Drew: Letter an ‘error in judgment’

Mayor after criticism of donation ask of town employees: ‘We’re all human and all make mistakes’

MIDDLETOWN — Hoping to stem a rising tide of criticism involving a letter he sent to city employees at their private addresses looking for contributions to his gubernatorial bid, Democratic Mayor Dan Drew has apologized, describing the incident as “an error in judgment.”

Last week, Drew sent a letter asking for contributions — specifically $100 gifts to his campaign for seeking the nomination for the state’s top job in 2018 — from what he estimated Wednesday were between 200 and 300 city workers.

In a letter of contrition to city employees, Drew promised to refund any contributions received since the letter was sent Sept. 13.

On Thursday, campaign manager Ashley Gaudiano sent The Press a copy of a letter from Drew sent to union presidents to distribute to their members. The mayor began by apologizing for the letter, describing it as “an error in judgment, and adding, “it should not have been sent.”

He also apologized for requesting a list of town employees and their addresses from the city’s human resources department.

His request for donations is drawing criticism from a number of local and state officials.

Former federal prosecutor Democrat Chris Mattei, who has formed an exploratory committee to run for governor in 2018, denounced Drew’s actions Thursday.

“What Dan Drew did was wrong — plain and simple. As the elected mayor of Middletown, he used the authority of his office to obtain the confidential information of his subordinates, and then used that authority and information to urge city workers to give money to his campaign,” Mattei said in a release.

“It’s not unreasonable for those workers to think that they now have to donate to his campaign in order to continue or advance their careers.”

In a telephone conversation Thursday afternoon, Drew said, “I think it’s important to acknowledge an error, apologize for it and correct it. I regret doing it, and I have apologized to the public and people who work for the city.

“We’re all human and we all make mistakes. I made a mistake, and I’m doing the best I can to rectify it. That’s all you can do,” Drew said. “I am ready to move forward.”

Councilor Deb Kleckowski labeled the letter “intimidation.” Council Majority Leader (and former mayor) Thomas J. Serra, a fellow Democrat, said he will seek a determination if the letter was a violation of the city’s code of ethics.

“I wouldn't have done it,” former mayor and now Council Minority Leader Sebastiano Giuliano said Wednesday.

Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, a Republican candidate for governor in 2018, issued a statement Wednesday night.

“If you are unable to resist the impulse to misuse your office to advance your own political fortunes, than you are not fit to hold the highest office in this state,” Herbst said in the release. “There is nothing like the solemn obligation you have as a municipal leader to protect and honor your law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line every day. For Drew to casually violate that trust to shill for political contributions is abhorrent.”

The fact police officers had received letters at their homes has perhaps generated the most upset. By law, the home addresses of officers are supposed to be “masked” — unavailable for public release to protect officers (and their families) from those who might wish to do them harm.

Drew said Wednesday “a couple officers” had forwarded to him their concerns about the letters being sent to their home. But, it turns out, Sgt. David Fuchs, president of the Middletown Police Union Local 1361, sent an email to the Office of the General Counsel Tuesday “regarding the use of our homes addresses again for political purposes.”

Fuchs received a response from Deputy General Counsel Kori Termine Wisneski late Tuesday afternoon. She told Fuchs she was unaware of either the request for the addresses or the mailer, he said.

Wisneski said she had reached to the department which released the addresses — she did not identify which department it was — “and reminded them of the relevant [Freedom of Information Act] provision that exempts the members of the police force from such disclosure,” in an email obtained by The Press.

In an email to the Press Thursday afternoon, Fuchs said he had “reached out to the city attorney after hearing from many of our officers.” The union represents 110 sworn officers as well as animal control officers, he said.

Fuchs said the union’s paramount mission is “protecting our members’ interests and the safety of them and their families.”

Consequently, “We are united in believing that is unacceptable for our home addresses to be released for reasons like this,” Fuchs said.

“I was advised by the city attorney that the disclosure came from an aide in the human resources department. That obviously is very troubling,” he said. “We expect HR to be competent in handling the sensitive information they possess.”

Fuchs said Drew “called me directly [Wednesday] to apologize for the error.”

There was also a release of officers’ addresses in 2015, according to Deputy Counsel Wisneski. In that incident, the town clerk’s office released the officers’ home addresses “to a retiree seeking appointment to the city’s pension board,” Wisneski said.

Fuchs said “the union leadership will meet in the near future to determine if we need to take any additional action which more may not include a formal complaint to the [State Elections Enforcement Commission].”

“Our displeasure with this incident should not be construed as an opinion of Mayor Drew or his campaign for governor. We have no intention of endorsing any candidate,” Fuchs said.

In a follow-up email, Fuchs said the upset created by the mayor’s letter — and the release of officers’ addresses — will not “affect the quality of service the city receives from us.

“Our officers are professionals and it is my honor to serve as their president. It is just disheartening when these things happen since we always hope for people to watch over and protect us as we watch over and protect them,” Fuchs said.

“I think it’s important to acknowledge an error, apologize for it and correct it. I regret doing it, and I have apologized to the public and people who work for the city.” Dan Drew Middletown Mayor

Mayor Dan Drew