A former Manchester alderman files a lawsuit claiming that the state's top Democratic Party officials conspired with the candidate who defeated him, to deprive him of his right to seek office last year.
Joe Kelly Levasseur's lawsuit alleges that state Democratic party chair Kathy Sullivan, state vice chair Raymond Buckley and Manchester Alderman Pat Long defamed him, interfered with a political mailing and oversaw the removal of GOP campaign signs from Manchester streets. Levasseur's suit was filed by former Congressman and State Supreme Court justice Chuck Douglas. He says the suit includes 3 main causes of action…..That the city committee defamed Levassuer by calling him a tax cheat when he was simply delinquent on his taxes…….That a campaing mailing Levassuer sent that criticized Alderman Long was intentionally mislaid by Long campaign volunteer and democratic ward 9 secretary David McCloskey…….And that Geoff Wetrowsky, a Manchester democratic staffer who managed Mayor Bob Baines reelection bid stole GOP campaing signs and took them to Kathy Sullivan's house, where he was then living. Douglas admits that there's not yet enough evidence to show such things were part of an organized plot, but says depositions could prove otherwise.
"Well, we'll know the full detail once people have to be put under oath, but I don't think all that happens by coincidence."
The respondents, meanwhile insist the suit is without merit.
"I just find it really sad that a former Supreme Court Justice is filing a suit that is based on fabrications and fantasy."
That's state Democratic party chair Kathy Sullivan. Here's state vice-chair and Manchester chair Ray Buckley.
"This is a frivolous lawsuit filed by a silly man."
Alderman Long was did not return calls for this story, but told the NH Union leader that he has an attorney looking at the suit and that he found it unfortunate that republicans feel the need to do this prior to an election. Chuck Douglas, for his part, denies the timing is intentional, but conceded it is fortuitous.
"There is no better time, because now that they know the suit has been filed what they do in the next ten days can be added to it. So, it's a deterrent effect, that hopefully in 06 they won't do what they did last year."
The Democrats, meanwhile, say the suit is little more than an effort to distract voters from past Republican campaign tactics such as the 2002 election day phone jamming…And insist their party has a record taking ethical matters seriously. Kathy Sullivan says she's repeatedly called that the actions of Geoff Wetrowsky stupid and says they were done without her knowledge.
"I think it happened the Sunday moring before the election….And I found out about it Monday morning. Had I found out any earlier, I would have reccomended that he be fired, becasue that's the policy of the Democratic Committee."
And as for Lavasseur's stolen mail……David McCloskey, the democratic postal worker the lawsuit alleges stole the mail did not return a call for this story……But city democratic chairman Ray Buckley says if any mail stealing happened it was wrong, but that he had nothing to do with it.
"I certainly have no idea of that."
For now, both plantiffs and respondents say they will be weighing their legal options……Kathy Sullivan says the suit does make it less likely that she will step down as state party chairman, which she had been considering…..She also says she's not inclined to let the matter go easily..
"I don't take that lightly and I don't know what I'm going to do about this when this suit is dismissed -- and I'm confident that it will be. And there's a possibility I may actually look into whether I'm going to file a defamation suit against both these clowns, because that's what they are."
Attorney Douglas counters that Kathy Sullivan can do whatever she pleases.
"That's fine she can say whatever she wants, she didn't have any trouble filing suit against the republican party. I guess she just doesn’t like it when somebody does it to her."
In the meantime, Douglas and Lavasseur also have a pending suit against the US postal service for mishandling the Levassuer's campaign mailing……The postal service, which has already reimbursed Levassuer the cost of his mailing …….has until November 13th to respond…
