Democratic Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz's candidacy for Connecticut attorney general ended abruptly May 18 when the state Supreme Court ruled her ineligible for the office. But that has not prevented her from continuing to spend thousands of leftover dollars from her campaign committee in the 2½ months since then on things including:
--Keeping her campaign headquarters open in a Rocky Hill office building, where a member of her campaign staff opened the door Wednesday after a Courant reporter knocked; and holding a series of at least seven parties around the state for her supporters from June 14 to 30 at restaurants, churches, ethnic clubs and a vineyard.
State election laws permit candidates to dispose of surplus campaign funds by returning them to donors, or by giving them to charities or to the state's public-financing fund for elections, according to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The commission also says it's permissible to throw "a 'thank-you' party for campaign workers."
But what does the enforcement commission say about seven parties over a period of weeks? This week's Government Watch column, which can be read by clicking this link, deals with that and other questions.