Author: Devin James

Democratic Officials Oppose New Rate Hike Request by Yankee Gas

Posted on by Devin James

Democratic Officials Oppose New Rate Hike Request by Yankee Gas

By Joe O’Leary
November 19 @ 9:00 am

Another salvo in Connecticut’s battle over rising utility costs was recently fired as Yankee Gas, a natural gas company and Eversource subsidiary, filed for a rate hike that would include a 43% increase in costs for thousands of customers who heat their homes with natural gas.

Amid a tightening regulatory environment in the Nutmeg State and increased eyes on utilities — none more so than Eversource after summer electric bills spiked — the proposal was met with little support from public officials.

Attorney General William Tong was one of the first to issue a statement responding to the request, noting that families were already facing high energy costs and can’t afford another increase.

“This is yet another tone-deaf slap in the face from our out-of-touch public utilities,” Tong said. “You don’t have to be a lawyer to see some basic obvious overreach in this filing. They’re asking for profits that are completely out of whack with other public utilities, including tacking on a non-starter ‘regulatory risk premium’ to account for the fact that our public utilities don’t like oversight and accountability.”

Tong’s comments reflect similar sentiments from Connecticut energy officials, who decried state utilities’ poor service, especially after the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020, when storm cleanup in some neighborhoods took more than a week. The company was fined $29 million in 2021 in response to its shortcomings in response to the storm.

Isaias served as a turning point for Connecticut’s approach to energy regulations, too. Since 2020, the Take Back Our Grid Act and 2023’s Senate Bill 7 worked to support ratepayers by providing more options for restitution in the event of bad storm response.

The policies also imposed “performance-based regulations” in the state, where companies’ performances are graded and their regulatory outlook changed based on how they treat customers.

In a statement, Eversource said it was pursuing a performance-based regulatory plan to prevent cost increases. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal called Eversource’s “astronomical” rate increase a “cruel joke” and called on state regulators to reject it.

Last month, leaders of the Energy and Technology Committee stressed their commitment to using the legislative process to ensure that Connecticut utility companies are held accountable for their rate requests.

Flood-Impacted Residents, Businesses Face Tomorrow Deadline for Federal Benefits

Posted on by Devin James

Flood-Impacted Residents, Businesses Face Tomorrow Deadline for Federal Benefits

By Hugh McQuaid
November 18 @ 11:30 am


Connecticut residents whose homes or businesses were damaged as a result of historic flooding in August have until tomorrow, Nov. 19, to apply for two federal disaster assistance programs, Gov. Ned Lamont announced last week.

Recovery assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration is still available for those in Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County impacted by damage during the Aug. 18 storm.

Those who have not yet submitted applications to FEMA can do so at DisasterAssistance.gov or in-person at the town hall in Southbury, which is located at 501 Main St. and will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Alternatively, FEMA will accept applications over the phone at 1-800-621-3362.

Meanwhile, businesses seeking to submit applications to the SBA can file online at SBA.gov/disaster, over the phone at 1-800-877-8339, or in person at the Business Recovery Center at the Oxford Town Hall, located at 486 Oxford Road. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“At this point, we believe that the overwhelming majority of people who experienced damage from this storm and need disaster assistance have already begun the application process, but we want to remind anyone who may be waiting that they need to get their applications in by the November 19 deadline,” Lamont said in a press release.

The benefits offered by the two federal agencies are intended to supplement other disaster recovery efforts and will not completely compensate residents for all damages caused by the August storm.

As of Thursday, around $5.9 million in federal benefits had already been distributed to 278 small businesses and nonprofit organizations whose operations were damaged by the storm, according to the Lamont administration. Applications for those grants were accepted between early September and October.

In a statement, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said the program had worked as intended.

“The grants gave these small businesses a lifeline when they needed it most and acted as a critical bridge to accessing the federal resources that came later in the recovery process,” O’Keefe said.

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Values from Trump Policies

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Values from Trump Policies

HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Duff (D-Norwalk) sent a letter to Governor Ned Lamont urging anticipatory measures to safeguard Connecticut’s values ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025.

“Mr. Trump has already pledged to enact a variety of significant public policy and economic changes that will likely adversely impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans, including our constituents here in Connecticut,” the senators said. “We must act now to ensure that Connecticut remains a safe, fair, and inclusive state for all, as promised in our Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.”

The Senate leaders cited several concerns about how a second Trump administration could negatively impact Connecticut’s values, including women’s health care rights, protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and public health safety.

