NEWINGTON - Newly-elected Democratic Registrar of Voters Terry Borjeson has announced his resignation -- amid backlash over his outburst at a recent public meeting.

       The incident occurred on February 7, during an energy cost forum hosted by area lawmakers at the Newington Library. Borjeson, a former town councilor and Democratic Majority Leader, interrupted the panel speakers twice during the meeting -- though it was at first unclear why, as his statements were for the most part incoherent.

       A Newington police officer working security at the event walked Borjeson out of the venue without further incident.

       In a February 13 apology letter, Borjeson attributed his behavior to a combination of long haul COVID-induced “brain fog” and alcohol consumption.

       We cover the matter in the February 16 edition of The Rare Reminder, which went to print before we received the update regarding Borjeson’s decision to resign -- this is the most up to date version of the story.

       “My behavior was totally inappropriate, and I can assure you it will never happen again,” Borjeson wrote. “As a way of explanation, not as an excuse, I have been going through an illness related to COVID exposure two years in a row. It has created a condition identified commonly as "brain fog". It can impact both memory and behavior, particularly when alcohol is being consumed.”

      

       Borjeson told us in the days after that the “impact” was such that he barely remembered the way he behaved that evening -- and that watching Facebook Live video of the event, which captured the disruption, made him “cringe”.

      

       “I am now in treatment, including medication, to correct these symptoms,” Borjeson wrote in his letter. “I'm feeling better already and hope to be back to the old Terry very soon.”

      

       But the Newington Democratic Town Committee (NDTC) had concerns -- they met this past Saturday, reportedly coming to the consensus that Borjeson should be asked to resign.

      

       Their formal vote left that part up to NDTC Chair John Kelly, who expressed intentions to ask the Secretary of State’s Office to launch a State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) investigation -- a process that could result in removal by the State Attorney General.

      

       Town committees, by law, have no power to force an elected registrar out of office without state-level intervention.

      

       “The consensus was that we need to ask Mr. Borjeson to resign or begin the process of removing him from the position under Connecticut Statutes, because it doesn’t appear that he’s able to conduct the duties of the registrars of voters office,” Kelly said over the phone. “I have an obligation to ensure the job of Democratic Registrar of Voters gets done properly. And when I don’t think it can be, I have an obligation to report it to my town committee and take appropriate action, and that’s what we’re doing.”

       Borjeson said this past Monday that he believes he can bounce back -- and that he’s already taken steps to reduce his alcohol consumption.

      

       “This was a wakeup call for me,” he says. “If anything like that happens again, I will walk away myself.”

       But in a February 14 follow up letter, Borjeson changes course -- citing ongoing “health problems” as the reason for his resignation.

       “My goal in having run for Registrar of Voters this cycle was to ensure that voter rights and privileges are protected here in town, especially after efforts were made to reduce the number of voting stations in Newington,” Borjeson writes. “Unfortunately, my health problems make it impossible to continue. For the good of the Town, I am submitting my resignation effective Thursday, February 16, at end of the workday.”

       “It’s an unfortunate situation, but it is the right result for all of those involved,” Kelly said on Tuesday.

       Per state statute, the office’s Deputy Democratic registrar will automatically take Borjeson’s place.

       “I appreciate the support I received from the voters in November and am sorry to have to step aside for health reasons,” Borjeson wrote. “I hope to rebuild your trust in me in the future.”

       The incident has inflamed political tensions left in the wake of a contentious election for the Democratic Registrar position -- one that saw Borjeson oust longtime Democratic elections officer Marie Fox, whose recent passing left the community reeling.

       The NDTC made Borjeson their nominee for the position this past May -- he would go on to edge Fox, who entered the race as a petitioning candidate.

       After the nomination, Kelly attributed the party's choice to a Council-rejected Registrar's Office proposal to reduce the number of local polling places from 7 to 3 after legislative redistricting -- the plan drew pushback from residents concerned that it would deter voter turnout.

       During the fall race, Marie stated that the proposal, which was walked back in favor of a revised 7-location scheme, was put before the public to affirm her own concerns about it.

       Her husband, Michael Fox, a former NDTC member and longtime Democratic volunteer, says Borjeson was chosen in a rush to replace the 32-year veteran.

       “They just didn’t want Marie to have it,” Michael Fox said. “He threw caution to the wind, and it got thrown right back in his face.”

       While Michael claims Borjeson’s health issues were known, Kelly characterizes it differently.

       “These were not issues in May. They are now,” Kelly said. “We interviewed him. He was perfectly fine in those interviews. One could have second thoughts if there were a lot of other choices and we knew, then, some of the things we now know. Things change. People’s health and abilities change. This issue of capability is a shock to us, quite frankly.”

       Borjeson, who says he had COVID twice between 2021 and Fall 2022, told us that the brain fog issues weren’t apparent to him when he first sought the nomination -- and that alcohol proved to be the catalyst to his February 7 conduct.

       NDTC member Steve Woods, a former Newington mayor who served on the Council with Borjeson, said that the February 11 town committee meeting was difficult for him -- and that his main concern is ensuring that Borjeson looks out for his own health.

       Woods said he believes Borjeson’s been struggling for “a good deal of time” -- but that he had been, up until recently, able to remain in control.

       “This isn’t punitive,” Woods said. “Every member of the committee just wants what’s best for him. He’s a good man. He’s served the town well.”