Middletown, CT — The lawsuit brought by members of the Southington Democratic Town Committee challenging the legal appointment of Robert Britton to the Southington Board of Finance is an outrageous abuse of the judicial process and an insult to Southington taxpayers.

The facts appear straightforward. A vacancy occurred on the Board of Finance. Under the Town Charter, the vacancy was required to be filled by a Republican. Robert Britton was unanimously chosen by both Democrats and Republicans on the Southington Town Council to fill the vacancy. Mr. Britton’s unanimous and bipartisan appointment was made after the Town Attorney and town administration officials reviewed and approved the process. Britton did not appoint himself. He did not circumvent the democratic process. He accepted an appointment made by the body charged with making it.

Yet, Democratic Town Committee members Anthony D’Angelo and Dawn Anastasio have chosen to drag Britton and the Town into Superior Court, forcing taxpayers to spend money defending an appointment that the Town determined complied with its Charter and that their own Democratic Town Council members supported.

This is exactly the kind of vexatious and idiotic political litigation that causes people to lose faith in government. Political disagreements belong at the ballot box and in the public square; not manufactured into lawsuits simply because Democrats do not like the result of a lawful and bipartisan governmental process.

The Southington Democratic Town Committee should immediately denounce this lawsuit and demand its withdrawal. If it refuses, Southington Democrats should explain to taxpayers why their political allies believe residents should be forced to pay the legal bills associated with this action.

When this case is concluded, D’Angelo and Anastasio, and the Southington Democratic Town Committee, to the extent it supported, encouraged, or financed this litigation, should reimburse the Town of Southington.

 There is an especially troubling irony here. Democrats routinely lecture everyone else about protecting democracy and respecting governmental institutions. But apparently, when a public vote produces a result they dislike, their answer is to run to court and make taxpayers pick up the tab.

Connecticut Republicans stand with Robert Britton, with the members of the Southington Town Council who carried out their responsibilities and upheld their oath and, most importantly, with the taxpayers of Southington, who should not be stuck paying for stupid political litigation.

If Southington Democrats want a political fight, they should make their case to the voters. They should not use the courthouse and the taxpayers’ checkbook to wage it.

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