16 September—Today is Pythagorean Triple Day, a once-in-a-century event that’s worth noting if not celebrating. Remember the Pythagorean theorem—a²+b²=c², the formula for a right triangle? Sure you do. Well, today’s date can be expressed as 9/16/25, or 9+16=25, the three numbers being the squares of 3/4/5. And the square roots are consecutive numbers. Is that special or what?

Today also may be celebrated as the 527^th anniversary of brutal Spanish grand inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada’s death.

Now down to business. The following letter was received from Litchfield’s retired long-term first selectman Leo Paul, responding to charges made at a campaign event last Wednesday by incumbent first selectman Denise Raap—who is hoping for a fourth term—and reported in Litchfield.bz on Saturday.

Leo Paul’s letter eloquently speaks for itself. But if readers want to refresh their memories, The Monitor first reported on “the Jespersen affair” in Shame on Denise Raap back in 2021.

You’ve got to wonder why Denise has resorted to mud slinging after three successful amicable issue-oriented campaigns—especially targeting her happily retired predecessor. On the other hand, if what Denise said at the campaign event about opponent Bill Zampaglione not attending meetings, as reported in Litchfield.bz, is true, it gives voters something to think about:

“I’m sure he’s nice guy, but he has never served on a town board or commission and in fact over the last couple of months, he hasn’t come to any of our (selectmen) meetings,” Raap said of Zampaglione, noting that when she ran for the first time in 2019 she made sure to educate herself on the issues by attending selectmen and Board of Finance meetings. “So, if you are committed to taking the top job in town and you don’t show up, I’m sorry, you don’t deserve the job.”

Has Bill Zampaglione really not attended any meetings?

So here’s Leo Paul’s letter:

I am compelled to write this letter to correct false and libelous accusations in the article “Denise on Public Works Scandal: Leo Knew.” Denise Raap must be desperate when she says “I don’t want to talk poorly” but then does just that by accusing me of something she knows is not true.

The truth is that if I had known anything about Richard Jespersen’s activities I would have fired him immediately, as I did when I discovered an employee at the recycling center was stealing cash. My record of sixteen years as First Selectman shows that when I had personnel issues facing Litchfield, I took action swiftly and fairly.

Denise claims that I was told about Jespersen’s thefts by two “good Republican friends.” Who are they? I am sure everyone in Litchfield would like to know. So would I. I don’t know because nobody told me and the two Republican friends don’t exist. Is Denise lying.

My name is not associated with Jespersen’s arrest warrant or the investigation. I was never contacted by the state police or John Pudlinski, who Denise hired for a private investigation, because there are no facts linking me to having any knowledge about Jespersen’s activities. According to Jespersen’s arrest warrant retired long term trusted Public Works employee Naomi Boccio reported her suspicions to Public Works Director Raz Alexe but was told by him to mind her own business. Neither of them told me a thing, according to the warrant, which doesn’t mention me at all.

When “the Jespersen affair” was revealed, Denise said she was the one who discovered it when going over purchase orders. But the warrant states that “she was notified that Jespersen was possibly stealing from the town.” Which is it? Both cannot be true.

One of Denise’s problems is that she cites rumors for her allegations. Another problem is that she ignores anything she doesn’t want to hear about from anyone she feels is unworthy of her attention, which doesn’t demonstrate leadership but does cause town employees and residents not to trust her. This is part of the “hostile workplace” town employees have complained about since Denise took over.

To repeat, Denise Raap must be desperate when she resorts to defaming someone who isn’t even running for the office she wants.

I told John McKenna I would prefer to take the high road to avoid inflaming the issue, but Denise’s outright lies have caused me to take a detour.

Sincerely,
Leo Paul Jr.