The full letter is below.

The Honorable Ned Lamont
Governor, State of Connecticut
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 0610

Dear Governor Lamont,
We write this letter urging you to continue to work with us and to take anticipatory measures to ensure that Connecticut is well-prepared to safeguard our common values and safety ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025. Mr. Trump has already pledged to enact a variety of significant public policy and economic changes that will likely adversely impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans, including our constituents here in Connecticut.
We appreciate the efforts of your administration, the Department of Public Health, UConn, legislators, and others who are currently developing a plan to stockpile doses of mifepristone. States such as Massachusetts, Washington, and New York have already taken similar actions, and we are pleased that Connecticut plans to follow their lead. Time is of the essence, and we must act promptly to ensure the safety and protection of women in Connecticut. Tens of millions of American women have already seen their reproductive healthcare options diminished by Mr. Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court and various Republican state legislatures. We need to do our part here in Connecticut to ensure that a new Trump administration does not further undermine these rights for our residents.
We will not passively acquiesce to Mr. Trump’s Republican agenda as outlined in the odious Project 2025 presidential transition plan. To effectively counter Project 2025, we must develop an effective strategy among Connecticut state agencies to protect critical human rights and services. We must protect LGBTQ+ and other human rights and reassure all of our citizens that, here in Connecticut, they should not fear discriminatory Republican actions based solely on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
We must protect the health and well-being of Connecticut residents against Mr. Trump’s statement that he’ll “make a decision” about banning vaccinations in America and that he may appoint to his cabinet a man opposed to fluoride in our public drinking water supplies and to vaccines that have protected generations of American children.
We are prepared to partner with you and with other New England governors and legislatures to establish a unified, regional response to protect our citizens and their families. Partnering with our surrounding New England states will strengthen our reaction to any Trump administration attacks on human rights and the economy while amplifying our commitment to our citizens. We must act now to ensure that Connecticut remains a safe, fair, and inclusive state for all, as promised in our Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

Signed,

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney & Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Values from Trump Policies

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Values from Trump Policies

HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Duff (D-Norwalk) sent a letter to Governor Ned Lamont urging anticipatory measures to safeguard Connecticut’s values ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025.

“Mr. Trump has already pledged to enact a variety of significant public policy and economic changes that will likely adversely impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans, including our constituents here in Connecticut,” the senators said. “We must act now to ensure that Connecticut remains a safe, fair, and inclusive state for all, as promised in our Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.”

The Senate leaders cited several concerns about how a second Trump administration could negatively impact Connecticut’s values, including women’s health care rights, protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and public health safety.

The full letter is below.

The Honorable Ned Lamont
Governor, State of Connecticut
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 0610

Dear Governor Lamont,
We write this letter urging you to continue to work with us and to take anticipatory measures to ensure that Connecticut is well-prepared to safeguard our common values and safety ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025. Mr. Trump has already pledged to enact a variety of significant public policy and economic changes that will likely adversely impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans, including our constituents here in Connecticut.
We appreciate the efforts of your administration, the Department of Public Health, UConn, legislators, and others who are currently developing a plan to stockpile doses of mifepristone. States such as Massachusetts, Washington, and New York have already taken similar actions, and we are pleased that Connecticut plans to follow their lead. Time is of the essence, and we must act promptly to ensure the safety and protection of women in Connecticut. Tens of millions of American women have already seen their reproductive healthcare options diminished by Mr. Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court and various Republican state legislatures. We need to do our part here in Connecticut to ensure that a new Trump administration does not further undermine these rights for our residents.
We will not passively acquiesce to Mr. Trump’s Republican agenda as outlined in the odious Project 2025 presidential transition plan. To effectively counter Project 2025, we must develop an effective strategy among Connecticut state agencies to protect critical human rights and services. We must protect LGBTQ+ and other human rights and reassure all of our citizens that, here in Connecticut, they should not fear discriminatory Republican actions based solely on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
We must protect the health and well-being of Connecticut residents against Mr. Trump’s statement that he’ll “make a decision” about banning vaccinations in America and that he may appoint to his cabinet a man opposed to fluoride in our public drinking water supplies and to vaccines that have protected generations of American children.
We are prepared to partner with you and with other New England governors and legislatures to establish a unified, regional response to protect our citizens and their families. Partnering with our surrounding New England states will strengthen our reaction to any Trump administration attacks on human rights and the economy while amplifying our commitment to our citizens. We must act now to ensure that Connecticut remains a safe, fair, and inclusive state for all, as promised in our Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

Signed,

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney & Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Sen. Lesser Responds to CT GOP Calls to Suspend HUSKY For Undocumented Children

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Lesser Responds to CT GOP Calls to Suspend HUSKY For Undocumented Children

Today, State Senator Matt Lesser, Chair of the Human Services Committee, issued a statement in response to Connecticut Republican leaders calling for the immediate suspension of healthcare for undocumented children.

