Bethel's First Selectman Says State Election Enforcement Commission's New Standard Imposes Unfair 'Gag Order'

BETHEL, CT — After he was fined $1,000 for using public funds for an election mailer, First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker spoke out about the ruling. An invoice shows the town was billed $5,786.52 for an 8-page bulk mailing which the SEEC deemed a violation of a state statute.

Knickerbocker was fined $1,000 by the State Election Enforcement Commission (SEEC) after documents from a Freedom of Information Action request revealed he used public funds to send two letters to town residents that the agency said implied he should be re-elected, according to SEEC documents.

Below is a letter to the editor sent to Patch by Matthew Knickerbocker. Click here to read the full report on the SEEC's findings.

"I am disappointed in the State Election Enforcement Commission’s recent decision regarding newsletters sent to Bethel residents in 2015. In its recent finding that town newsletters violated state statutes, the Commission has applied a different standard than it has in the past.

"State law prohibits the sending of written communications at taxpayer expense by elected officials within 90 days of an election, if such communications contain “laudatory language” that could be construed to support the reelection campaign of an incumbent. For many years, my office published various updates and has collaborated with the Superintendent of Schools on numerous newsletters designed to keep the public informed of important events and projects. The Commission itself has previously reviewed Bethel’s newsletters and found them to be acceptable.

"However, the Commission recently adopted a new standard. Even in the complete absence of laudatory language, the Commission now finds the newsletters to be in violation simply if the reader could possibly conclude the information contained is “positive” in nature. This highly subjective new standard raises the bar considerably and effectively prohibits even the most routine communication to taxpayers, if close to an election.

"I believe this standard imposes an unjust and unwarranted gag order on elected officials who are rightfully expected by citizens to keep them informed of important issues and report on how their tax dollars are being spent, regardless of the election calendar."

— Matthew S. Knickerbocker

To send your letter to the editor email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.

Related:

• Bethel First Selectman Fined $1,000 by SEEC for Using Public Funds for Election Mailer

Photo taken by Wendy Mitchell