State Supreme Court Rules Against Foley

Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Foley lost a legal fight at the state supreme court today.  WNPR's Jeff Cohen reports.

 

The decision is another loss for Foley in his effort to stop Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele from getting state campaign money. Despite some dense courtroom argument in the case, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled clearly and concisely. Foley had lost. 

 

“The ruling of the trial court is affirmed.  Decision to follow.”

 

Fedele is now expected to seek another $300,000 from the state, bringing his total to over $2 million.

 

Foley had pursued various legal avenues in his fight – including lawsuits in both state and federal court.  His attorneys say Fedele had been wrongly approved by the state for public money.  They also say that Fedele shouldn’t be entitled to grants reserved for people running against candidates who self-finance their campaigns because such grants have been recently ruled unconstitutional.  

 

“I think it’s telling that the Fedele campaign, even after the law has been declared unconstitutional, is going to go back and try to ask for more money.”

 

That’s Justin Clark, Foley’s campaign manager.  Clark says Foley’s failed legal campaign will have no negative political effects with Republican voters.

 

“If we’re taking the political stand that we should make sure people follow the rules before taking millions in taxpayer money to fund campaigns, I’ll take that side of the political question any day of the week.”

 

Chris Cooper with the Fedele campaign said that Foley’s legal effort has been a waste of time.

 

“I think it should offend anybody’s sensibilities that someone would spend more than 10 days of the court’s time and four different decisions and a ton of lawyers pursing something for a political purpose.”

 

Foley leads Fedele in a recent poll of likely voters 48 to 13 percent.

 

For WNPR, I’m Jeff Cohen.