Republican and Democratic Officials Reject Claims by Failed Senate Candidate

By Hugh McQuaid

November 15 @ 9:30 am

Republican and Democratic election officials in Mansfield have issued statements affirming the validity of last week’s election results in response to suggestions by a local Republican who has sought to undermine confidence in the outcome after losing his state Senate bid.

“We are confident the election results in Mansfield are accurate,” Mansfield Republican Registrar of Voters Vera Ward and Democratic Registrar Anne Greineder said in a joint statement Tuesday. “Protecting everyone’s right to vote is of the utmost importance.”

The rare joint release follows a complaint and days of public statements and social media posts by Chris Reddy, a Scotland Republican who unsuccessfully sought to replace incumbent Sen. Mae Flexer in the 29th Senate District, which includes parts of Brooklyn, Canterbury, Killingly, Mansfield, Scotland, Putnam, Thompson, and Windham.

Reddy spent much of the week since his loss at the polls circulating social media posts which question the validity of the results and suggesting that foul play related to same day voter registration in Mansfield had contributed to the outcome.

The unsubstantiated election denial has been met with statements from local officials in both parties, who have vouched for the integrity of the election.

In addition to the statement by town registrars, Mansfield Republican Town Committee Chairman G. William Tomecko Jr. issued a joint statement with Ben Shaiken, chairman of the Mansfield Democratic Town Committee.

Both party officials expressed confidence in the results, including votes cast by UConn students.

“We are disappointed that Chris Reddy and his campaign are challenging the validity of Tuesday’s election and attempting to disqualify the votes of thousands of Mansfield citizens,” Mansfield’s Republican and Democratic chairmen said. “It was a free, fair, secure, and extremely well-organized election and his comments do nothing but sow discord and division among the voters of Mansfield and the 29th district.”

Meanwhile, Senate President Martin Looney and Majority Leader Bob Duff issued a statement Thursday, noting the election officials’ confirmation of Flexer’s victory and urging Reddy to accept his loss.

“No legitimate concerns have been raised, and no credible person has questioned the election,” Looney and Duff said. “Continued comments denying reality are, at best, irresponsible and, at worst, dangerous to our democracy and the safety of local officials. Republican State Senate candidate Chris Reddy needs to drop this desperate charade, acknowledge that he lost, and accept the will of the people.”