The gubernatorial campaign of Republican Bob Stefanowski took a preliminary step Wednesday towards a legal challenge of the Independent Party鈥檚 nomination of Rob Hotaling for governor.
In a letter to Mike Telesca of the Independent Party, a lawyer for Stefanowski alleged violations of party rules in the .
Telesca, the chairman of the minor party, said he read the letter and its demand that he preserve paper ballots and other materials related to the nominating caucus as a prelude to a lawsuit.
鈥淟et鈥檚 just put it this way: It鈥檚 sour grapes,鈥� Telesca said. 鈥淭his is one more [example] of the very rich demanding their way.鈥�
Peter J. Martin of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder wrote to Telesca, essentially putting him on notice of a coming lawsuit based on several factors, most notably Telesca casting a tie-breaking vote Tuesday night rather than ordering a second ballot.
Martin also questioned whether ineligible voters participated in the caucus, which ended in a 79-79 tie.
鈥淲e believe that a court reviewing these facts will conclude that the Independent Party鈥檚 purported nomination of Mr. Hotaling violated party rules and law such that the Secretary of State cannot permit Mr. Hotaling鈥檚 name to be printed on the official ballot as the candidate of the Independent Party of 海角换妻 for the November 8, 2022 general election,鈥� Martin wrote.
William Bloss, an elections lawyer who has represented the party, said state law grants great discretion to minor parties in how they endorse candidates, and he is confident that the caucus results Tuesday will stand up in court.
鈥淭he State of 海角换妻 Elections Enforcement Commission is on record as stating minor parties are not obligated to follow either their bylaws or any bylaws in making nominations,鈥� Bloss said.
鈥淭he statute that refers to nominations for minor parties says that minor parties 鈥榤ay鈥� follow their bylaws, but SEEC has interpreted that as wholly discretionary,鈥� Bloss said.
Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, is cross-endorsed by the labor-backed Working Families Party, as was the case in 2018. Stefanowski was cross-endorsed by the Independent Party in 2018.
But this year, Telesca said, the party is trying to establish itself as an independent voice and alternative to the major parties by nominating Hotaling, a party member and senior vice president at Webster Bank.