Independent Party rules can’t be suspended for Stefanowski

The office of the Secretary of the State on Friday announced there is nothing it can do to help Republican Bob Stefanowski overcome the voter fraud he alleges occurred during the Tuesday night caucus of the state Independent Party, in which a tie vote led to the victory of Robert Hotaling of Cheshire.

“It is well settled that the authority of this office does not extend to the review, certification, or approval of certificates of endorsement, nomination or the party rules under which such actions may take place,” said Theodore Bromley, director of elections for Secretary of the State Mark Kohler.

In a letter addressed to Stefanowski's election lawyer, Peter J. Martin, Bromley stressed that the role of the secretary of the state is not to get into party rules or enforcing provisions. Earlier in the week Martin threatened legal action if the Independent Party did not address issues by Friday, including a possible follow-up caucus.

“Consequently, any dispute concerning the content, validity, or enforcement of party rules must be resolved by the party itself,” Bromley said.

The notice puts Stefanowski is an unenviable position of attempting to bully the party in state court after failing to win the Independent Party nomination after a large meet-and-greet party in his Madison home Tuesday night. A 79-79 tie was broken by Independent Party Chairman Michael Telesca in favor of Hotaling, a Cheshire banker.

Now, Stefanowski and Hotaling are set to face Gov. Ned Lamont in a race for governor this November. Lamont will appear on two ballot lines after the Democrat received an endorsement from the Working Families Party.

Contributed photo Rob Hotaling of Cheshire won the Independent Party nomintion for governor Tuesday night, after a tie vote was broken by the party chairman.

Julia Bergman / Hearst CT Media Bob Stefanowski has threatened legal action this week over the Independent Party endorsement for governor.