Parente: “Didn’t Know” Mailer Had Malloy’s Photo Instead of Albis

EAST HAVEN, CT - Republican Town Chairman and 99th District candidate Robert Parente said he had no idea that a controversial campaign flyer sent out under his name had subbed out a wedding photo of James Albis' father, Michael, with a photo of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Parente told Patch Friday morning he is "very, very upset" about the fact that the mailer was sent out. He added that he "has nothing but the utmost respect for the Albis family."

Earlier this week Jame Albis called out Parente for sending out the mailer which plugged in a photo of unpopular Malloy - especially in East Haven - in place of Albis' father, Judge Michael Albis, in James Albis wedding photo.

Here is what James Albis had to say about Parente's mailing on his Facebook page.

"He's sent a negative campaign mailing where he doctored a photo from my wedding day. This is a new low for East Haven politics. This was one of the happiest days of my life, marrying the woman of my dreams. Apparently, Mr. Parente has decided he has no problem tarnishing those memories.

"We are better than this. Families should be off limits."

Democratic Town Chairman Marc Conte has also called on Parente to resign as GOP chair in the wake of the controversy.

On Friday, Parente explained the mailer:

"I received a picture on my phone from my ad agency showing me the picture, and the content of the ad - asking me if I approve. I said, I did," said Parente.

"If I had any idea that the photo was taken off the internet then I never would have approved," Parente said.

"I did and still do approve of the content of the ad," in the mailer, Parente said. "I just had no idea that the ad agency had done that with the photo."

Parente said he places the blame for the snafu on the agency.

"I am so upset about this, it is hard to put into words," Parente said. Parente added that when he realized the uproar the mailer created he tried to called James Albis to apologize.

"But he didn't, or at least so far, hasn't taken my call," Parente said.

But Albis did respond to Patch, saying this:

"There is a reason why candidates are legally required to place on every piece of mail we send "Approved by Candidate" with our names in print.

"Parente may wish to blame a staffer at an unnamed agency, but the legal requirement is on him. This is no different than a legislator not reading a bill before voting on it and then blaming the bill's author for his vote," James Albis said.

As for Conte's call for Parente to resign as GOP chair, Parente dismissed Conte's statements.

"That's so politically motivated - that's all that is," Parente said.