After appearing at State Superior Court in Danbury Tuesday and having his harassment charges dismissed, Former Bethel First Selectman Robert Burke announced that he will again seek the Office of Bethel First Selectman this fall.
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In an issued press release, Burke said: "I'm extremely happy to put what was been a very difficult situation behind me...I want to make it clear, I never did anything wrong and chose to use this [accelerated rehabilitation] program because it represented the most efficient means of putting an end to this matter."
Burke also claims his innocence to the charges and said choosing to complete the rehabilitation program does not suggest his guilt.
"The allegations against me were not true," he said. "Recently, the Connecticut Supreme Court stated that using such a program does not imply the applicant is guilty of anything."
Burke was Bethel's First Selectman from 2005-2009, serving two terms as a Republican. The harassment case came while he was seeking a third term when he ran under the Pro-Bethel Party.
"This matter was the result of my political enemies, taking action specifically designed to harm me...to ensure my defeat in the last election and they hoped I would stay for good," Burke said. "This is not going to happen, and I announce today that I will again seek the Office of the Bethel First Selectman in the next municipal election."
Republicans in Bethel accuse Burke of splitting the GOP vote in the 2009 election for First Selectman and blame him and the ProBethel Party for Matt Knickerbocker's win over the Republican endorsed candidate Larry Craybus.
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
