West Haven Candidate Demands Recount Documents From City Hall

WEST HAVEN, CT — Barry Lee Cohen, the Republican mayoral candidate who lost a Saturday recount by 32 votes, returned to West Haven City Hall Tuesday to demand absentee ballot documents.

Cohen and his attorney, Vincent Marino, requested absentee ballots, unused ballots, and copies of affidavits concerning delivery and receipt of the ballot documents, the New Haven Register reported.

City Clerk Patty Horvath and Registrar of Voters Ann Callegari met Cohen and Marino on Tuesday, but refused to hand over any documents, which per state guidelines are now sealed in a city vault.

Horvath said the city “did everything within the law” and told Cohen he could speak to the city’s attorney, according to the Register. Lou Esposito, executive assistant to election winner and incumbent Mayor Nancy Rossi, told reporters that he saw no irregularities, and everything was done according to state guidelines.

In a news conference, Marino called the refusal a “stunt” and continued to demand the records he said he is entitled to by law, WTNH reported.

Rossi initially won by 24 votes on election night. After Sunday’s recount, her lead expanded to 32-vote lead of 4,275 votes to Cohen’s 4,243, Patch reported. Cohen’s campaign claims the recount was illegitimate due to alleged absentee ballots without proper documentation, according to the New Haven Register.

“Given how close this election was and given so many reports that have been given to us from people that we don’t even know regarding from election night. And then it became magnified,” Cohen told WTNH.

The Cohen campaign has until Nov. 15 to file a lawsuit to contest the election in court, something Cohen has said he is open to.

Related:

• Rossi Wins West Haven Mayoral Recount
• West Haven Election Results 2021: Recount Looms In Mayoral Race
• West Haven 2021 Election Voter Guide: Meet The Candidates