Politics & Government

Bellitto Gives $30K to First Selectman Campaign

Contributions from Non-Family Members to Both Bellitto's and Becker's Campaign Committees Sparse in Latest Reporting Period

On paper, Robert B. Bellitto, Jr. would seem to have a huge financial advantage over David M. Becker in the Republicans' quest to be Fairfield's first selectman.

But nearly all of the $31,380 that Bellitto's campaign committee had on hand at the close of the latest reporting period on March 31 was due to a $30,000 contribution that he made to his campaign. Becker, on March 31, had a balance in his campaign committee of $4,081, but that total doesn't include $5,907 that Becker transferred from his exploratory committee to his campaign committee on April 8.

Bellitto, vice chairman of the town's Board of Finance, and Becker, a District 1 member of the Representative Town Meeting, are vying for the Republican nomination for first selectman. Democratic First Selectman Ken Flatto is leaving office on April 30 for a job in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration, and Board of Finance member Michael Tetreau is the Democratic Town Committee's choice to fill Flatto's vacancy until the general election on Nov. 8, though that appointment must be agreed to by Republican Selectman James Walsh and Democratic Selectman Sherri Steeneck. Walsh said Tuesday night that he and Steeneck have yet to discuss who Flatto's replacement should be, but that he wanted the discussions to take place in public. Steeneck and Walsh are allowed to discuss candidates to replace Flatto behind closed doors under state Freedom of Information laws, but they have to notify the candidates ahead of time so they can request the discussions take place in public.

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According to reports filed Monday in the Town Clerk's Office, Bellitto's campaign committee received the following contributions from individuals:

* $1,000 from Sandra A. Bellitto of Fencerow Drive in Fairfield, a homemaker and Bellitto's mother;

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* $500 from Christopher A. Lawrence, an attorney who lives on Marsh Road in Fairfield;

* $500 from Peter F. Ambrose, the RTM's deputy moderator and an attorney who lives on Burr Street in Fairfield;

* $250 from Mary G. Boudreau, a mortgage banker who lives on Autumn Ridge Road in Fairfield;

* $100 from Marleen B. Bates, a resident on Ridge Common in Fairfield who's employed in the investments field;

* $30,000 in personal funds from the candidate.

The expense incurred by Bellitto's campaign committee during the reporting period of Jan. 1 to March 31 was $970 for food and drink at a fundraiser at The Greenhouse Grill on Unquowa Place in Fairfield, which was paid on March 24.

Bellitto's report includes additional expenses after March 31 of $58.30 for lawn signs and $154 for remittance envelopes, both payable to Universal Printing & Mailing Services Inc.

Meanwhile, Becker's report listed total receipts of $4,625 during the latest reporting period, which included:

* $1,000 from Andrew Ansaldi, a retired man who lives in Flushing, N.Y.;

* $750 from Erica Becker of Catherine Street in Fairfield, a financial consultant and Becker's wife;

* $375 from Naresh Mansukhani, owner of Fairfield Clothiers in downtown Fairfield and a resident of Winnepoge Drive in Fairfield;

* $1,000 from Barbara Ansaldi, a retired woman who lives on Ash Street in Fairfield;

* $1,000 from Barbara Izzo of Kinlock Terrace in Milford, a self-employed interior decorator;

* $500 in personal funds from the candidate.

Expenses incurred by Becker's campaign from Jan. 1 to March 31 included $513 to Signworks Studios LLC in Monroe; and a reimbursement of $30.73 to Becker for supplies that he purchased at Office Max in Fairfield.

Editor's note: Sandra Bellitto was misidentified in the original story. She is Robert B. Bellitto Jr.'s mother.


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