“It’s sad seeing Connecticut’s Republican legislators trying to remake themselves into MAGA ultra-Trumpers when almost all of them voted to provide health care for undocumented children, many of them more than once,” said State Sen. Matt Lesser, “Republicans forget they supported this policy because of how important this is for Connecticut’s financially struggling small and rural hospitals burdened with the costs of uncompensated care. Never mind that this policy is the ethically sound decision, it makes fiscal sense too.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Garnet McLaughlin | garnet.mclaughlin@cga.ct.gov | 860-304-2319

Senator McCrory Receives the Alvin W. Penn Award for Excellence in Leadership

Posted on by Devin James

Senator McCrory Receives the Alvin W. Penn Award for Excellence in Leadership

The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities honored Senator Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, on Thursday with the Alvin W. Penn Award for Excellence in Leadership, an accolade presented to officials who embody the leadership qualities of the late Alvin Penn.

Alvin Penn, an African American state senator from Bridgeport, dedicated his career to advocating for the urban poor and communities of color across Connecticut. He is best known for championing Connecticut’s landmark anti-racial profiling law, which bears his name.

Senator McCrory was recognized for his enduring commitment to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for vulnerable communities in his district and throughout the state. He has been a vocal advocate for addressing systemic inequalities that affect people of color in urban areas, focusing on improving access to quality education and promoting economic development in underserved neighborhoods.

“This award means a great deal to me because it reflects the ongoing fight for fairness in a system that doesn’t always treat everyone equally,” Senator McCrory said. “As a legislator, my job is to ensure that underserved communities get the resources and opportunities they deserve. The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is an important partner in this work, and together, we must continue pushing for real change. Alvin Penn was a trailblazer whose work still protects Connecticut residents today. It is an honor to be recognized in his name, and I am committed to carrying his legacy forward.”

The Alvin W. Penn Racial Profiling Prohibition Act was first adopted in 1999 and generally prohibits police from stopping, detaining or searching an individual on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation. The legislature has since expanded the law to require the reporting and collection of data related to traffic stops in an effort to identify and prevent the racial profiling of motorists.

The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) works to eliminate discrimination through civil and human rights law enforcement and establish equal opportunity and justice for all persons within the state through advocacy and education.

The group honored Senator McCrory with Alvin W. Penn Award for Excellence in Leadership during its 2024 Civil Rights Leaders, Legends, and Equity Forum and Awards Ceremony at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on Nov. 14.

Senator McCrory represents communities in Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor. He serves as the Senate chairman of the legislature’s Education Committee and is a member of the Community Investment Fund board.

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | Hugh.McQuaid@cga.ct.gov | 860-634-4651

SENATORS ANWAR, RAHMAN LAUD SUPPORT FOR MORE THAN 700 CRUMBLING FOUNDATION HOMEOWNERS IN THEIR DISTRICTS

Posted on by Devin James

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

November 15, 2024

SENATORS ANWAR, RAHMAN LAUD SUPPORT FOR MORE THAN 700 CRUMBLING FOUNDATION HOMEOWNERS IN THEIR DISTRICTS

Today, State Senators Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) and MD Rahman (D-Manchester) lauded the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company’s latest report indicating that more than 700 households in East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Glastonbury, Manchester and South Windsor with crumbling foundations have been identified and will receive support for repairs and recovery. More than $36 million in claim payments have been made to those households, with nearly $20 million in outstanding claim liability remaining and scheduled to be fulfilled in coming years.

“The last decade has revealed some tough conditions for thousands of homeowners across our region, but the hard work by state leaders and the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company have helped alleviate the worst damage,” said Sen. Anwar. “Seeing these results, and knowing that the hard work of countless people has benefitted and aided community members in dire times, is reassuring. There’s still plenty of work left to done, but these results are heartening.”

