Stonington — First Selectman Rob Simmons wrote Tuesday that “in his current mental state,” state Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-18th District, can no longer defend the interests of the eight towns he represents.

Simmons, a Republican who is a close friend of Maynard’s and supported the senator’s decision to run for re-election in 2014 after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall at his home, becomes the first elected official to publicly raise questions about Maynard’s ability to perform his duties.

Late Tuesday, Simmons expanded on his remarks, acknowledging it was difficult for him to make the comments about his friend.

“I wanted him to be fully recovered and have the strength of character he has demonstrated over the years. We all hoped his recovery would be complete, but it’s not,” he said.

“If (the Senate Democrats) were responsible public officials and true friends, they would have just given him his health benefits, let the people of the 18th District make a decision (to elect a new senator) and let Andy fully engage in his recovery," he said. "Instead they manipulated his vote for their own personal reasons and that’s sad.”

Maynard needs to complete his term to secure state health insurance after he leaves office.

Simmons said Maynard has been manipulated to vote along party lines, including in favor of the current deficit-laden budget that passed by a 19-17 vote.

He said this is not the Andrew Maynard he knows.

“The Senate Democrats have really taken advantage of Andy Maynard and that really pisses me off,” he said.

Democrats repeatedly have said Maynard is fully engaged in the job even though he has missed numerous committee meetings, has refused to participate in all but one brief phone interview for almost two years, sponsored almost no legislation, has difficulty speaking and was injured when he was driving the wrong way on Route 32 in Waterford this past January.

He has announced he will not run for re-election this fall.

Simmons made the initial comments in an email to The Day on Tuesday about the legislature’s Appropriations Committee's plan to cut Stonington’s state education aid in half, from $2 million to $1 million, and Groton by $4.5 million, while affluent West Hartford — where state Sen. Beth Bye, the appropriations chairwoman, lives — would receive a $1 million increase.

Maynard represents both Stonington and Groton.

Simmons wrote in the email Tuesday that while area legislators may be afraid to challenge Bye, “what about Senator Maynard?”

“Well, it is simple but sad. In his current mental state Maynard can no longer defend the interests [of] his towns. And his Democrat colleagues are more than ready to push him over the cliff," Simmons wrote. "As they gleefully ‘beggar’ his district they care nothing for the future of our children as the schools of the 18th district are ravaged. The Democrat Senate Leader is named Martin Looney. But this is worse than lunacy. This is mean spirited and cruel. Shame on the Senate Democrats!”

At a Stonington Board of Finance meeting, in which a budget was finalized for a public hearing last week, members discussed the $1 million cut and said the town had reached out to state officials and state Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, for assistance.

No mention was made of Maynard.

Simmons said Tuesday night that he had received assurances from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that the cut to Stonington will be just $75,000 and Groton’s also will be far less.

Simmons said that while he and Urban have had disagreements in the past, she had “risen to the occasion” to get the education aid restored.

“First Selectman Simmons’ comments about Sen. Maynard are quite unfortunate,” Senate Democrats spokesman Adam Joseph said late Tuesday. “Despite suffering from aphasia which has impacted his speech, Sen. Maynard remains dedicated to serving the 18th District.”

“The proposal made by the Appropriations Committee is not the end product of the budget process; the Governor has offered a new proposal and the process will continue as we work to balance the budget,” he added.

j.wojtas@theday.com