Three weeks before the February 24 special election for State Senate, not one official absentee ballot has been returned to the Town Clerk’s Office. What’s going on around here in the land of absentee ballot magicians?
A paperwork processing glitch that had denied Republican Quentin Dreher a ballot spot for State Senate was rescued last Friday by a court action filed by former Republican State Senator Rob Russo and approved by Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis. That means new ballots must be printed.
The office of Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill had denied Dreher ballot access because the convention certification had been returned to the Bridgeport Town Clerk and not Merrill’s office.
Russo brought an action for injunction in front of Judge Bellis demanding the court order Dreher be placed on the ballot.
Technically 26 absentee ballots had been returned based on the initial printed ballot. Once the new ballot is available those absentee ballots will be reissued. The Town’s Clerk’s office is waiting on a printer to complete the ballots.
More than 1000 absentee ballot applications were taken out so it’s still possible hundreds could flood into the Town Clerk’s office in the final weeks. Presumably this could help Democratic-endorsed Richard DeJesus because many experienced absentee ballot operatives are supporting him.
In addition to Dreher and DeJesus, Working Families Party candidate Ed Gomes and petitioning candidates Ken Moales and Charles Hare will also be on the ballot.
Is Lydia out of town?
No rush. Queenie is probably waiting to see if her lieges will be supporting someone other than DeJesus. Not too late to throw him overboard.
Naaah. She is not out of town. She is lurking around the corner. Waiting to make her move. She probably has 100 of them. Perhaps for Moales.
Lydia is sitting on a bunch, that you can be sure of. I think she’s just waiting to see if certain people back out first, and if so, she’ll go back and have everyone re-cast. Sly one, that Lydia.