Angelides said a voter fraud investigation linked to Villamaino "reveals the checks and balances of our system and the integrity of our election workers."
Enrico "Jack" Villamaino III, left, and Marie AngelidesEAST LONGMEADOW — One day after Select Board Chairman Enrico Villamaino III resigned amid a ballot tampering scandal, his opponent in next month’s state representative primary urged him to consider dropping out of that race too.
In her first statement on the town’s voting fraud probe, Longmeadow Republican Marie Angelides praised the town clerk’s office for detecting more 200 questionable absentee ballot requests during the past month, with many switching party affiliations from Democrat to Republican.
The unusual ballot activity triggered an investigation by the Hampden District Attorney’s office and Secretary of State William F. Galvin, who will send monitors to oversee the Sept. 6 primary.
“Rather than revealing flaws, this incident reveals the checks and balances of our system and the integrity of our election workers,” said Angelides, a lawyer and member of the Longmeadow Select Board.
Referring to Villamaino, a three-term selectman and employee of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Angelides said, “It’s not my place to ask my primary opponent ... to withdraw from the race; however, I believe he should seriously consider the viability of his candidacy.”
Villamaino, 35, who has refused public comment on the ballot fraud probe, announced his resignation Wednesday, three hours before the Select Board was scheduled to meet and discuss the matter.
Law enforcement officials have also confirmed that state and local police executed search warrants at Villamaino’s home on Somers Road and that of Courtney Llewelyn, a special projects manager for the town public access cable station.
Llewelyn, a $27,000 per year town employee, was placed on paid leave on Aug. 13 by Selectman James D. Driscoll in connection with the investigation.
Angelides singled out Town Clerk Thomas Florence for praise, noting that he had already reported an unusual surge in absentee ballot activity to Galvin’s office before her campaign developed its own suspicions in late July.
Angelides said her campaign eventually determined that many of the party-switching requests were fraudulent by calling or writing some of the 445 voters who allegedly requested ballots.
Florence said he cannot discuss the case in detail due to the investigation. He and Driscoll have assured town voters that the Sept. 6 primary will not be tainted by fraud.
When Florence received a raise three weeks ago from the three-member Select Board, Villamaino cast the only opposing vote.
The vote came after Florence, who also serves as town treasurer and collector, had reported the questionable ballot activity to the Galvin’s office.
Under the agreement, Florence’s salary will increase from $73,910 to $88,910 over the next three years.
Driscoll said he did not believe Villamaino’s vote againt the pay increase was a form of retaliation.
“He told the department heads he was going to vote against all pay raises because he was running for election,” Driscoll said.