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Mathews Requests Marshals At City Polling Places

By Courant

October 30, 2007

Mayoral challenger I. Charles Mathews has asked Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz to provide monitors or marshals at all Hartford polling places on Election Day because of "irregularities" during the Sept. 11 Democratic primary.

Mathews said the reported irregularities included "improper coaching of voters by election workers when explaining the ballot, violations of voters' privacy when marking ballots, and failure to supervise and enforce rules requiring campaign workers to remain at least 75 feet away from the entrance to polling places."

Mathews said he had discussed these violations with the Hartford Democratic registrar of voters and is certain she will make her best effort to correct them. But, he said, he is "concerned that there may not be enough resources to ensure a fair and transparent election," and therefore requested Bysiewicz's help.

Mathews finished second in the Democratic primary, winning 29 percent of the vote to 49 percent for Mayor Eddie A. Perez.

Hartford city council candidate Thom Page is holding a pair of events in the final days of the campaign.

There's a "meet and greet" today at 6 p.m. at the home of Gwen Williams, a longtime Blue Hills resident, at 67 Hebron St. Page plans to discuss the upcoming election and his agenda for the city if he wins a council seat.

Page will also hold a fundraising event at 4 p.m. Sunday at the home of West End residents Ross and Suzie Hatch at 229 Kenyon St. Co-hosts are Michele Parrotta and Lesley Skenderian. For information on either event, call 860-523-0410.

Two activist groups - the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now and the Connecticut Citizen Action Group - have thrown their support behind the Working Families Party candidates for Hartford city council.

"Luis Cotto, Urania Petit and Larry Deutsch are not typical politicians. They are activists who are willing to fight for things like education, a healthy environment, and open, honest government," said Phil Sherwood, legislative director of CCAG. "For Hartford voters who are looking for new leadership who will fight for them, the Working Families candidates are the clear choice."

Cotto is co-owner of La Paloma Sabanera coffeehouse and bookstore. Petit is a community activist and recent graduate from the UConn School of Social Work. Deutsch is a pediatrician.

A New York-based documentary filmmaker, Jason Pollock, is making a film about young people running for political office and has chosen to feature Hartford mayoral petitioning candidate Raul De Jesus, 20.

Pollack, 26, has been traveling the U.S. meeting youths who are running for office. The film aims to highlight a growing trend in America, but also to show youths the power they have in the electoral process.

"I have met young candidates for months now but no one's story is as inspiring as Raul's," Pollock said. "I think he has the potential to be a huge leader in this country."

Pollock grew up in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1999. From 2003 to 2006, Pollock worked for Michael Moore, Oscar winner and maker of "Fahrenheit 9/11."

The West Hartford Special Education PTA will hold a two-hour forum today at 7 p.m. at Duffy School for families to meet and speak with the district's school board candidates. Residents are invited to submit questions in advance to [email protected]. Duffy School is at 95 Westminster Drive.