“Crumbling foundations have been a scourge upon many Connecticut households, but the gradual progress seen in the last several years has been reassuring,” said Sen. Rahman. “I’m committed to continuing to support all aid and support for those experiencing issues with their homes, with the hope that we can help them get needed repairs and fix the problem for good.”

The data comes this week as the CFSIC has identified more than 2,360 homes across Hartford, Tolland and Windham Counties experiencing damage. In the last several years, the Company, which provides aid to homeowners with state funding, has provided more than $150 million in support with another $78 million left at this time.

Coventry, Ellington, Manchester, South Windsor, Stafford, Tolland, Vernon and Willington were most directly impacted by crumbling foundations, with each town seeing more than 100 homes affected. According to CFSIC data, Vernon has the most impacted homes at 412.

It’s been nearly a decade since Connecticut’s crumbling foundations crisis was uncovered, with more than 35,000 total homes potentially impacted by failing concrete foundations statewide. The concrete originated from the JJ Mottes Concrete Company in Stafford Springs, Connecticut from 1983 to 2015; in many cases, the foundations contained an iron sulfide substance called pyrrhotite that causes slow degradation of concrete when exposed to oxygen and water. That slow degradation contributed to the impacts of the crisis, as its weakening effects can go unnoticed for up to 30 years.

Since 2015, Connecticut has allocated millions of dollars to aid homeowners with testing their foundations and tens of millions of dollars to aid with necessary and expensive repair work to make their homes safe to reside in

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Economy from Trump Policies

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Economy from Trump Policies

HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Duff (D-Norwalk) sent a letter to Governor Ned Lamont urging anticipatory measures to safeguard Connecticut’s strong economy ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025.

“We are prepared to partner with you, and with the governors and legislatures of other New England states, to establish a unified, regional response to protect our citizens and their families,” the senators said. “Partnering with our surrounding New England states will strengthen our reaction to any Trump administration attacks on our economy while amplifying our commitment to the values of our citizens.”

The Senate leaders cited several concerns about how a second Trump administration could negatively impact Connecticut’s economy, including harmful tariffs, unchecked corporate power, home heating oil support, and tax changes meant to specifically harm Democratic states.

The full letter is below

The Honorable Ned Lamont
Governor, State of Connecticut
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 0610

Dear Governor Lamont,

We write this letter urging you to continue to work with us and to take anticipatory measures to ensure that Connecticut is well-prepared to safeguard our strong economy, common values, and safety ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025. Mr. Trump has already pledged to enact a variety of significant public policy and economic changes that will likely adversely impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans, including our constituents here in Connecticut.

Together, Connecticut passed the largest income tax cut in state history, which specifically provided relief to low- and moderate-income families and enhanced the progressivity of our state income tax.

However, we know there is more to do in addressing post-pandemic price increases, and we are concerned about the potential negative economic impacts of policies envisioned by the incoming Trump administration. Mr. Trump’s pledge to implement far-ranging tariffs and give large corporations free rein will severely harm Connecticut residents. We must leverage the buying power of states in the region to mitigate the forthcoming cost increases that will result from arbitrary and harmful tariffs. We need to band together in order to hold corporations to account that have consolidated power in so many areas, especially the food industry.

New England is also vulnerable with our cold winters and our reliance on home heating oil to keep families warm and safe. Republican control in the U.S. House of Representatives has already resulted in a cut to federal home heating assistance programs. Those cuts will deepen with a Republican in the White House. We need to work with surrounding states to prepare for this new reality as the cold weather approaches.

We are acutely aware that a second Trump administration may propose tax and other economic policies intended to ‘punish’ Blue States like Connecticut, as he did with the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions on the federal income tax. We are prepared to partner with you, and with the governors and legislatures of other New England states, to establish a unified, regional response to protect our citizens and their families. Partnering with our surrounding New England states will strengthen our reaction to any Trump administration attacks on our economy while amplifying our commitment to the values of our citizens.

Signed,

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney & Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Economy from Trump Policies

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney and Duff Call for Action to Protect Connecticut’s Economy from Trump Policies

HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Duff (D-Norwalk) sent a letter to Governor Ned Lamont urging anticipatory measures to safeguard Connecticut’s strong economy ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025.

“We are prepared to partner with you, and with the governors and legislatures of other New England states, to establish a unified, regional response to protect our citizens and their families,” the senators said. “Partnering with our surrounding New England states will strengthen our reaction to any Trump administration attacks on our economy while amplifying our commitment to the values of our citizens.”

