Allison Totaro

State Investigates Complaint of Election Law Violation in New Canaan

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State election officials are investigating a complaint regarding a poll worker stationed at New Canaan High School on Election Day last year. Allison Totaro at least five times “used her position to intentionally influence the vote by telling voter[s] that as a ‘Republican they were only to vote for 4 candidates’ when in fact a voter had the opportunity to vote for up to 6 candidates regardless of their party affiliation,” according to a complaint lodged Feb. 14 with the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission. 

“Witness testimony as set forth in the affidavits clearly confirm this was a violation of election law and the 2013 Moderator handbook guidelines,” Christina Fagerstal and Lisa Hannich—current and immediate past chairs, respectively, of the New Canaan Democratic Town Committee—said in their complaint, obtained from the SEEC by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. “In addition to the misinformation, the Moderator failed to remove the Respondent from the polling location.”

The DTC on Election Day (Nov. 2, 2021) “received multiple complaints regarding officials inside the polls providing intentionally misleading ballot information,” the complaint said.

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Letter: Kit Devereaux ‘Most Experienced and Qualified’ To Be First Selectman

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Dear Editor:

My husband and I are 19-year residents of New Canaan, and have raised three children in this community. I am writing to encourage all citizens to vote in our municipal election this year. We can come together in a bipartisan manner to elect Kit Devereaux as our First Selectman. I endorse Kit because she is the most experienced and qualified to be our Town leader. Kit has extensive experience serving our Town government, including positions on the Board of Finance, Town Council, and Parks & Recreation.

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Letter: Grace Farms ‘Enriches Our Community’

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Dear Editor,

I would like to express my appreciation and support of a New Canaan community asset, Grace Farms. Grace Farms run by the Grace Farms Foundation has multiple functions: including community and religious. This year I had the opportunity to become better acquainted with Grace Farms, when as a board member of a local community organization I was able to hold a meeting for our members in its West Barn Hall. The staff at Grace Farms is highly professional and at all times exhibit the utmost concern for their operations and any events they host. Our group was very made to feel welcome and well taken care of. In addition, I am very impressed by the commitment of the Grace Farms Foundation to the preservation of the environment.

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Letter: New Canaan’s Help in the Land Trust’s ‘Fowler’ Property Purchase Would Benefit All

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Dear Editor:

I would like to express my support of the acquisition of the Fowler Property by the New Canaan Land Trust. By adding this parcel to adjoining nature preserve, residents on the east side of our town can enjoy passive recreation and active appreciation of the beautiful nature in our area. Preserving open space in New Canaan adds to everyone’s property values. Improving opportunities for walking in the natural world makes our town more attractive to future residents. In addition, preserving open space retains habitat for wildlife, assists with wetlands and watershed preservation and helps with carbon capturing so essential in our changing climate.

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Letter: ‘Rush To Judgment’ on Future of Outback Building

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Dear Editor,

I am concerned that a rush to judgment has been made over the building behind Town Hall formerly know as the Outback Teen Center. While I am not qualified to assess the building, I find it astounding to learn that it has experienced such a dramatic decline over a short period. I believe the public needs a more detailed explanation of its condition before the drastic step is made to tear it down. Over 15 years ago, 1,000 individual gifts in excess of $2.2 million were made to construct the Outback. Its Board of Directors successfully operated it as a private non-profit entity to benefit New Canaan’s teenagers with activities “by teens and for teens” deemed to provide young people with independence and positive self-worth.