Removal Of Republican Campaign Signs Causes Controversy In Enfield

ENFIELD, CT — The weeks before any election always bring out accusations by wrongdoing between opposing parties, but an allegation by the chair of the Enfield Republican Town Committee (ERTC) alleging illegal campaign sign theft by two Democratic members of the town council has spread like wildfire via social media.

ERTC chair Kelly Hemmeler, a former councilor, issued a written statement accusing District 3 councilor Matt Despard and District 4 councilor Nick Hopkins "trespassing a local business under the shroud of darkness, tampering with and stealing property of multiple Republican candidates."

She also provided a surveillance video obtained from the Jug Shop, a longtime liquor store at 80 Hazard Avenue situated at perhaps the busiest intersection in town: at the corner of Route 190 and Middle Road. The small plot of grass in front of the store has long been a prime location for campaign signs from candidates of all parties.

The video, bearing a timestamp of 9:44 p.m. on Oct. 8, shows a pickup truck pulling into the Jug Shop parking lot, and Despard and Hopkins exiting the vehicle and placing several campaign signs for 59th District State Rep. Carol Hall into the truck's bed. Other signs removed belong to Judge of Probate Carolyn McCaffrey and U.S. Senate candidate Leora Levy, Hemmeler said.

Hemmeler said Satish Panchal, owner of the Jug Shop, "had provided explicit permission for the three Republican campaigns to place their signs on the lawn of the business, and provided the surveillance video once the theft was realized."

Despard, who is opposing Hall in the race for the General Assembly seat, said he had received permission from the store owner to place his signs on the property, but the man told him he had not granted permission to anyone else.

"When we saw the others up after the owner had told us he had not given his permission, we removed them and took them to the ERTC chair's home," Despard told Patch. "We even left a note when we returned them."

Neither side disclosed the contents of the note, but Hemmeler told Patch, "It was typed, it didn't say where the signs came from or who dropped them. All the campaigns asked permission. We asked the owner if he requested the signs should be removed and he said no. Then he checked the surveillance footage and gave us a copy. It is a federal crime to remove political signs."

Hemmeler called for the two councilors to resign, and indicated she intended "to file complaints with the appropriate state and local agencies to ensure that Mr. Despard and Mr. Hopkins are held accountable for their behavior."

Police Capt. Jeff Golden said a check of department records "could not locate any calls for this type of incident."

"The actions of Mr. Despard and Mr. Hopkins are equally unethical and desperate and deserve the community’s condemnation," Hemmeler said. "The disregard both men have shown for the law, including the right of free speech under the First Amendment of our Constitution, is a clear and willful breach of the oath both men took when they were seated on the town council. Their complete lack of respect and maturity show that neither are fit for elected office."

Hopkins told Patch, "This is unfortunately totally political, but the truth is pretty obvious."