 21), Fusco said.
“It’s totally my fault and I’ll take complete responsibility,” Fusco told The Valley Indy late Thursday.
Here’s what happened:
The Derby Democratic Town Committee convened Tuesday to nominate a slate for the November municipal election.
The 36 members endorsed Board of Aldermen President Carmen DiCenso over two-term incumbent Mayor Anita Dugatto.
The vote was 21 to 15.
Immediately after the vote, Dugatto congratulated DiCenso and told reporters she planned to collect signatures from registered Democrats in Derby in order to force a Democratic Party primary in September.
Here’s what went wrong:
The Democratic Town Committee members voted by choosing either Dugatto or DiCenso and dropping the ballot into a box in the front of the room.
Here’s video of Fusco and Town Clerk Marc Garofalo, a member of the Derby Democratic Town Committee, counting the votes:
But the ballots were anonymous — a no-no according the rules of the state Democratic Party.
Fusco said neither she nor Garofalo knew the vote had to be public.
“What we missed is that they don’t allow unsigned ballots,” Fusco said. “But that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
Fusco said after the nominating convention ended Tuesday a man from DNA Campaigns approached her and said he didn’t think the secret ballot was allowed.
DNA Campaigns is a consulting firm working to re-elect Mayor Dugatto.
Fusco said after the conversation with the campaign staffer, she looked at documents Tuesday night from the state central committee and realized her mistake.
Fusco said she immediately called and left a phone message to the state party admitting the mistake Tuesday night.
She went to work Wednesday, played phone tag with state party officials all day — then talked to an official Thursday morning who confirmed the mistake.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Fusco, Frank Rubino, an ally of Mayor Dugatto and a member of the Democratic Town Committee, had filed a complaint with the Connecticut Democratic Party, which apparently triggered Friday’s conference call.
Rubino’s complaint was emailed about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to an email shared with The Valley Indy.
Rubino told The Valley Indy late Thursday that he wants to see the Democratic Town Committee vote again — this time in public.
“I would like to see a revote. Let everybody say what they have to say and how they vote. Let it be out loud and not a piece of paper,” Rubino said. “I just want a revote on the mayoral. I think it (the vote tally) will change. I think it will change. Anyone can vote behind a sheet of paper. I want to see people stand up and do it.”
Does Rubino think a new vote will get Dugatto the party endorsement, which would guarantee her a prominent spot on the November ballot?
“Possibly. It could happen. Anything could happen. I’ve seen politics in Derby for 32 years, since my uncle was the mayor. Anything is possible,” Rubino said.
DiCensco Reacts
Carmen DiCenso, the endorsed candidate for mayor who currently serves as the president of the Board of Aldermen, said he’s waiting to see what happens after Friday’s phone call.
He was surprised to learn the Democratic Town Committee’s endorsement vote had to be done in public.
He noted when people vote on Election Day, they aren’t forced to reveal who they voted for.
“In the United States you’re supposed to be able to place your vote without anyone else knowing who you voted for,” he said.
DiCenso questioned the motives of the Dugatto’s campaign.
“I find it awfully funny they waited until after the vote to raise the question,” DiCenso said. “They should have said something before the vote. Did they bring it up only because she lost?”
DiCenso also doubted whether Rubino actually researched the mistake. DiCenso said Dugatto’s campaign staffers likely researched the issue and wrote the complaint.
Finally, DiCenso said some members of the Democratic Town Committee are also city employees. He said they could be “intimidated” by the mayor if they voted in public for him instead of her.
Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto, right, talks to CT Post reporter Mike Mayko after not receiving the town committee’s nod for re-election Tuesday.
Dugatto Reacts
DiCenso’s last comment angered Dugatto.
“That’s ridiculous, and that angers me. That’s his mentality?” she said. “Look, I work for the people of the City of Derby, not the party insiders.”
Regarding why her campaign staff didn’t speak up sooner during Tuesday’s nomination process, Dugatto said the guy from DNA Campaigns simply wasn’t sure he was right.
It wasn’t a calculated political move, she said.
“He had to research it. He wasn’t sure. We had to check it out,” Dugatto said.
Dugatto said the Democrats have to follow the rules, and that’s that.
“I’m not sure what the outcome of the hearing is going to be Friday, but we have to follow the rules,” she said.
Messages seeking comment were left with Leigh Appleby, communications director for the Connecticut Democrats.
Derby GOP Reacts
In an email, Andrew Baklik, campaign manager for Republican candidate for mayor Richard Dziekan, said there’s an easy way to deal with the endorsement problem: vote for Dziekan in November to restore competence and professionalism to Derby City Hall.
“This is just a symptom of a much bigger problem in our small city’s government,” Baklik said. “The disorganization and dissension among the ranks is very disheartening and the people of Derby deserve better from their leadership.”
