City Asked To Un-"Democrat" Joe
by Paul Bass | August 21, 2006
Paul Bass PhotoA day after U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman declared himself a "devoted Democrat" on national TV, peace activists in his hometown of New Haven asked the local registrar of voters (Sharon Ferrucci, pictured) Monday afternoon to strip him of his party affiliation because of his third-party reelection bid against party-endorsed Ned Lamont.
Some two dozen activists, camera crews and reporters squeezed into the narrow entry to the second-floor Registrar of Voters office to present their request to Ferrucci. Ferrucci said she wasn't familiar with the law. In a friendly encounter with the surprise crowd in her office, Ferrucci promised, "I will read it and get back to you" within 48 hours or sooner.
The activists cited Section 9-61 of Chapter 143 of the state statutes in their request. That section allows for a Democrat's party afffiliation to be "stricken or excluded" for two years if he runs for office as a candidate of a different party.
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The protesters in New Haven, led by Henry Lowendorf (pictured) of the Greater New Haven Peace Council, picked up that theme Monday. They argued that by running against the candidate chosen by Democrats -- in effect working to defeat a Democrat -- Lieberman has clearly acted in a way that qualifies for his expulsion under the law. Section 9-60 cites an intention not to "support
principles or candidates" as grounds for expulsion. Section 9-61, as well, cites an intention not to support " the principles or candidates of the party." By running against the Democratic nominee, the argument goes, Lieberman is clearly exhibiting such an intention.
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2006/08/city_asked_to_u.php