COURANT ASKED TO CORRECT INACCURATE ELECTIONS STORY

The Office of Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez has asked The Hartford Courant to fix a number of errors and omissions in a story printed yesterday by Hartford Courant Reporter Dan Goren.  The story, concerning a review by the State Elections Enforcement Commission review of certain advertisements paid for by the city, alleged that the SEEC had made final findings and ordered restitution of $839. Among the errors and omissions in the story were:

• The fact that SEEC has neither made any final findings in the case nor held a hearing. Mayor Perez has not agreed to the SEEC proposed settlement, as settlement discussions are ongoing.

• The fact that the SEEC continued to provide erroneous and conflicting information to the public on the status of the law through their manual for municipal candidates and website for almost a year after the law had changed.

• The fact that a city attorney directly contacted the Executive Director of the SEEC to obtain clarification on the status of the law and the city made good-faith efforts to comply with the law.

“We are disappointed that all the facts were not appropriately represented to readers and subsequently to viewers of other media outlets.  We hope that future stories will more accurately reflect all the information from all parties involved in this case,” says Sarah Barr spokeswoman for Mayor Perez.