To the editor:
How involved was State Representative Kara Rochelle in the West Haven scandal that saw over $800,000 in federal COVID funds misappropriated, with $5,000 of those dollars ending up in the Rochelle’s wallet?
So far, there’s been a lot of anger and deflection from the Representative’s supporters, but no answers.
In fact, a recent, ranting letter from Team Rochelle oscillated wildly between taking personal shots against former Democratic Town Chair and Ansonia firefighter Gary Farrar – who dared to question whether Rochelle knew she was being paid from COVID funds – and rattling off the State Rep’s supposed accomplishments (supporting Ansonia’s fire fighters like Mr. Farrar was, perhaps fittingly, not a claimed accomplishment).
Yet still no answers from State Representative Kara Rochelle.
At this point, however, the facts are beginning to do the talking. Consider the following:
• Kara Rochelle’s invoice for her West Haven work has surfaced, and it leaves no doubt that she knowingly took COVID dollars. The $5,000 invoice directs the West Haven finance department to bill 50 hours of Rochelle’s work as a “COVID-19” fire study. As a Representative, Rochelle should have known this was a violation of the federal rules.
• The invoice, dated May 31, 2021, was paid by check dated either May 4 or June 4, 2021. In either case, Rochelle was clearly paid prior to performing any work for the City of West Haven. Further, Rochelle has stated publicly that she first learned of this fire project in June 2021.
• There is currently no proof that Representative Rochelle did 50 hours of work for the City of West Haven, in any time frame, as the invoice claims.
• Prior to the invoice, State Representative Rochelle’s Political Action Committee Valley Forward (sole member: Kara Rochelle) took $1,000 directly from disgraced ex-State Representative Michael DiMassa on May 11, 2021, the very same day the FBI has alleged DiMassa improperly withdrew $9,125.00 in COVID funds.
• The funds donated by DiMassa to Valley Forward were never returned to the City of West Haven. Note that a similar $1,000 donation made by DiMassa to a West Haven probate candidate was rejected and returned by the candidate on October 20, 2021, the day prior to DiMassa’s arrest.
• Valley Forward would eventually make a $1,000 donation to non-profit W.H.E.A.T on November 9th, the same day that the $5,000 personal payment to Kara Rochelle would become public in the Hartford Courant.
Written documentation of the above facts is included with this letter, obtained only with teeth-pulling effort from the City of West Haven.
In the absence of answers from State Representative Kara Rochelle, Ansonia Republicans are turning this information over to the public. A full timeline of this incident will be included with this document and published on the Ansonia GOP Facebook page. It is our sincere hope that, with some teamwork, this mystery can be solved.
Consider it an ARG (“accountability reality game”) for the 104th District.
Sincerely,
Tony Mammone
Chairman, Ansonia Republican Town Committee
