East Lyme Republicans censure registrar accused of using racial slur

EAST LYME - Town Republicans voted Monday to censure Mary Smith, the Republican Registrar of Voters and a member of the town committee, after the town's Democratic registrar accused her of shouting a racial slur during a workplace argument.

The East Lyme Republican Town Committee announced in a Tuesday evening statement on Facebook that it had voted unanimously to censure Mary Smith amid reports that she had shouted the n-word while arguing with Democratic Registrar of Voters Wendi Sims over the cleanliness of their shared office. Both Sims and Smith are white.

The brief statement said the censure was for "language used during a workplace argument" on Aug. 9.

Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning.

Smith's name will appear on the November ballot for reelection. But, in its statement, the East Lyme Republican Town Committee said it does not have the authority to fire an elected official or to remove the person's name from a ballot after she has already obtained ballot access.

East Lyme RTC Chairman Don MacKenzie declined to comment beyond the RTC's statement Tuesday evening.

First Selectman Dan Cunningham said Tuesday the town "took appropriate actions given the circumstances" in response to the report made against Smith, but declined to elaborate on a personnel issue.

Registrars receive paychecks from their respective towns, but as elected officials ultimately report to the Secretary of the State's office.

A spokesman for the Secretary of the State said the office was aware of the allegations against Smith.

"We're reviewing the information brought to our attention and will determine whether it presents any matter within our statutory authority," Secretary of the State's Office spokesperson Matthew Clyburn said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

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This article originally published at East Lyme Republicans censure registrar accused of using racial slur.