Select Board chairman Enrico "Jack" Villamaino II is the subject of a state ballot-tampering probe.
EAST LONGMEADOW — For the first time since an election fraud scandal erupted here two weeks ago, the town Select Board meets – with or without chairman Enrico “Jack” Villamaino III, the subject of a state ballot-tampering probe.
Enrico P. Villamaino IIIThe board on Wednesday night will offer its first public statement on the investigation by the Secretary of State and the Hampden District Attorney’s office into a surge in absentee ballot requests and party affiliation changes for the Sept. 6 primary, according to Selectman James D. Driscoll.
Beefing up security at Town Hall will also be discussed, Driscoll said. The session will be at 6:45 p.m., at the Council on Aging, 328 North Main St.
“We want to reassure people that we’re continuing with the town’s business, and that this incident was the result of a few people, not anything widespread,” said Driscoll.
Villamaino, a three-term selectman, has kept a low profile since Secretary of State William F. Galvin launched a probe into “brazen” ballot tampering, creating doubts whether he will appear at Wednesday night’s meeting.
The 35-year old Republican did not attend Sheriff Michael Ashe’s annual clambake or the basketball fundraiser that drew U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and other politicians, according to Driscoll, who said he phoned Villamaino last week but did not get a return call.
“He’s usually very visible at town events, especially during an election time,” Driscoll said.
The election fraud probe was triggered by a four-fold increase in absentee ballot requests, combined with an unusually high number of requests by Democrats to change their party affiliation to Republican.
By Aug. 1, the town clerk’s office had received 445 absentee ballot requests for the Sept. 6 primary – 150 less than in Springfield for the same period.
The only local race in the Sept. 6 primary pits Villamaino against Longmeadow Selectwoman Marie Angelides for the Republican nomination in the 2nd Hampden District.
The race is a rematch from 2010 when Angelides defeated Villamaino, a staff assistant at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, before losing to Brian M. Ashe, D-Longmeadow, in the general election.
Villamaino has refused to comment on the probe; Angelides said she is awaiting the outcome.
The town’s governing board has three members – Villamaino, Driscoll and Paul L. Federici. In July, Driscoll announced plans to step down in September, citing his employment with a Minnesota-based firm.
Last week, Driscoll said he agreed to delay his departure, pending outcome of the ballot fraud probe.
In another development, town resident Bryan Doe announced plans for a rally at Town Hall Friday at noon to call attention to the importance of voting security.
