Sensible Wilton Files State Election Complaint Against Town Officials

Press release:

Sensible Wilton filed an election complaint with the SEEC (State Elections Enforcement Commission) for multiple election violations during the 3 weeks immediately before the 9-23-14/9-27-14 $50M referendum vote on the Miller-Driscoll Elementary School Rehabilitation Project.

According to Sensible Wilton President Alex Ruskewich, “These are serious violations of state statutes by town officials. With a margin of victory of only 27 votes of over 1900 votes cast, Sensible Wilton seeks a revote.”

Sensible Wilton’s SEEC Complaint was prompted by reports that during the 3 weeks before the vote, town and school officials used officially scheduled parent night /meet the teacher open houses at Wilton schools as “advocacy” sessions for the referendum. As part of the evening’s agenda, town officials explicitly encouraged parents to vote yes on the $50M Miller Driscoll project….a project that will reduce, not increase school square footage.

Ruskewich says, “The parents of Wilton students were invited to the open house meetings. As many as 8,000 registered voters were invited to 13 official school meetings where town officials encouraged them to vote yes. Using an official school meeting as an advocacy session to a captive audience is prohibited by state election laws for referenda.“

Treasurer Curt Noel reports, “Not only did town officials conduct advocacy sessions, they also distributed pink and orange “Vote Yes” pamphlets attributed to the town. That is an SEEC Violation.“

Sensible Wilton notes during the 9-23-14 town meeting to discuss the project, parents described the school meetings as a “sales pitch”. Others complained that during the Miller-Driscoll advocacy sessions town and school officials prohibited questions.

Further, Sensible Wilton notes there were similar citizen complaints about the 9-23-14 town meeting. Town officials dominated the meeting, often making factually incorrect or misleading remarks. The moderator stopped speakers who opposed the project and did not allow time for residents to respond to inaccurate, unsupported or misleading statements by town officials.

Ruskewich says: “Proposing a $50M project without sufficient financial justification is bad enough. Not allowing adequate discussion by concerned Wilton citizens is worse.”

Members of Sensible Wilton began asking questions about the $50M project months ago. When answers were not provided, Sensible Wilton encouraged voters to become aware of the underlying issues. According to Ruskewich: “The town has not provided sufficient information for voters to make an informed decision. Details regarding the proposal are missing. There are safety and health hazards that must be corrected immediately. Wilton’s youngest children can’t wait nearly 4 years for relief. ”

Sensible Wilton notes this project is nearly twice as expensive as the 1998 High School project which significantly increased Square footage for $26m. Miller-Driscoll will reduce square footage at a cost of $50M. Sensible Wilton’s core question is: Why pay so much more for less?

Ruskewich says: “Town officials never answered that question for us or the voters.”

Sensible Wilton is proud of what it accomplished with a few volunteers who were willing to challenge town leaders. Turnout of over 1,900 voters was nearly double typical budget votes turnout of only 1,000 voters. And the 27 vote margin was razor thin compared to budget votes.

Ruskewich Says: “We believe that the town official’s unanimous approval of a project that did not have similar support of the voter’s reflects town leaders disconnection to the citizens. If town leaders and school officials gave us equal access to those 8000 parents, answered questions and allowed for an honest debate of facts, the result would have been very different. We need a revote.”

Sensible Wilton notes the 900 current Miller-Driscoll students remain at risk due to the nearly 4 year delay to necessary repairs to the HVAC and roof town leaders knew were needed 13 years ago.

Sensible Wilton can be contacted at Sensiblewilton@yahoo.com.

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