Kupchick 'Very Disappointed' About Having To Give 25,000 Emails To Fairfield Democrats

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield’s first selectwoman recently told residents she was “very disappointed” about having to turn over thousands of email addresses to a local political leader. But the head of the town Democrats, who asked for the emails, was adamant his request followed both the letter and spirit of the law.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Steven Sheinberg filed a Freedom of Information Act request to “inspect and obtain” the email addresses of every resident who has signed up to receive First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick’s newsletter, Kupchick said in her Feb. 18 newsletter email. More than 25,000 addresses are subscribed to the newsletter, which is typically sent every other week, according to Jackie Bertolone, the first selectwoman’s chief of staff.

“I felt that you should be aware I am legally required to turn over your email addresses to the leader of a political organization and I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” Kupchick, a Republican, said in the newsletter. “… I want to apologize in advance if in the future you receive any unsolicited emails.”

Sheinberg responded that town Democrats would use the addresses to keep residents informed about the activities of local elected officials.

“The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is summed up perfectly on the foia.gov home page,” Sheinberg said in an email to Patch. “Its function is to ensure that citizens are informed, which is vital to the functioning of a democratic society.

“The purpose of my FOIA request is exactly that — to ensure the citizens of Fairfield are informed by letting them know what their Democratic elected leaders are doing on constituents’ behalf. This includes the Chairs of Fairfield's Board of Finance, Board of Education, and leaders of our legislative body, the RTM. It’s important that Fairfielders hear from the leaders they elected to represent them in our town government. It truly is vital to a democratic society.”