Editor’s Note: This press release was sent to the Republican American newspaper on the date written. Their reporter assigned to cover Barkhamsted, a friend of Mr. Stein’s, followed up on this and told First Selectman Candidate, Mark Hemenway, she had already spoke to Don Stein the previous day. This means a lot of time passed before she contacted both Hemenway and petitioning candidate Deborah Simon.
For Immediate Release
October 17, 2017
Contact: Juliana Simone julianashsimone@gmail.com
Statement: First Selectman Don Stein Tries to Influence Debate Questions by Soliciting Supporters Help
Barkhamsted – In the debate rules for the upcoming First Selectman race between three candidates, Democrat incumbent Don Stein, Republican Selectman, Mark Hemenway, and Petitioning Candidate Deborah Simon, the Barkhamsted Women’s Club, who was asked by Stein to moderate the debate, stated on their website in a message for all town residents and a call for questions, “We welcome questions from residents.” The deadline for submissions was by midnight, October 17, 2017.
They stipulated further, “All questions received will be grouped by topic and questions regarding the top topics will be asked as time allows. Therefore it is important you submit your question(s) of interest even if you know that another resident has already submitted a question on the topic. Submitting a question is your way to vote for the questions asked.” The club noted “All candidates will respond to the same questions.” A reminder of the deadline for questions followed to be received via email or U.S. Postal service.
It has now been discovered that shortly before the deadline for resident questions, incumbent First Selectman Don Stein sent an email blast to dozens of fellow Barkhamsted Town Hall workers, Candidates and supporters, asking them to submit four specific questions he wanted moderators to ask at the scheduled debate. “The deadline for debate questions is tonight at midnight and I ask that you submit as many of these as you can to help improve the odds that they will get used: Thanks, Don.”
Petitioning candidate Deborah Simon’s reaction to this information in a shared correspondence was, “Do you think that it is ethical for Don Stein to be loading the questions for the debate? He sent this to his supporters. I was asked by one of my supporters what they should ask and I answered that I couldn’t suggest questions because it would be unethical.”
Republican challenger Selectman Mark Hemenway, had this to say about Stein’s interference, “I am shocked and disappointed to hear my challenger felt this insecure heading into our debate he believed he had to pad things in his favor with the unknown help of supporters to try and win.” Hemenway, says he is still willing to debate the sitting First Selectman but the rules would have to be changed in such a way no tampering could affect the questions for the candidates.
The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee made this statement:
“We feel it is unethical and dishonest for any candidate to control the submissions of topics for selection and to try to shape the direction of the debate. It’s a clear attempt to stack the deck in the favor of Mr. Stein by corrupting the pool of residential questions. We feel Mr. Stein should be disqualified from participating in this event, as it violates the intent of an impartial and fair debate. These actions made by the First Selectman should be very disturbing to voters.”
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