Report: Investigation launched into election email in Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — The State Election Enforcement Commission is investigating after a complaint was filed related to an email from CT169Strong that may have benefited Republican candidate Alexis Harrison in the 132nd District state House of Representatives election, CT Mirror reported.

Harrison, one of the founders of the advocacy group CT169strong, is running against incumbent Democratic Rep. Jennifer Leeper. The email, sent in the spring, reportedly included a screenshot of the vote results for the Work Live Ride bill, which Leeper supported and CT169Strong opposed.

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The bill, which advocated for housing complexes near public transportation hubs, passed the state House of Representatives but failed in the Senate in May, CT Public Radio reported.

According to CT Mirror, CT169Strong’s email included the following message: “REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER, THIS IS THE VOTE OUTCOME IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES! VOTE SMART IN 2024…”

The Fairfield Democratic Town Committee, through its Chairman Steven Sheinberg, filed a complaint with SEEC regarding email CT169Strong.

“These inappropriate spending are likely illegal under the state’s campaign finance laws (since Harrison was already registered as a candidate) and are, at the very least, unethical and inappropriate,” the Fairfield Democrats wrote in a Facebook post.

In a message to Patch, Harrison said she could not comment directly on the SEEC investigation, but that the bill in question could be harmful to Fairfield and the state.

A column by Gregory Stroud in the CT Examiner went a step further and questioned the way CT Mirror reported the story.

“I cannot comment on the substance of the complaint filed against me by Fairfield Democratic Town Committee Chairman Steven Sheinberg, but I have full confidence in the deliberations of the SEEC and will respect and honor that process,” Harrison said.

She added, “It appears this is an attempt to silence and deter those who criticize legislation that curtails local control and distracts from Rep. Leeper’s affirmative vote on HB5390. The loss of local decision-making power under HB5390 was particularly troubling to me and many others, as it could have undermined efforts to manage growth, infrastructure and environmental concerns at the community level and suppressed the voice of our citizens at public hearings – which is critical to local decision-making.”

“For many years I have been fortunate to serve my hometown on local boards and neighborhood groups and have focused my energy on environmental concerns and land use issues because these issues are important to me and to many Fairfield residents of all political stripes. I have been very outspoken for many years in favor of local control regarding land use. I believe that grassroots volunteer groups like CT169Strong are vital to our democracy and are important vehicles for sharing information and keeping residents informed.”

When asked for comment by Patch, Leeper also declined to discuss the SEEC investigation specifically. She told CT Mirror that the Work Live Ride law would have benefited Fairfield by making the city a priority for state housing funds.

“I appreciate SEEC taking this complaint seriously and launching an investigation, but I will continue to fight for the transparency and fairness of our elections that Fairfield and Southport deserve,” Leeper told Patch.

“State Rep. Jennifer Leeper has consistently advocated for the good of Fairfield, supporting legislation like the Work Live Ride bill that would have brought significant benefits to our community,” the Fairfield Democrats wrote. “Her commitment to honest and effective government stands in stark contrast to the inappropriate practices of her opponent.”

Patch reached out to CT169Strong for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Read the article in the CT Mirror, read the article in the CT Examiner, read the article on CT Public Radio.