All Elections Complaint Counts Against East Windsor First Selectwoman Dismissed

East Windsor First Selectman Denise Menard has been cleared by the State Elections Commission of all counts of a complaint filed against her by a Democratic rival.

Democrat Judith Rajala, a former longtime member of the Board of Education, filed a complaint against Menard in August 2012 alleging several violations in the November 2011 election.

Rajala, who died in January, ran against Menard, the incumbent, for the office of first selectman in 2011. Menard, also a Democrat, won that election, while Rajala finished third.

In the complaint, Rajala listed 10 allegations against Menard, including that Menard made threats against employees; illegally entered polling places on election day; and retaliated against town employees who supported Rajala.

One of the allegations, that Menard retaliated against Rajala’s husband David - a former IT worker for the town - for Judith’s opposition by reducing his hours. That portion of the complaint was referred to the state’s attorney office, which decided in January not to pursue the matter.

The State Elections Commission then dismissed the final counts of the complaint against Menard on Jan. 14.

In a telephone interview Monday, Menard said that she was relieved, but a little “disillusioned” that the complaint was filed against her in the first place.

“People who know me said there was no doubt about the outcome, but when it’s you, you are much more nervous about the experience,” Menard said. “I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. It’s still a terrible process.”

Among the other complaints against Menard was that she allegedly delayed the removal of a tree brought down during the infamous October snowstorm near a polling place in District 1 in town. Menard, according to the complaint, also allegedly attempted to keep a generator from being delivered to the District 1 polling place.

The Elections Commission dismissed those counts, in addition to several others, in December 2012.

The complaint cost the town $15,000 in legal costs, according to Menard.

“It was not an insignificant amount of money to spend on something that appeared to be sour grapes,” Menard said.