Unclear if Villamaino will stay in race

WWLP TV

Updated: Aug 23, 2012 12:56 PM

ENFIELD, Conn. (WWLP) — Former East Longmeadow Selectman Enrico “Jack” Villamaino is not commenting about whether he will remain in the race for state representative, amid a continuing voter fraud scandal in the town.

Villamaino was not at the address 22News had for him in East Longmeadow on Thursday morning, but the 22News I-Team tracked him down to an address just over the state line in Enfield, Connecticut.

Speaking to us through the window, Villamaino said that he would not comment about the investigation, and he also declined to comment about his status in the race.

The investigation was launched after several East Longmeadow residents had their voter registrations switched to Republican in advance of the September 6 state primary. Villamaino is running in the primary against Longmeadow attorney Marie Angelides. The winner of that race will face incumbent State Rep. Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow) in the November election.

State investigators say that they have two key suspects in the case, but they have not released their names.

Through an e-mail sent to the town clerk, Villamaino announced his resignation from the East Longmeadow Board of Selectmen on Wednesday night. While Selectman James Driscoll said that he hoped the resignation would bring a bit of closure and healing to the town, fellow Selectman Paul Federici said that people should not jump to conclusions.

"Obviously you can infer a lot from his resignation, but until someone is front of a judge, I'm not going to cast judgment on anyone because if I was in the same position, I'd want the same consideration from the people around me," Selectman Paul Federici said

Regardless of whether Villamaino ends his campaign for state rep, East Longmeadow Town Clerk Tom Florence says that it is too late for Villamaino’s name to be taken off the ballot.

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