Erin Stewart calls New Britain investigation announcement politically motivated; Gov. Lamont denies involvement
As former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart added to her campaign for governor on Wednesday, her former city released a report raising questions about her time as mayor.
The report raised questions about Stewart’s role in irregularities with tax payments. While the report was only four pages, New Britain’s current mayor, Robert Sanchez, said it was meant to provide an update on an investigation. The report stated that some taxpayers in New Britain were able to avoid penalties for late payments.
But Stewart said the timing is meant to cast a cloud over her announcement, which was her addition of Republican lawmaker Tim Ackert as a running mate. Ackert was an eight-term lawmaker from Coventry, an Air Force veteran, and the owner of his own electrical company.
The report stated that former tax collector Cheryl Bogoslawski allowed taxpayers, including herself, to backdate payments to avoid paying interest (which is required by law). Bogoslowski also stated that Stewart’s office directed her to do this for a taxpayer owning several properties in the city, according to the report.
Stewart’s former chief of staff admitted to getting involved in the late payments but denied giving such an order.
Stewart said she has not read the report but called it politically motivated.
“This is completely political in nature, and any attempt to just try and knock me off my game here is exactly what Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz are doing, and I’m not playing into it,” Stewart said of the report.
When asked about it on Wednesday, Gov. Ned Lamont denied his involvement.
“I don’t know anything about this case; we don’t have anything to do with this case,” Lamont explained. He’s running for re-election. “I think if something happened in New Britain, get to the bottom of it.”
One of Stewart’s Republican opponents, however, said their party should demand answers before nominating a candidate this summer.
“These are serious questions that will be asked in a general election, and will be raised by a Democratic campaign machine with tens of millions of dollars,” said State Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich), another Republican prospect in the gubernatorial race.
Sanchez said he referred the case to the state’s attorney’s office for a broader investigation. He released a statement on Wednesday, calling for accountability:
“What this report reveals is unacceptable, and it will not be tolerated in this administration. The findings point to a longstanding breakdown in accountability and oversight that allowed misconduct to persist for years. That is why we have taken immediate action, terminating the Revenue Collector, making this report public, and referring this matter to the State’s Attorney. Anyone who violated the public trust will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
But this is not an isolated incident. The pattern outlined here demands a broader response. I am directing that this investigation be expanded to ensure every individual involved is identified and held responsible. For too long, there were different rules for different people in City Hall. That ends now. There cannot be one set of rules for the well-connected and another for everyone else. Everyone pays what they owe. Everyone follows the law.
We are also implementing immediate changes to strengthen internal controls, oversight, and financial safeguards so this never happens again. The people of this city deserve honesty, fairness, and accountability, and that is exactly what they are going to get.”
NBC Connecticut reached out to Republican Betsy McCaughey, who is also running for governor, but have not heard back at this time.
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