WATCH: State Rep. Bob Godfrey Calls Danbury 'Dumping Ground for Poor and Ethnic Minorities'

DANBURY, CT — Deputy Speaker and State Representative Bob Godfrey is under fire for calling cities "dumping grounds for poor people and ethnic minorities." Emanuela Palmares, his opponent, a candidate for the 110th General Assembly District, and members of the community, reacted to his statement.

“We are offended as an entire community within the 110th that Mr. Godfrey would use such toxic and divisive language to describe the City of Danbury. It is clear how out of touch he is and why we need a change on November 8th,” said Palmares.

The campaign released a 90-second video to highlight the differences between the current representation and the hope and optimism for the future of the 110th, Palmares said.

“We are not a dumping ground. We are people who are born and raised or have come from another country. Who regardless of our ethnicity or how much money we have work hard and have dreams. Dreams that drive our city forward. What keeps businesses from coming from our Downtown? It’s not us, it's your actions Mr. Godfrey. We are not the problem; we are the answer,” said Palmares

The comments were made by Mr. Godfrey at the “Meet the Candidates Night at Broadview Middle School on October 18 and was hosted by the Danbury City-Wide Parent Teacher Organization.

Godfrey spoke with The News Times in an attempt to explain the context of his statement.

“My whole career has been to take care of my home town. I got into politics to make sure the hungry get fed and homeless people find a home and people without health care get it," Godfrey told the paper. Read the full statement here.

However Palmares said that Godfrey is lying.

"Representative Godfrey continues to lie about calling cities a dumping ground, and underestimates voters in the 110th district. But the one thing you can not hide is his voting record that confirms his views on the value of our diverse community and those in need. With every budget set forth by Governor Malloy that he has voted yes to, there have been severe cuts to human services," Palmares told Patch.

"He has also voted against all measures that would benefit immigrants in our state. Godfrey lives only a few blocks away from Main Street. And I cannot tell you the countless doors that we we have knocked in his neighbors and downtown Danbury, of registered voters, who did not know who he is or the fact that he has been representing them for nearly 3 decades. Representative Godfrey has taken their votes for granted. And on November 8th they will have a voice," Palmares said.

Read more here.

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