$10 bucks and a fish dinner: State still eyeing Springfield’s ’23 election allegations
SPRINGFIELD — Investigators with the state Attorney General's Office continue to probe election fraud allegations from the 2023 mayoral race that pitted former City Councilor Justin Hurst against incumbent Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.
Sarno won handily, becoming the longest-serving mayor in the city's history.
Nearly two years later, a Massachusetts State Police trooper arrived at City Hall last week to obtain video footage outside the city Elections Office , showing Hurst and his campaign volunteers shuttling voters, primarily from a city homeless shelter, to the polls, according to City Solicitor Stephen J. Buoniconti.
The Republican independently reviewed the video footage , obtained through a public records request. The high-definition video shows a man identified as Gilfrey T. Gregory, handing out $10 bills to voters outside City Hall . A writer, paralegal and three-time felon, Gregory denied he was giving balloters cash in exchange for votes.
The $10 offer was coupled with the lure of a free fish dinner at a picnic hosted by Hurst's campaign.
Hurst in 2023 vehemently objected to the notion that he was paying the homeless to register to vote.
"We don't pay for votes," Hurst said at the time, and later held a press conference addressing "false accusations."
The city's top lawyer called for a criminal investigation, and Springfield turned over all the materials it had when the allegations were fresh, Buoniconti said.
"We are surprised their request for the video footage is coming at this time," Buoniconti said. "It's actually like they're back to square one more than a year later."
He also remarked on the quiet method through which the trooper requested the video footage.
"No warrant. No subpoena. No inquiry through the Law Department," Buoniconti said.
Hurst, who is running to reclaim his at-large council seat, declined to comment, referring questions to the Attorney General's Office.
Justin Hurst meets with supporters at The Cedars in November 2023, after losing to Domenic Sarno in the mayoral election in Springfield. (Sebastian Restrepo / Special to The Republican, File)Sebastian Restrepo / Special to The Republican
A spokesperson for state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell did not immediately return a request for comment.
City officials previously confirmed that a prosecutor and a Massachusetts state trooper visited City Hall May 28, quizzing Elections Office staff and requesting voter records related to the 2023 mayoral race.
Sarno's administration said it already had turned over all materials connected to the probe the state had asked for.
"We want to help to facilitate the investigation in any way we can," Buoniconti said.
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