McMahon, Shays Release List of Convention Delegates They Have Financial Relationships With

Two days before the state Republican convention, U.S. Senate candidates Linda McMahon and Chris Shays released a list of delegates with paid ties to their campaigns.

In a post on her campaign website, McMahon says she has financial relationships with eight delegates. Three of them are campaign staff: Stefanie Tinti of Newington, Alex Levin of Middletown and Justin Clark of West Hartford, who managed Tom Foley’s gubernatorial bid in 2010.

The remaining five — Jeff Santopietro of Waterbury, former state Senator Lou DeLuca of Woodbury, Michael Iezzi and Amy Iezzi of Hamden and Michael McGarry of Hartford — are vendors who have sold goods or services to the campaign.

Shortly after McMahon posted the list, one of her rivals for the nomination, former congressman Christopher Shays, released a list of delegates who are being paid by his campaign.

Steve Basserman and state Rep. Penny Bacchiochi are listed as Shays campaign staffers and state Rep. Brenda Kupchick is listed as a former staffer. Margaret Derisio is listed as convention staff and Charlie Devan and Bryan Perry are vendors.

McMahon was criticized following the 2010 Republican convention for paying delegates.The controversy prompted some Republicans to push for a change in party rules that would require any delegates on a candidate’s payroll to wear a badge identifying that fact while they were on the convention floor. The effort to require the badge failed.

This year, when the allegation was levied again, McMahon’s campaign pledged to release a list of all those who are on her payroll.