South Windsor Democrats Point To New Video In Fight Over Council Seat

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — South Windsor Democrats brought their fight over what they describe as voter disenfranchisement directly to Town Hall Monday night, staging an “Evening of Action” during public comment at the South Windsor Town Council meeting.

Speakers addressed the council in support of an appeal filed last week in Amadasun v. Armstrong, a court case stemming from the town’s 2025 Town Council election and the application of recently approved charter revisions.

The meeting was held Monday evening at South Windsor Town Hall on Sullivan Avenue. As of Tuesday, Democrats were continuing to point to new evidence they say strengthens their case.

The dispute centers on the November 4, 2025, municipal election, in which voters elected six Democrats and three Republicans to the Town Council and approved changes to the town charter reducing the maximum number of seats one party may hold from six to five.

According to Democrats, those charter changes were intended to take effect in 2027. They say that intent is documented in recordings, minutes, and proposed charter language produced by the bipartisan Charter Review Commission. They argue the revisions were instead applied retroactively the following day, without public discussion or Town Council approval.

As a result, Democrat Harrison Amadasun, who received 3,847 votes, was not seated. The council seat was awarded to Republican Rick Balboni, who received 2,937 votes, according to figures cited by Democrats.

Democrats say that decision overturned the election outcome and disenfranchised nearly 4,000 voters who cast ballots for Amadasun.

On Tuesday, party leaders also highlighted a newly released video from Deputy Mayor Andrew Paterna, who previously chaired the Charter Review Commission. Democrats say the video shows commission members from both parties explicitly discussing and agreeing that the charter revisions would take effect in 2027, a position they say is also reflected in the commission’s approved minutes.

In a statement supporting the appeal, Susan Bysiewicz said voters were denied the representative they elected.

“South Windsor residents made their voices heard, decisively electing Harrison Amadasun by a margin of more than 900 votes,” Bysiewicz said. “Voters cast their ballots under one form of government, only to see that system altered days after the election. At a time when democracy is being challenged at the highest levels, we cannot stand by while South Windsor voters are denied the representative they chose at the ballot box.”

The appeal is currently pending before the Connecticut Supreme Court. Democrats said Monday night’s public comments were intended to keep pressure on town officials and maintain public attention on the case as the legal challenge moves forward.