Democrat Bonnie Hong's petition rejected in 46th District primary bid
Norwich — Former City Council President Bonnie Hong was rebuffed in her effort to force a Democratic primary in the 46th House of Representatives district after nearly two thirds of the signatures she collected were rejected due to a technicality.
Democratic Registrar Dianne Daniels said three of Hong’s supporters who collected signatures on the official petition sheets failed to seek verification from their towns’ Democratic registrars affirming that the petition circulators are registered Democrats.
Hong was informed of the technical oversight Tuesday evening and said all but 110 of the estimated 300 signatures she submitted were disqualified because of the error.
She needed 188 signatures to force a primary against incumbent Democrat Emmett Riley in the district that covers the southern and urban sections of Norwich.
Hong said she took responsibility for the error, but also said she attempted to submit the petitions early in case of technical problems but was unable to do so.
Daniels was not in the office Friday afternoon or Monday. Hong submitted the petitions at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and didn’t learn of the error until after the 4 p.m. petition deadline.
“I am very disappointed that I will not be able to fight for issues that really matter,” Hong, an active volunteer in the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, said Wednesday.
She said she will write a letter apologizing to her supporters and urging “the current state representative” to address such issues as Connecticut’s ranking as one of the top five states in economic distress and income inequality.
She also complains that state budget cuts exacerbated those problems.
While it is too late for Hong to seek status as a petitioning candidate on the November ballot, she would have until Aug. 10 to seek a third party endorsement — such as from the Working Families, Green Party or Independent Party.
According to the state Secretary of the State’s election division, she would need both the party endorsement and a petition signed by registered voters in the district totaling at least 1 percent of the votes cast in the 2014 election in the 46th District by Aug. 10.
Hong said she hadn’t considered a third party run in November, but now “will give all options a shot.”
Riley said he is proud to be the endorsed candidate, is proud of his two-term record and is looking forward to the fall election.
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