News + Press

A new report from CT Mirror revealed Erin Stewart, in her final days as Mayor of New Britain, sought to award herself a pension with absolutely no basis in the city charter. 

The charter explicitly reserves pensions for officials who serve for over 20 years. Stewart knew , but still chose to use the power of her office to put taxpayer dollars in her own pocket with a self-calculated, unprecedented “deferred partial retirement pension” despite having served New Britain for only 14 years. 

When asked for a rationale, she said: “Why wouldn’t I?” 

“Why wouldn’t I make the ask? I didn’t ask for the full thing. I didn’t ask for the full 20-year benefit,” Stewart said. “No, I don’t think this is bad optics at all. I think I would be foolish not to ask. I think that after so many years of service to not make the ask, I would be doing myself a disservice.” When asked why she set a retirement age of 55 in the estimate she wrote, she did not know.

Stewart snuck this request in, with just 11 days left in her term, to the city’s acting finance director - appointed by Stewart. Despite the city charter’s clear rule, her request was approved.

Stewart herself also promised a pension, again with no legal basis, to the same tax collector whose egregious misconduct is at the center of city and state investigations. Despite not meeting the 20-year requirement, Blogoslawski sought pension payments after her firing, with the agreement Stewart signed as her justification. 

According to investigators, witnesses, including Stewart’s own former chief of staff, claimed that Stewart was aware of Blogoslawski’s activities. Evidence also indicates some illegal tax dating was done “at her direction.” Stewart re-appointed Blogoslawski to her post in 2023. Connecticut State Police are now investigating the matter.

According to CT Mirror, both the Stewart and Blogoslawski pension matters have been referred to law enforcement. 

Statement from CT Dems spokesperson, Ian Clarke:

“I’m not sure what’s more egregious: blatantly ignoring the law and asking taxpayers to pay you a legally fictitious pension, or thinking ‘Why wouldn’t I?’ is an appropriate justification for that behavior. She knew the law, she didn’t care, she did it anyway. That’s unfortunately standard operating procedure for Erin Stewart.”