Court Ruling Shakes Up South Windsor Town Council

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — A months-long fight over a South Windsor Town Council seat ended Monday with a court ruling that could immediately change the makeup of the council.

Connecticut Superior Court Judge Carl J. Schuman ruled that Harrison Amadasun is entitled to the council seat at the center of the disputed 2025 municipal election. Mayor Craig Zimmerman confirmed by email Monday afternoon that Amadasun is set to be sworn in at the beginning of Monday night’s 7 p.m. Town Council meeting.

The case, Amadasun v. Armstrong, centered on whether South Windsor officials properly applied charter revisions approved by voters during the Nov. 4, 2025 election.

Amadasun, a Democratic candidate, received 3,847 votes but was not seated. Republican Richard Balboni, who received 2,937 votes, was seated instead.

At issue was a charter change that reduced the maximum number of Town Council seats one political party could hold from six to five. The dispute focused on whether that change applied immediately to the 2025 election or not until the next municipal election in 2027.

In his memorandum of decision, Schuman ruled in Amadasun’s favor and denied the defendants’ request for a declaratory judgment.

“For these reasons, the court grants the plaintiff’s request for a declaratory judgment and denies the defendants’ request for a declaratory judgment,” Schuman wrote.

Schuman also wrote that Amadasun is entitled to the seat.

“The court declares that the plaintiff is entitled immediately to a seat on the South Windsor town council,” Schuman wrote.

The decision directs Town Clerk Bonnie Armstrong to take the steps needed to carry out the ruling.

“Defendant Armstrong shall take all necessary measures to implement this declaration,” Schuman wrote.

Schuman wrote that the case turned on how the charter revisions should be interpreted and whether voters had been clearly told that the bare-majority rule would take effect immediately.

The judge wrote that it was “not at all clear” to voters that the rule would apply right away after the 2025 election. He noted that voters were still allowed to vote for up to six candidates from the same party on the ballot.

Under the defendants’ interpretation, Schuman wrote, voters who believed Amadasun would win a seat if he came in sixth overall “have effectively lost their vote.”

Zimmerman said in an email that town staff and elected leaders had been waiting for the court to decide the issue.

“Throughout this entire 7 month process both town staff and elected leaders have all said that they just want to do what is right and are looking forward to getting a decision in court,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman said he expects the town to move forward after the ruling.

“I believe that after today’s strongly worded decision by a Superior Court Judge, everyone will come together, fully support this independent legal decision, and get back to helping to run the town,” Zimmerman said.

He also welcomed Amadasun to the council and thanked Balboni for his service.

“I personally would like to welcome Harrison Amadasun to the Town Council, while wishing Rick Balboni well after his service to the town,” Zimmerman said.

In a release from advocates following the decision, Amadasun said the case was about the voters, not him.

“This was never about me; this is, was, and will always be about the voters of our community,” Amadasun said. “I’m pleased the court saw it the same way, and I look forward to taking a seat on the South Windsor Town Council tonight.”

Attorney John Kennelly called the decision a victory for South Windsor voters.

“Today’s decision is a landmark victory not only for the people of South Windsor but for democracy itself,” Kennelly said. “Harrison’s vindication stands as a bulwark against anyone who attempts to silence the will of the voters.”

Anitha Elango, chair of the South Windsor Democratic Town Committee, said the ruling affirms what voters decided at the ballot box.

“This decision has been a long time coming, and today the Court affirmed what the people of South Windsor already made clear at the ballot box,” Elango said.

Elango said democracy depends on election results being respected.

“Democracy only works when election results are respected, and today’s ruling is a powerful affirmation that the will of the people cannot simply be rejected in an improper, arbitrary, and retroactive manner by unelected municipal officials,” Elango said.

The ruling follows months of legal and political attention in South Windsor.

The Connecticut Supreme Court previously allowed Amadasun’s complaint to move forward after an expedited review, but did not decide the underlying dispute. The Superior Court decision issued Monday addresses the central question of who is entitled to the council seat.

Schuman wrote that the charter changes affecting the Town Council were in a different category from other charter revisions that could take effect immediately after the election.

“Two of them could not possibly take effect immediately and the voters did not receive a clear explanation that the third — the bare majority rule — should take effect immediately even though the first two would not,” Schuman wrote.