Eugene 鈥淕ino鈥� DiGiovanni, who ran as a Republican in Derby鈥檚 mayoral race in 2023, amid revelations he participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021, is now running for the Derby town clerk position.
DiGiovanni did not respond to requests for comment from 黑料吃瓜网, but his opponent, Democratic incumbent Marc Garofalo did.
鈥淭hey know what I've done, and they know Gino, and they know his record,鈥� Garofalo said. 鈥淪o,there's a very clear choice for people.鈥�
The race, now days away from being decided on Election Day, has not received as much attention as DiGiovanni鈥檚 mayoral campaign in 2023.
But Garofalo criticized his opponent鈥檚 suitability for elected office, citing DiGiovanni鈥檚 presence at the U.S. Capitol and attacks against Garofalo鈥檚 record which he said, reflects a poor understanding of the office DiGiovanni wants to win.
Ben Proto, who is chairman of the state鈥檚 Republican Party says voters in Derby are more preoccupied about the mayoral race between Democratic incumbent Joe DiMartino and his Republican challenger Scott Derby.
鈥淚 don't think it was a big deal two years ago when he (DiGiovanni) ran for mayor,鈥� Proto said. 鈥淚 think it's even less of a tiny deal for Town Clerk.鈥�
When asked about DiGiovanni鈥檚 involvement in the Jan. 6 attack , Proto complained Stratford Democratic mayoral candidate Dr. David Chess, who was arrested at the Capitol in 2017, wasn鈥檛 facing similar scrutiny. 鈥�
Chess told 黑料吃瓜网, he was at the capitol along with others to protest against the then attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Chess said he and other protestors were peaceful and were arrested for shouting into the Senate chambers.
鈥淥ne was an insurrection against our government and the other was trying to protect legislation that had already been passed, to protect the rights of our citizens to get healthcare,鈥� Chess said.
So far, 211 Derby residents have cast their ballots in early voting according to Garofalo.
Garofalo鈥檚 office also handles absentee ballots and also sends updated voting tallies throughout Election Day.
DiGiovanni has seized on that aspect of Garofalo鈥檚 role as town clerk in what he statedo the , as a conflict of interest, because of Garofalo鈥檚 own campaign for reelection as town clerk.
Garofalo said those claims are not accurate.
鈥淗e has a serious misunderstanding or lack of understanding of the statutes, and there's a specific carve out for town clerks to be able to do their job,鈥� Garofalo said.
But while Garofalo claimed DiGiovanni isn鈥檛 suited for town clerk, he said if elected, DiGiovanni would also be a part of the voting process in Derby.
DiGiovanni was at the Stop the Steal rally in 2021, before he and others marched to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, would oversee absentee ballots if elected.
DiGiovanni has since distanced himself from false claims that the 2020 Presidential Election was stolen. Garofalo said he鈥檚 concerned.
鈥淚t is the height of hypocrisy and laughable that somebody who participated in that and pled guilty and spent time in jail now wants to be the person who is going to oversee the elections locally; that is a very scary notion,鈥� he said.
But Proto dismissed attention on the clerk race and said people should focus more on who can improve the city鈥檚 economy.
鈥淭he more important race in Derby is that of mayor, who's going to have a tremendous impact on the future development and growth of the city of Derby, as opposed to the town clerk,鈥� Proto said.
DiGiovanni, along with other 黑料吃瓜网 residents at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, have since been pardoned, according to previous reporting from 黑料吃瓜网.
