ANSONIA – John Marini was fined $400 in August for violating campaign finance laws while serving as treasurer of Mayor David Cassetti’s re-election campaigns in 2021 and 2023.

The fines were levied by the state Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC), whose agents investigated complaints lodged last year by Ansonia Democratic Town Committee Chairman David Hannon.

The investigation determined the Cassetti campaign did not report that rent for their headquarters was paid for by the Ansonia Town Republican Committee in 2021 and 2023. The Republican committee also failed to report the expense, according to the SEEC.

Marini signed an order laying out the fine from the SEEC on Aug. 6. Marini is also Ansonia’s corporation counsel.

Tracey DeLibero, the Ansonia Republican Town Committee’s treasurer at the time, was fined $50.

Marini said the violations were a result of miscommunication between Cassetti’s campaign and the Republican committee.

“It was simply just a misfiling, a misunderstanding, as one side thought the other one reported it, and the other side thought the other did,” Marini said.

The SEEC orders said there was no evidence showing the violations were “willful or intentional.”

Hannon did not return a call for comment by deadline.

Background

The SEEC is responsible for upholding campaign finance laws in Connecticut. Read more from The Connecticut Mirror. 

Campaign finance laws provide a level of transparency on how candidates and political parties are collecting and spending money.

According to the SEEC, the Ansonia Republican Town Committee paid $1,500 to use the Palma Restaurant on Main Street as a campaign headquarters in 2021. Neither Cassetti’s campaign, nor the Republican Town Committee reported the expense on campaign finance statements.

In 2023, Cassetti’s campaign paid $5,000 to rent Glitter Craze on Main Street for its campaign headquarters, the SEEC said. The Ansonia Republican Town Committee paid an additional $2,000 toward the rent. Neither of those expenses were reported.

The SEEC also addressed a spaghetti fundraiser for Cassetti’s 2023 re-election campaign. According to the order, Cassetti’s campaign failed to report about $200 in costs and donations for pasta, plates, and glasses.

The SEEC said Cassetti’s re-election campaigns, as well as the Ansonia Republican Town Committee, had violated state law by omitting the lease payments and fundraiser from their filings.

Election Day is Nov. 4. Cassetti is being challenged by Democrat Frank Tyska. 

Marini said this year Cassetti’s re-election campaign is being managed directly by the town committee. 

“This was a consequence of miscommunication between the two committees. So going forward, to remedy that, it’s just one slate of candidates under the Ansonia Republican Town Committee,” Marini said.

Hannon has other complaints pending with the SEEC, including one from a former city employee who said he worked on previous Cassetti campaigns during regular work hours.

SEEC investigations can take a year to finish.