Friday, October 3, 2008 12:13 PM EDT
Are bitter bytes blogging down Richmond town clerk’s race?
 Race between Helena M. Bowen and Tracy Nelson Hay heats up, amid accusations of unprofessional conduct and mudslinging. |
A race between co-workers for the town clerk’s job is heating up, amid accusations of unprofessional conduct and political mudslinging.
With 32 days left until Election Day, Deputy Town Clerk Helena M. Bowen and Clerk Assistant Tracy Nelson Hay are trading barbs: At issue, a Bowen campaign supporter’s decision to email comments critical of Hay to nearly 160 registered voters.
Hay, who was endorsed by Richmond’s Democratic Town Committee, defeated Bowen in last month’s Democratic primary by a margin of 72 votes, and will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot with Republican challenger Paul Michaud. Bowen has since launched a write-in campaign as a Democrat, with support from Republicans and independents.
The winner will replace longtime Town Clerk Mary Morgan, who is set to retire in November.
On Monday, Bowen’s sister-inlaw Leanne Brunelle of Richmond sent an e-mail to voters whose electronic addresses are listed on voter registration cards at Town Hall. The content of her e-mail was culled from an anonymous Internet blog, whose proprietor declined to be identified following an August inquiry from The Sun. Click here to view the Internet blog.
“I cannot see myself voting for some[one] as volatile as Tracy Hay who is known to go on extremely loud verbal tirades against fellow town employees, department heads and her own family right at town hall, all within earshot of everyone around,” the blog entry reads. “Mrs. Hay does not present a professional attitude in some of her dealings with the general public at town hall.”
“I cannot understand how the Democratic Town Committee could have endorsed Mrs. Hay, but then again, seeing how she conducts herself in the presence of [town committee Chairman] Mr. Tom Dufficy, I’m sure he had a lot of pull in [controlling] the vote for her endorsement. I hope the voters of Richmond exercise the right to write in the name of Helena Bowen and connect the arrows next to her name.”
Brunelle said Wednesday she got the list of voters’ e-mail addresses from Bowen, but is not the author of the blog post. She found the post after searching for Bowen’s name in a Web search engine, she said.
“If I had more [addresses], I would send more e-mails out,” Brunelle said. (She later issued an apology to the message’s recipients, offering to remove them from the campaign’s e-mail list.)
Nevertheless, Hay said she considers Brunelle’s email a personal attack on her character — but did acknowledge that a heated argument over town business did occur in Morgan’s office several months ago. She said she could not recall what caused it — though the exchange also involved Bowen.
“I’m not going to stoop to [Bowen’s] level and send around my own nasty email,” Hay said. “If that type of dirty politics works for her, and she wins the election, so be it. I’m going to be able to walk around town with my head held high. I refuse to stoop to that level.”
“I want to win based on my qualifications and experience,” she added. “I don’t feel that I need to degrade someone else to be successful. … If anyone wants their e-mail address removed from voter registration forms, they’re welcome to contact Town Hall and I will take them off.”
Bowen, however, said she had every right to provide volunteers working on her campaign with voters’ emails. Information on voting cards is public record, and is provided to candidates free of charge.
“I didn’t write the blog, and I don’t know who wrote the blog,” she said. “But I think [Brunelle] did a great job speaking on my behalf.”
With 32 days left until Election Day, Deputy Town Clerk Helena M. Bowen and Clerk Assistant Tracy Nelson Hay are trading barbs: At issue, a Bowen campaign supporter’s decision to email comments critical of Hay to nearly 160 registered voters.
Hay, who was endorsed by Richmond’s Democratic Town Committee, defeated Bowen in last month’s Democratic primary by a margin of 72 votes, and will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot with Republican challenger Paul Michaud. Bowen has since launched a write-in campaign as a Democrat, with support from Republicans and independents.
The winner will replace longtime Town Clerk Mary Morgan, who is set to retire in November.
On Monday, Bowen’s sister-inlaw Leanne Brunelle of Richmond sent an e-mail to voters whose electronic addresses are listed on voter registration cards at Town Hall. The content of her e-mail was culled from an anonymous Internet blog, whose proprietor declined to be identified following an August inquiry from The Sun. Click here to view the Internet blog.
“I cannot see myself voting for some[one] as volatile as Tracy Hay who is known to go on extremely loud verbal tirades against fellow town employees, department heads and her own family right at town hall, all within earshot of everyone around,” the blog entry reads. “Mrs. Hay does not present a professional attitude in some of her dealings with the general public at town hall.”
