Bogus CCFD Endorsement Flier Mailed to Taxpayers

Many Central Coventry residents on Friday received a flier in the mail that at first glance seemingly advertises the endorsement of three candidates campaigning for a seat on the Central Coventry Fire District Board of Directors. 

The mailing included a scanned version of the sample ballot to be used during Saturday's all-day referendum vote and states that the three ballot names highlighted in yellow represent candidates who are supported by the Central Coventry Taxpayers Taskforce for Fire Protection. While it seems that the person or group responsible for the mailing are in support of Raymond J. Angell III, Stephen P. Fay and Ronald J. Gizzarelli, the three candidates are not among the six currently endorsed by the Citizens Taskforce.

Also included in the mailing was a letter to residents signed by "Members of the Central Coventry Taxpayers Taskforce for Fire Protection", claiming to have "narrowed the field of several candidates that will help lead CCFD back on the road to providing exceptional fire and rescue services". It continues by urging taxpayers to vote in the June 29 election to be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Coventry Town Hall, in order to keep taxes low and help get the foundering fire district back on solid financial footing, stating that the three aforementioned candidates are "the only candidates committed to ensuring fiscal oversight without compromising public safety."

Apart from having the Taskforce's name and logo affixed to the mailed documents, a USPS permit imprint typically used for bulk mailings reading "Permit No. 1899" was displayed on the flier, and was determined to belong to "All The Answers", a direct mail firm located at 60 Alhambra Road in Warwick. According to Taskforce Co-chair Fred Gralinski, the owner, Paul Sasso, was reached by telephone Friday morning but refused to reveal the name of the persons who authorized the mailing.

A return address of 44 York Drive in Coventry also appeared on the leaflet. According to recent real estate transactions from the Warren Group of Boston posted in the Providence Journal, the address in question is that of a vacant and foreclosed property owned as of Feb. 15, 2013 by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), also known as Freddie Mac.

An official comment on behalf of the Taskforce issued by Gralinksi on Friday afternoon stated: 

“The fact that CCFD Board candidates Richard Angell, Stephen Fay and Ronald Gizzarelli would conspire on a look-alike mailing piece giving the impression they were endorsed by the Coventry Citizens Taskforce is appalling, and an insult to the electoral process in Coventry."

“These candidates will likely maintain that they knew nothing about this mailing piece being received today in Coventry, but short of outright condemnation, their denials will be insufficient. There is now no reason to believe anything they say," read Gralinski's statement. "If earlier, repeated actions to prevent the taxpayers of Central Coventry from re-gaining control of their fire district were not enough, this should be proof positive of the need for change."

According to both Fay and Angell, neither of them were aware of or had heard anything about the mailing as of Friday afternoon when they were contacted by Coventry Patch for comment.

"I haven't seen it and I don't know anything about it, but nothing surprises me right now," said Fay in reference to the ongoing slew of argumentative and sometimes offensive comments that have been circulating online and around town recently in regards to the downfall of the fire district, the election and the candidates. 

"No, I don't know anything about it," Angell said. "I never sought any endorsement and obviously the task force has already endorsed their candidates very openly. It's really unfortunate and all it does is retract from the important issues and gives attention to the nonsense that has been going on with all of this."

Mr. Gizzarelli could not be reached for comment in time for publication.

“The election is tomorrow, so pursuit of legal and regulatory action will be of no avail short term, which is what the sponsors intended," Gralinski's statement continued. "The Taskforce does however, intend to pursue all avenues available to redress this issue with the Rhode Island Board of Elections, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission and on the matter of mail fraud, with the U.S. Postal Service.”