Local Republicans asked the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission to investigate after senior Chris DelVecchio's endorsement of incumbent Democratic Mayor Tony Muro appeared in the Rampage, Rockville High School's student newspaper. The Republican's inquiry charged that a tax-funded school newspaper is not allowed to try to influence voters.
State law forbids candidate endorsement from public-funded materials.
In 1987, a California court ruled that a similar law did not apply to editorials in student publications as long as students made the content decisions. DelVecchio believes that students should be encouraged to participate in politics and allowed to express their opinions. We were trying to elevate our student paper by taking sides. We were emulating what a professional paper would do. The Commission has dropped the investigation since Republicans did not file a formal complaint after the Republican candidate, Joe Grabinski, won the election in November.