Dems Say First Selectwoman's Endorsement Letter 'Misleading'

FAIRFIELD, CT — First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick and the Republican candidate running to fill the Connecticut General Assembly seat Kupchick held before she was elected head of the town in November are being criticized for a campaign mailer that Fairfield Democrats have called "misleading" and "unethical."

The mailer was sent in a plain envelope that said, "Important message from First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick," and listed, "Brenda Kupchick, First Selectwoman," above the Rowland Road address for candidate Brian Farnen. The envelope contained a letter endorsing Farnen with a large letterhead that also said, "Brenda Kupchick, First Selectwoman." At the bottom of the letter in small type was a disclaimer that the mailer was paid for by Farnen for Fairfield and approved by Brian Farnen.

In a Facebook post, Fairfield's Democratic Town Committee took issue with the mailer, saying it was campaign material masquerading as official correspondence from the town.

"We are appalled that a Republican candidate would choose to employ such deceptive tactics," committee Chairman Steve Sheinberg said, noting the committee is talking to attorneys to see if the mailer is a campaign law violation.

Farnen is running in a special election set for Jan. 14 against Democrat Jenn Leeper to represent Connecticut House District 132, a seat held by Kupchick, a Republican, for many years.

Leeper echoed Sheinberg's sentiments about the mailer.

"It looked like it was official town correspondence," she said. "... I think it confused a lot of people."

Kupchick did not respond to a call seeking comment Friday afternoon, but Farnen and Republican Town Committee Chairman Jamie Millington both defended the mailer. Millington noted the mailer lists Farnen's home as the return address and said it was not sent in a town envelope or marked with a town seal.

"She's expressing her sincere support for one of the two candidates and there's nothing unethical about that at all," Millington said.

Farnen said the letter was clearly a political mailer.

"I'm proud to have her support," he said.

Dr. Gary Rose, a political science professor at Sacred Heart University, said the mailer did not violate election law, but added if it had included a town seal, that would have been a serious issue. Rose also referred to the mailer as, "obviously somewhat misleading."

"I'm sure that this has been vetted pretty carefully," Rose said. "... The candidate is in the clear here."