Unclean Hands – Election Watchdog Orders Probe Of Gomes Supporters Stuffing Ballots

City Politics8 Comments

The State Elections Enforcement Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to investigate a complaint filed by City Council President Aidee Nieves’ asserting two John Gomes mayoral supporters placed numerous absentee ballots into designated drop boxes in violation of state law, the very charges that became the center piece of Gomes’ lawsuit accusing Mayor Joe Ganim supporters doing the same leading to a court order for a new Democratic primary on January 23.

Nieves’ complaint includes video footage of her council primary opponent Maria Hernandez and city employee Maria Agueda with frequent dumps into drop boxes created by legislative act as a response to Covid.

State law generally minimizes the handling of an elector’s ballot to family members, police officers and care takers.

The Gomes camp highlighted during the court challenge video of Ganim supporters Wanda Geter and Eneida Martinez dropping ballots into boxes.

When confronted with video of Gomes supporters doing the same the party line from the campaign has been they were doing so on behalf of family members.

“I can say with confidence,” Nieves writes “that neither of them have enough family members to justify the number of ballots they each placed in the drop boxes.”

Nieves complaint

SEEC has been overwhelmed by Bridgeport complaints this election cycle. Nieves complaint follows:

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8 comments

  1. What if you are sitting in a location that is only remotely affected by the “absentee ballots or Bridgeport” saga? What is you held a job somewhere in the “justice industry”, “law enforcement”, or “rule of law” profession? And what if you had early word through Fusion videos of questionable behavior recorded on four cameras in the early days previous to the Bridgeport primary? What do you do? Likely nothing, sit tight, see where the complaints show up and then respond?
    So here we find ourselves today in Bridgeport. The City Council President, re-elected to her position in the District and on the Council, the go-to person in the City by Charter when the Mayor is not ‘present’, providing formal notice, for all to see, to indicate the broad implications of election manipulations in the City. In other words, while the SEEC is studying the story, understand how the ballot culture and educations of activists has warped the rules of using absentee ballots. To the extent that new rules may be indicated and that new oversight and enforcement will be provided, why not do it at one time, rather than drip, drip, drip, and slower drip?
    Restrictions on the time period from absentee ballot requests, to availability of actual ballots, and other rules make some sense. Why not treat absentee ballot requests like money and folks who sign them out responsible for returning those unused? Why not separate the “renter rebate” eligibility application and payment of the fund from the State of CT time periods from the primary and election process? It has shown that some folks can get confused about what they are signing? And where is a statement from Park City Communities Board or Executive Director on visits to properties over which they have administrative responsibility as politicians wish to meet potential voters? Sounds of silence……. unfortunate?
    Finally, perhaps the four official absentee ballot boxes with the action-activated cameras on them 24/7 should also have a sign attached: SMILE! YOU ARE ON AN OFFICIAL CAMERA!! Time will tell.

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    1. JML, you just don’t get it. Lennie, could you start calculating how many OIB questions has JML made so far this year?

      You could have filed SEEC complaints many times after so many years of obvious questionable practices during election cycles–NOT Only in Bridgeport. Had Council President Aidee Nieves not filed this SEEC complaint, there would have been no investigation.

      Despite having full knowledge of the videos showing the Gomes camp in action, the Connecticut SEEC is too slow to act. John Gomes opened this can of worms. Any other questions? Enjoy the holidays!

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    2. Hold on JML, I have a Christmas present for you. It’s in a form of an assigment for you in regards to this SEEC complaint. Now that the Commission is investigating the Gomes campaign, people can contact investigator assigned and provide any facts that may help to blow-the-lid off the can of worms.

      You present is to inform SEEC investigators of the fact that John Gomes Campaign paid for rental vehicles used to commit absentee ballot violations. The Gomes Campaign intentionally delayed filing Campaign financial reports (late filings) for over a month after the September 12, Democratic Primary.

      The campaign finance report submitted (late filing) by the Gomes campaign after the election, shows
      A payments for “car rental” totaling $1,100 Paid to Nunes Auto on South
      Avenue in Bridgeport.

      In addition, the Gomes report shows payments for cell phone service. Track Cell phones are used by many to conceal criminal activities/ privacy. These cell phones are difficult to have its’ calls traced by investigative authorities. WHY DID THE JOHN GOMES CAMPAIGN USE TRACK PHONE. The Gomes financial reports shows payments for travk phones to a Company in California.

      BTW, Lennie put up the links to all campaign financial filings by the Gomes campaign and help JML out with his Christmas present.

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  2. Speaking of “UNCLEAN HANDS”, I see that Mikey Defilippo wiggled out of the appeal but still faces the charges in his election fraud case. You know, the one that was “fabricated” and “personal” because of the liquor store issue!!
    😂 😆 😝 🤣
    And on a serious note- Merry Christmas to all and I hope that you all have a safe, healthy, and happy new year. Cheers to all!!!

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