Maltese Files Lawsuit, Demands Recount Claiming Improper Actions

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – The losing candidate in the recent mayor election has filed a lawsuit with the Superior Court asking for a recount, claiming there were improper actions before and during the election, primarily concerning the rejection of absentee ballots by Town Clerk Stacy Gravino and other supporters of Mayor Joseph Maturo.

Sal Maltese, who lost the election by 106 votes or about 1 percent of the vote, has hired the Marcus law firm. Being sued is the Town of East Haven, Maturo, Gravino, and Secretary of State’s Office for the State of Connecticut.

The lawsuit states there were 596 applications for absentee ballots. It states that “an unknown number were rejected by her (Gravino).”

The suit further states that members of the Republican Party were within 75 feet of a polling place during election hours, claiming that is a violation of state law.

The suit further states there were discrepancies with polling machines in District 5.

The lawsuit said that Maltese would have won the election if the issues didn’t occur before the election with the absentee ballots – and – the improprieties didn’t exist on Election Day.

The suit asks: “To schedule a recanvassing, review and recount of the ballots for the general municipal election."