Smith cashes in

WINSTED — Campaign finance reports from candidates in Winsted’s municipal elections have revealed that Democrats outraised Republicans this election season by more than 35 percent, but it is an unaffiliated candidate who has raised more than either party on her own, with help from Republican allies and neighbors.Independent candidate for selectman Lisa Smith, who is currently listed as a Democrat on the board, has broken ties with the party to run her unaffiliated campaign this year. Her primary donors include Republican candidate for selectman Marsha Sterling and Sterling’s husband, James Roberts, who is running as an unaffiliated candidate for Board of Education, as well as their neighbor Johnathan Ilany and members of his family from Armonk, N.Y.In all, Smith has raised $2,650 in campaign donations according to forms filed with the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission, with the largest donors contributing $250 apiece. Three members of the Ilani family each donated $250 to the campaign, while Sterling and Roberts each donated $250 and Brian and Joyce O’Heron also each gave $250.Critics of Smith have pointed out that most of her donations have come from Republicans and their supporters in town, particularly those who opposed a land conservation deal with the Winchester Land Trust that Smith helped to defeat during her current term.“If people can’t connect the dots with ‘miss independent’ Lisa Smith supporting what these people wanted her to do,” said Democratic Selectman George Closson, who is running for a second consecutive term. Closson and others on the Democratic ticket have said they grew frustrated with Smith after she began voting with the Republicans on a number of issues, beginning with the land trust issue.On Oct. 17, the Waterbury Republican-American reported that Democrats had raised $2,574 between July 1 and Sept. 30 of this year, while Republicans raised $1,880. Campaign finance records indicate Smith alone raised $2,650 this election season, or $76 more than the Democratic party.“I have a whole lot of people who seem to be supporting me and trying to help me,” Smith said when asked about her campaign financing. “Obviously I’m extremely appreciative of the financial support. My signs, my mailers and my literature are all paid through donations. People have gone above and beyond to support my campaign.”Asked about the support of Sterling and Roberts, as well as the Ilany family, Smith said she had no reason to believe the donors to her campaign were seeking to influence her votes. “I don’t think there’s any amount of money that would buy my influence,” she said. “I’m not that kind of person. I wouldn’t sell my soul.”Pressed with information linking donors to the Republican party and to opposition to the Winchester Land Trust (WLT), Smith said the donations were not solicited. “I don’t know about any other land trust, other than the WLT,” she wrote in an email to the Journal. “I agree that most of the donors seem to also support the Republicans... I personally feel I can stand on my own accomplishments.”Smith said questions about her campaign financing amounted to mud slinging. “I could play politics and go toe to toe as well as anyone and sling mud,” she said. “It’s all about making the other person look as bad as you can. I don’t like it. I’m not about it.”Smith is one of four petitioning candidates running for office in this year’s election, which takes place Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Pearson Middle School. Seats on the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education are up for consideration, along with the office of the town clerk and constables.