The Senate leaders cited several concerns about how a second Trump administration could negatively impact Connecticut’s economy, including harmful tariffs, unchecked corporate power, home heating oil support, and tax changes meant to specifically harm Democratic states.

The full letter is below

The Honorable Ned Lamont
Governor, State of Connecticut
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 0610

Dear Governor Lamont,

We write this letter urging you to continue to work with us and to take anticipatory measures to ensure that Connecticut is well-prepared to safeguard our strong economy, common values, and safety ahead of President-Elect Donald Trump’s taking office on January 20, 2025. Mr. Trump has already pledged to enact a variety of significant public policy and economic changes that will likely adversely impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans, including our constituents here in Connecticut.

Together, Connecticut passed the largest income tax cut in state history, which specifically provided relief to low- and moderate-income families and enhanced the progressivity of our state income tax.

However, we know there is more to do in addressing post-pandemic price increases, and we are concerned about the potential negative economic impacts of policies envisioned by the incoming Trump administration. Mr. Trump’s pledge to implement far-ranging tariffs and give large corporations free rein will severely harm Connecticut residents. We must leverage the buying power of states in the region to mitigate the forthcoming cost increases that will result from arbitrary and harmful tariffs. We need to band together in order to hold corporations to account that have consolidated power in so many areas, especially the food industry.

New England is also vulnerable with our cold winters and our reliance on home heating oil to keep families warm and safe. Republican control in the U.S. House of Representatives has already resulted in a cut to federal home heating assistance programs. Those cuts will deepen with a Republican in the White House. We need to work with surrounding states to prepare for this new reality as the cold weather approaches.

We are acutely aware that a second Trump administration may propose tax and other economic policies intended to ‘punish’ Blue States like Connecticut, as he did with the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions on the federal income tax. We are prepared to partner with you, and with the governors and legislatures of other New England states, to establish a unified, regional response to protect our citizens and their families. Partnering with our surrounding New England states will strengthen our reaction to any Trump administration attacks on our economy while amplifying our commitment to the values of our citizens.

Signed,

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney & Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Republican and Democratic Officials Reject Claims by Failed Senate Candidate

Posted on by Devin James

Republican and Democratic Officials Reject Claims by Failed Senate Candidate

By Hugh McQuaid
November 15 @ 9:30 am

Republican and Democratic election officials in Mansfield have issued statements affirming the validity of last week’s election results in response to suggestions by a local Republican who has sought to undermine confidence in the outcome after losing his state Senate bid.

“We are confident the election results in Mansfield are accurate,” Mansfield Republican Registrar of Voters Vera Ward and Democratic Registrar Anne Greineder said in a joint statement Tuesday. “Protecting everyone’s right to vote is of the utmost importance.”

The rare joint release follows a complaint and days of public statements and social media posts by Chris Reddy, a Scotland Republican who unsuccessfully sought to replace incumbent Sen. Mae Flexer in the 29th Senate District, which includes parts of Brooklyn, Canterbury, Killingly, Mansfield, Scotland, Putnam, Thompson, and Windham.

Reddy spent much of the week since his loss at the polls circulating social media posts which question the validity of the results and suggesting that foul play related to same day voter registration in Mansfield had contributed to the outcome.

The unsubstantiated election denial has been met with statements from local officials in both parties, who have vouched for the integrity of the election.

In addition to the statement by town registrars, Mansfield Republican Town Committee Chairman G. William Tomecko Jr. issued a joint statement with Ben Shaiken, chairman of the Mansfield Democratic Town Committee.

Both party officials expressed confidence in the results, including votes cast by UConn students.

“We are disappointed that Chris Reddy and his campaign are challenging the validity of Tuesday’s election and attempting to disqualify the votes of thousands of Mansfield citizens,” Mansfield’s Republican and Democratic chairmen said. “It was a free, fair, secure, and extremely well-organized election and his comments do nothing but sow discord and division among the voters of Mansfield and the 29th district.”

Meanwhile, Senate President Martin Looney and Majority Leader Bob Duff issued a statement Thursday, noting the election officials’ confirmation of Flexer’s victory and urging Reddy to accept his loss.

“No legitimate concerns have been raised, and no credible person has questioned the election,” Looney and Duff said. “Continued comments denying reality are, at best, irresponsible and, at worst, dangerous to our democracy and the safety of local officials. Republican State Senate candidate Chris Reddy needs to drop this desperate charade, acknowledge that he lost, and accept the will of the people.”