In a primary that seems to grow more bitter by the day, accusations between Democrats Dannel Malloy and Ned Lamont continue to be thrown in advance of Tuesday's primary.
Lamont's campaign has run commercials related directly to the renovations that were made to Malloy's Shippan home and involved contractors who held city contracts. Neither the contractors, nor Malloy, were ever charged in the case. In addition, then-Chief State's Attorney Christopher Morano issued an unusual letter that said there was "no credible evidence of criminal wrongdoing'' in the 17-month investigation after more than 100 witnesses were interviewed.
Lamont's campaign, though, released a copy of a six-page contract from 2001 between the city of Stamford and a construction management company that the campaign said was a no-bid contract. The contract was signed by Malloy as the mayor and included the signature of a witness who attested that he signed it in her presence.
"Dan's being dishonest, and he knows it,'' said Joe Abbey, Lamont's campaign manager. "Instead of purposely misleading the voters, he should explain why he signed no-bid contracts for companies that gave him campaign cash or worked on his home."
But Roy Occhiogrosso, Malloy's chief strategist, said Malloy was never involved in a no-bid contract.
"Dan Malloy never had anything to do with a no-bid contract. Period,'' Occhiogrosso told Capitol Watch. "The mayor had absolutely nothing to do with it.''
When told that Malloy's signature was on the contract, Occhiogrosso said his signature could have been on it, pro forma, as the mayor.
"The selection process is something he had absolutely nothing to do with,'' Occhiogrosso said, adding that the selection is not the role of the mayor. "I understand why they're feeling desperate. Their lead has slipped away. This is about as close as it could be. They're still hustling this fairy tale a few days before the election.''