Case defeats LaPointe

NORTHWEST CORNER —  State Rep. Jay Case (R-63) prevailed over challenger David LaPointe in the Republican primary held on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

According to the Secretary of the State’s election results website, which has posted an unofficial tally of votes, Case beat LaPointe by 672 votes to 332.

Case won in all four towns that cover the 63rd district, including Winsted, which is both candidates’ home town.

In Winsted, Case won 367-164, while in Torrington, Case narrowly won 145-136.

In Colebrook Case won 102-14, while in Goshen, Case won 58 -18.

In Winsted, at The Pearson School, LaPointe and his family gathered to hear the results from his hometown polls.

Just before the results were read by poll workers, LaPointe took a call from Planning and Zoning Commission member, former Republican Town Committee Chairman and LaPointe supporter Gerald Martinez.

LaPointe said out loud to the small audience gathered at Pearson who were waiting for voting results that Martinez told him that he had won in Torrington by one vote, 135-134.

Despite this, LaPointe looked disappointed and said, “It’s not enough to overcome Winsted.”

The numbers Martinez gave LaPointe were eventually proven to be erroneous. 

After the Winsted results were read, LaPointe said that he would like to congratulate Case and that he appreciated his supporters.

Case said he was happy with the results. “I feel good. I’m glad I ran a positive campaign. Unfortunately, I was up against a lot of mistruths, and I overcame that and stayed positive. The results showed it.”

According to Winsted Republican Registrar of Voters Elizabeth Kelsey, 1,464 residents are registered with the Republican party.

Accusations until the end

LaPointe continued an active campaign against Case days before the primary took place.

In an email to local media outlets on Wednesday, Aug. 3, LaPointe wrote that “veterans are upset with State Rep. Case” and scheduled a press conference on Thursday, Aug. 4 in front of the Veteran’s Service Office and Museum in Torrington.

LaPointe invited the media to the press conference, along with three veterans from the area, to discuss Public Act 16-191.

In emails to local media outlets, LaPointe criticized Case for voting against Senate Bill 202 (Public Act 16-191) — An Act Concerning Veteran’s Property Taxes Exemption Increase during the last day of the session.

In a previous interview, Case had said that the bill was “part of 46 bills that needed to be voted on by midnight” and that he “couldn’t in good conscience vote for the full package” because he did not have time to review all 46 bills.

At the press conference, LaPointe said he did not accept Case’s explanation.

“There were 44 other Republican [representatives] who knew what they were voting on, and they all voted yes,” LaPointe said. “I can’t accept that as a conclusive matter, because this involves veterans.”

In subsequent emails to local media outlets, in which he frequently referred to himself in the third person, LaPointe criticized Case for “using other people’s money” for his campaign, including paying for a campaign treasurer and spending money to print campaign literature.

On Monday, Aug. 8, one day before the primary, LaPointe sent emails to media outlets claiming that Case violated State Statute 9-621b 2.

In LaPointe’s emails, he claimed that Case used robocalls to promote his campaign.

In an interview after the primary and in response to LaPointe’s claim, Case said that he did not use robocalls and instead used live operators to make phone calls.

“If he wants to put a complaint through to the state, I’m willing to fight it,” Case said. “If [LaPointe] wants to cost the taxpayers more money, let him do it.”