“I cannot understand how the Democratic Town Committee could have endorsed Mrs. Hay, but then again, seeing how she conducts herself in the presence of [town committee Chairman] Mr. Tom Dufficy, I’m sure he had a lot of pull in [controlling] the vote for her endorsement. I hope the voters of Richmond exercise the right to write in the name of Helena Bowen and connect the arrows next to her name.”
Brunelle said Wednesday she got the list of voters’ e-mail addresses from Bowen, but is not the author of the blog post. She found the post after searching for Bowen’s name in a Web search engine, she said.
“If I had more [addresses], I would send more e-mails out,” Brunelle said. (She later issued an apology to the message’s recipients, offering to remove them from the campaign’s e-mail list.)
Nevertheless, Hay said she considers Brunelle’s email a personal attack on her character — but did acknowledge that a heated argument over town business did occur in Morgan’s office several months ago. She said she could not recall what caused it — though the exchange also involved Bowen.
“I’m not going to stoop to [Bowen’s] level and send around my own nasty email,” Hay said. “If that type of dirty politics works for her, and she wins the election, so be it. I’m going to be able to walk around town with my head held high. I refuse to stoop to that level.”
“I want to win based on my qualifications and experience,” she added. “I don’t feel that I need to degrade someone else to be successful. … If anyone wants their e-mail address removed from voter registration forms, they’re welcome to contact Town Hall and I will take them off.”
Bowen, however, said she had every right to provide volunteers working on her campaign with voters’ emails. Information on voting cards is public record, and is provided to candidates free of charge.
“I didn’t write the blog, and I don’t know who wrote the blog,” she said. “But I think [Brunelle] did a great job speaking on my behalf.”
To Concerned Citizen wrote on Oct 5, 2008 10:04 PM:
" I'm sorry but what is out-of-context about Ms Helena Bowen's words? The words in the article are a direct quote from Ms. Bowen herself. There is nothing out of context about her stating that her sister in law did a great job on her behalf. I think thats pretty cut and dry. "
Concerned Citizen wrote on Oct 5, 2008 8:43 PM:
" I preface my comment with the fact that I am personal friends with neither Mrs. Hay nor Mrs. Bowen. I have come to know Mrs. Bowen through many and varied interactions with her and find her to be refreshingly professional and possessing of a sincere passion for using her knowledge and experience to improve the manner in which Richmond Town government serves all of its citizens. The integrity and commitment that I have consistently seen Mrs. Bowen demonstrate, often volunteering her time to support initiatives over and above the functions of Deputy Town Clerk, far outweigh the out-of-context words and actions attributed to her by local reporters and others during this contentious campaign. I harbor no ill will toward Mrs. Hay; however my knowledge of both of these candidate’s backgrounds and experience, coupled with my personal observations of both in their work at Town Hall, leaves no doubt in my mind that Mrs. Helena Bowen is not only the most qualified candidate, but also the individual that will bring the highest degree of professionalism and integrity to follow in the footsteps of Mrs. Mary Morgan. "
perplexed richmond voter wrote on Oct 5, 2008 11:12 AM:
" Unfortunately for Bowen she acknowledges and supports Brunelle's comments. This happens in politics and should be no surprise to anyone. This should not be the only reason for not voting for Bowen however. I have witnessed Hay in action and I do agree with Brunelle. I do feel this job should be posted and given to a more qualified candidate with a degree in business or finance. More candidates should be interviewed for such an important position. "
Sally wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:19 PM:
" Same on both candidates. I've heard that both have serious challegnes in getting along with others at the Town Hall. Another reason why the Town needs a charter and make this an apppointed position so someone with full qualifications could be hired. "
richmondvoter wrote on Oct 4, 2008 8:15 AM:
" I HAD a Helena Bowen sign in my yard. After reading this, I am taking it down and throwing it away. "
joe public wrote on Oct 3, 2008 5:52 PM:
" goes to show u....people complain about the first amendment....and they abuse it by anonymous cowardly blogs......blogs ruin this country "
what ? wrote on Oct 3, 2008 5:52 PM:
" Hm Westerly Sun's talkback has repeatedly allowed comments to be posted on ones they so choose Now they point at this blog and others. Oh WS etc you cannot have your cake and eat it too !Now see if you will post this comment ! "
qtrhrsgal wrote on Oct 3, 2008 3:45 PM:
" Bowen thinks Brunelle did a great job speaking on her behalf?? That just goes to show you right there that she supports this type of conduct. Shame on you, Helena! "
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