NEW BRITAIN, CT - Mayor Bobby Sanchez and the City of New Britain have been slapped with a lawsuit after he appointed a Democrat to the Common Council in place of Republican Jerrell Hargraves, who died unexpectedly in February.
The New Britain Republican Town Committee, along with several New Britain residents, filed the lawsuit after Mayor Sanchez, a Democrat, appointed Mr. Colin Osborn to the Common Council, WFSB reported.
The plaintiffs claim that the defendants "illegally usurped the power of the vacant Common Council seat by appointing a Democrat to fill a vacancy following the Republican Alderman’s death."
According to the lawsuit, the Charter of the City of New Britain states that the vacant Ward 2 seat "shall be filled by a member of the same political party as the appointee's predecessor," WTNH reported.
"This was a blatant and outrageous abuse of power by the Sanchez administration and the Democrat majority of the Common Council that is an undeniable violation of state election laws as outlined in Connecticut General Statutes Section 9-167a,” said Tony Kane, a named plaintiff and Chairman of the New Britain Republican Town Committee.
"New Britain deserves better than the kind of chicanery the Sanchez administration and the Democrats on the Common Council tried to pull off here,” said Kane.
"As soon as the illegal Osborn appointment was made in the late hours of the evening last Wednesday, we immediately notified the administration that the Osborn appointment was an illegal abuse of power that violates the clear provisions of state election law, and we gave them an opportunity to correct it, but they refused, forcing us to take legal action today," Kane added.
The New Britain Democratic Town Committee responded, saying that the Republican Town Committee should be "ashamed" of filing the lawsuit.
"Instead of offering solutions or focusing on the real challenges facing our city, they have once again chosen political bullying, personal attacks, and manufactured outrage. Their baseless lawsuit and public smear campaign drove away a resident who was willing to step forward and serve the people of New Britain. That is not leadership; it is cowardice,” said Chris Anderson, Chair of the New Britain Democratic Town Committee.
"This is the same tired playbook we have seen before: create chaos, spread misinformation, and hope people ignore the serious issues surrounding the prior administration, including the ongoing questions about misconduct involving the former Mayor and the former Revenue Collector," Anderson said.
"The people of New Britain deserve answers and accountability, not distractions designed to change the subject. While Republicans focus on political games, Democrats are focused on delivering for residents by fighting for stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, honest government, and a city that works for everyone. No amount of noise from the New Britain Republican Town Committee will change that," he added.
Mayor Sanchez's office released a statement that said, in part, "The New Britain Republican Town Committee’s frivolous lawsuit against the City of New Britain is a waste of taxpayer resources and a distraction from the real issues facing our community, increasing education funding for our schools, strengthening public safety, and protecting the public trust."
"The vacancy in question was filled through a vote of the Common Council. The Mayor does not appoint members of the Common Council and had no role in that legislative action. Rather than engage in a constructive discussion, Republican leaders chose political theater, social media attacks, and now litigation," the statement added.
The New Britain Republican Town Committee, along with several New Britain residents, filed the lawsuit after Mayor Sanchez, a Democrat, appointed Mr. Colin Osborn to the Common Council, WFSB reported.
The plaintiffs claim that the defendants "illegally usurped the power of the vacant Common Council seat by appointing a Democrat to fill a vacancy following the Republican Alderman’s death."
According to the lawsuit, the Charter of the City of New Britain states that the vacant Ward 2 seat "shall be filled by a member of the same political party as the appointee's predecessor," WTNH reported.
"This was a blatant and outrageous abuse of power by the Sanchez administration and the Democrat majority of the Common Council that is an undeniable violation of state election laws as outlined in Connecticut General Statutes Section 9-167a,” said Tony Kane, a named plaintiff and Chairman of the New Britain Republican Town Committee.
"New Britain deserves better than the kind of chicanery the Sanchez administration and the Democrats on the Common Council tried to pull off here,” said Kane.
"As soon as the illegal Osborn appointment was made in the late hours of the evening last Wednesday, we immediately notified the administration that the Osborn appointment was an illegal abuse of power that violates the clear provisions of state election law, and we gave them an opportunity to correct it, but they refused, forcing us to take legal action today," Kane added.
The New Britain Democratic Town Committee responded, saying that the Republican Town Committee should be "ashamed" of filing the lawsuit.
"Instead of offering solutions or focusing on the real challenges facing our city, they have once again chosen political bullying, personal attacks, and manufactured outrage. Their baseless lawsuit and public smear campaign drove away a resident who was willing to step forward and serve the people of New Britain. That is not leadership; it is cowardice,” said Chris Anderson, Chair of the New Britain Democratic Town Committee.
"This is the same tired playbook we have seen before: create chaos, spread misinformation, and hope people ignore the serious issues surrounding the prior administration, including the ongoing questions about misconduct involving the former Mayor and the former Revenue Collector," Anderson said.
"The people of New Britain deserve answers and accountability, not distractions designed to change the subject. While Republicans focus on political games, Democrats are focused on delivering for residents by fighting for stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, honest government, and a city that works for everyone. No amount of noise from the New Britain Republican Town Committee will change that," he added.
Mayor Sanchez's office released a statement that said, in part, "The New Britain Republican Town Committee’s frivolous lawsuit against the City of New Britain is a waste of taxpayer resources and a distraction from the real issues facing our community, increasing education funding for our schools, strengthening public safety, and protecting the public trust."
"The vacancy in question was filled through a vote of the Common Council. The Mayor does not appoint members of the Common Council and had no role in that legislative action. Rather than engage in a constructive discussion, Republican leaders chose political theater, social media attacks, and now litigation," the statement added.
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