Town Consultant Gave Tetreau Political Advice, Emails Show

FAIRFIELD, CT — A communications consultant hired by First Selectman Mike Tetreau to help with public outreach about the recent contamination crisis on behalf of the town discussed political strategy with Tetreau, emails show.

The emails, provided by a Fairfield selectman, were sent in August and September, and address topics including Tetreau's opponent for first selectman, a blog about contamination in town and the Republican response to the crisis.

Tetreau, a Democrat, hired Chris Gidez around the time two Fairfield employees and a former town contractor were charged in an investigation of illegal dumping at the public works yard and contaminants were found at sites across town in connection with the case. Gidez operates a reputation management firm called G7 Reputation Advisory but was hired as an individual.

In an Aug. 13 email to Tetreau about an article Gidez felt undermined a planned message from the town, Gidez encouraged the town to act quickly so as to, "Not give BK any room to amplify this. Otherwise it will look like we are engaging in some spin tomorrow." Tetreau's opponent in the upcoming election is state Rep. Brenda Kupchick, a Republican representing District 132.

In another email sent Sept. 18, Gidez called a blog run in part by Republican Representative Town Meeting District 9 candidate Dana Kery, "politics masquerading as public interest" and referred to local news outlets as "schizo."

"... it appears to me there is a great deal of misunderstanding, confusion, anxiety and ignorance that the R's are exploiting," he said.

In a different email on the same thread, Gidez called a meeting coordinated by the state Division of Criminal Justice for potential victims in the contamination case "a low-level circus."

On Aug. 22, Gidez sent an email offering feedback to speakers after a contamination forum, coaching Tetreau on talking points, some of which appear to be designed to defend Tetreau and his administration and deflect blame to the two employees facing charges.

"They never raised any concerns with my office, and it seems they deliberately attempted to deceive my office," Gidez said. "... To manage a town of this size I have to depend on the competence, professionalism and integrity of my department leaders. In this instance, we were let down."

Tetreau defended the communications Fairfield published while Gidez was working for the town and said the emails the town distributed to residents were factual and informative.

"We did not attack Ms. Kupchick in any way, we did not attack anybody with a political agenda in any way," he said.

When asked about Kery's blog, Fairfield First, Tetreau said he had not visited the website.

"I think there's concern that the whole incident was being politicized by certain parties," he said.

Tetreau said the town made an effort to keep the press updated with in-person interviews and fact-based emails.

"People will offer opinions, certainly, when they see what's going on in the media and specifically social media," he said, when asked if Gidez's emails were political.

Kupchick took issue with the emails from Gidez and said it looks as if he was hired in part to help Tetreau get reelected. She questioned whether Gidez's hiring violated campaign finance law.

"It appears that campaign and public relations for the community have been blurred significantly," she said. "... This is really a deception that's way beyond the pale."

Tetreau previously came under scrutiny in connection with Gidez's work for the town when a draft communication from Gidez surfaced that suggested using surrogates to "call out" people who raised public fears about contamination. Over the course of three months, Gidez billed the town for just under $20,000. His contract did not go before the Board of Selectman, another source of criticism regarding the hire. Tetreau has said he did not originally expect Gidez's work to exceed 30 days or $10,000, the parameters for expenses exempt from board approval.

Selectman Chris Tymniak, a Republican, obtained and released the emails.

"This guy was clearly hired as a reputation adviser for Mike Tetreau's reputation, not the Town of Fairfield's," Tymniak said. "It is a horrific waste of taxpayer money. This should have been a campaign expense."