Testimony began Wednesday in a long-simmering federal lawsuit filed by a Derby resident who claims he was pushed out of the local Democratic Party’s nomination process and called the n‑word.
Mel Thompson‘s $80,000,000 lawsuit contends the Derby Democratic Town Committee conspired against him in 2009 to prevent him from running for mayor.
Thompson believes the Democrats kept him off the 2009 ballot specifically because he is black.
Democrats say Thompson’s claims are complete fabrications and that he was allowed to participate in political process.
Thompson’s lawsuit states that members of the town committee referred to him using the n‑word on more than one occasion, an accusation the Democrats named in the lawsuit deny.
Thompson also states in his lawsuit that he received a death threat connected to his attempt to run for mayor.
The federal lawsuit against the Derby Democratic Town Committee and a number of its members — including current Mayor Anita Dugatto — has been pending in federal court since January 2010.
A trial in the case began Wednesday at federal court in Hartford, with testimony continuing Thursday.
Thompson’s complaint portrays him as a maverick who wouldn’t make political promises in 2009 in his effort to become Derby’s first black mayor. But he claims the Democrats thwarted his bid by shutting him out of party discussions about the party’s 2009 slate of candidates.
Thompson contends he was threatened with lawsuits or arrest if he tried to show up at town committee meetings to speak.
Thompson’s lawsuit names the town committee as a defendant, along with members (in 2009 at least):
Shelia Parizo
Sandy Watson
Sam Rizzitelli
Anita Dugatto
Christine Robinson
Several other Democrats were removed from the lawsuit in 2014. The docket report on the civil case contains almost 300 entries and a mountain of legal documents.
The Dems in 2009 nominated Daniel Foley, Jr. for mayor. He was defeated by Republican incumbent Mayor Anthony Staffieri.
Dugatto unseated Staffieri in 2013.