Record-Journal
10-17-2007, 12:12 AM
WALLINGFORD — In response to accusations that he had started an altercation with a rival campaign worker, Democratic mayoral candidate James Vumbaco said he is disappointed the exchange has become an issue.
A volunteer for unaffiliated mayoral candidate Lucille Trzcinski says Vumbaco provoked the altercation on Oct. 8 after the worker placed campaign literature on the door of Vumbaco’s condominium unit.
Police are investigating the allegations but have released little information.
Erik Gilbert, 18, was puttin Trzcinski literature on doorknobs in the Judd Square condo complex on South Cherry Street, where both he and Vumbaco live.
Gilbert said he unwittingly placed literature on Vumbaco’s door and was confronted soon afterward. Gilbert said he didn’t know Vumbaco lived in the same complex and learned only after the incident that the man who had confronted him was Vumbaco.
“He started getting more aggressive,” Gilbert said.
“He was getting in my face and raising his voice. He was swearing, threatening and other things of that matter. He was just trying to pick a fight from the get-go. I don’t know why.”
Gilbert said Vumbaco tore up the campaign literature and told Gilbert he should not be soliciting within a private complex. At one point, Gilbert said, he responded to Vumbaco by calling him a “f—ing Nazi” for restricting his ability to distribute political information.
Gilbert alleges that Vumbaco then nudged him with his finger and bumped against Gilbert chest-to-chest “like when you see managers argue” with umpires in baseball.
In a statement issued Monday night, Vumbaco said Gilbert refused to remove the literature even after Vumbaco asked several times.
“Throughout the encounter, Mr. Gilbert used offensive and profane language, and at one point referred to me as a f—ing Nazi,” the statement read.
“I returned to my condo and notified the superintendent that the incident took place and was assured that he would handle the problem.”
In the statement, Vumbaco said he stepped out of his condominium and saw Gilbert distributing the literature in the hallway.
He said the condo association prohibits people hanging such items from doorknobs.
Vumbaco declined to comment beyond the written statement.
Gilbert, who has lived at Judd Square for more than three years, said he had a right to distribute the literature in the building.
Trzcinski said she did not know that Gilbert had been working for her campaign that day. “I just think it’s an unfortunate incident,” she said.
Democratic Town Chairman William Fischer and Vice Chairman Vincent Avallone declined to comment on the incident.
Trzcinski is a former Democrat who left the party to run as an unaffiliated candidate. She and Vumbaco are trying to unseat long-time Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr.
Gilbert’s father, Wayne, is calling for an apology from Vumbaco. Wayne Gilbert, a Trzcinski supporter, had asked his son to fill in for him on the campaign trail that day because he had a conflict.
“I feel so bad for my son,” said Wayne Gilbert. “If I had known in my wildest imagination that he would be confronted like that, I would never have put him in that situation. All (Vumbaco’s) got to do is say sorry.”
Wayne Gilbert is well known around the state as the regional director for the United Public Service Employees Union. In Wallingford, the union represents employees of the Water Division and the Board of Education.
Erik Gilbert said he called police after the incident and wants to press charges. He said police obtained a surveillance tape of the incident. The Record-Journal has requested a copy of the videotape.
In his statement, Vumbaco concluded: “I am disappointed that this exchange between two adults has become an issue that elevated to this level.”
Police Lt. Marc Mikulski said he could not release many details about the incident, aside from the fact that police are investigating allegations made by Gilbert.
A volunteer for unaffiliated mayoral candidate Lucille Trzcinski says Vumbaco provoked the altercation on Oct. 8 after the worker placed campaign literature on the door of Vumbaco’s condominium unit.
Police are investigating the allegations but have released little information.
Erik Gilbert, 18, was puttin Trzcinski literature on doorknobs in the Judd Square condo complex on South Cherry Street, where both he and Vumbaco live.
Gilbert said he unwittingly placed literature on Vumbaco’s door and was confronted soon afterward. Gilbert said he didn’t know Vumbaco lived in the same complex and learned only after the incident that the man who had confronted him was Vumbaco.
“He started getting more aggressive,” Gilbert said.
“He was getting in my face and raising his voice. He was swearing, threatening and other things of that matter. He was just trying to pick a fight from the get-go. I don’t know why.”
Gilbert said Vumbaco tore up the campaign literature and told Gilbert he should not be soliciting within a private complex. At one point, Gilbert said, he responded to Vumbaco by calling him a “f—ing Nazi” for restricting his ability to distribute political information.
Gilbert alleges that Vumbaco then nudged him with his finger and bumped against Gilbert chest-to-chest “like when you see managers argue” with umpires in baseball.
In a statement issued Monday night, Vumbaco said Gilbert refused to remove the literature even after Vumbaco asked several times.
“Throughout the encounter, Mr. Gilbert used offensive and profane language, and at one point referred to me as a f—ing Nazi,” the statement read.
“I returned to my condo and notified the superintendent that the incident took place and was assured that he would handle the problem.”
In the statement, Vumbaco said he stepped out of his condominium and saw Gilbert distributing the literature in the hallway.
He said the condo association prohibits people hanging such items from doorknobs.
Vumbaco declined to comment beyond the written statement.
Gilbert, who has lived at Judd Square for more than three years, said he had a right to distribute the literature in the building.
Trzcinski said she did not know that Gilbert had been working for her campaign that day. “I just think it’s an unfortunate incident,” she said.
Democratic Town Chairman William Fischer and Vice Chairman Vincent Avallone declined to comment on the incident.
Trzcinski is a former Democrat who left the party to run as an unaffiliated candidate. She and Vumbaco are trying to unseat long-time Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr.
Gilbert’s father, Wayne, is calling for an apology from Vumbaco. Wayne Gilbert, a Trzcinski supporter, had asked his son to fill in for him on the campaign trail that day because he had a conflict.
“I feel so bad for my son,” said Wayne Gilbert. “If I had known in my wildest imagination that he would be confronted like that, I would never have put him in that situation. All (Vumbaco’s) got to do is say sorry.”
Wayne Gilbert is well known around the state as the regional director for the United Public Service Employees Union. In Wallingford, the union represents employees of the Water Division and the Board of Education.
Erik Gilbert said he called police after the incident and wants to press charges. He said police obtained a surveillance tape of the incident. The Record-Journal has requested a copy of the videotape.
In his statement, Vumbaco concluded: “I am disappointed that this exchange between two adults has become an issue that elevated to this level.”
Police Lt. Marc Mikulski said he could not release many details about the incident, aside from the fact that police are investigating allegations made by Gilbert.