Three years ago, the Connecticut for Lieberman party endorsed former U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd to run on its slate. The only problem was, Dodd didn't want the endorsement and had to write a letter to the Secretary of the State's Office to have his name taken off the ballot, according to Av Harris, director of communications for Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.
These are two examples of why Harris says the Secretary of the State's Office requires third parties to submit a signed letter of endorsement of its candidates in order to be included on a ballot.
"The candidate endorsement letter is the one document that confirms that the party and its group of supporters approve of these candidates running under their banner," Harris said.
The absence of this letter it at the root of a controversy in Easton which will be settled at the Superior Court in Bridgeport Monday morning.
Easton Coalition candidates Val Buckley (first selectman), Derek Buckley (town clerk), Randy Shapiro (treasurer) and Shaun Malay (Board of Education) are hoping the judge will allow them to run in Easton's municipal election without the letter.
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