WESTPORT, Conn – The Democratic National Committee has informed a Connecticut town it will not be reimbursed for the thousands of dollars the city spent on costs for President Obama's fundraising visit earlier this month.
Gordon Joseloff, the first selectman of Westport, says he was informed this week the town's request to have the DNC and Obama for America cover the $14,812 the city paid in police and fire overtime was denied.
The president traveled to Sherwood Island State Park on Aug. 6 to attend a fundraiser in Stamford and a $35,800 per person dinner at the Westport home of movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
The New Register reports that an executive of the Democratic National Committee wrote that as a private organization it did not participate in security, traffic control, fire or emergency planning. She referred questions to the Secret Service.
Joseloff tells CBS New York he knew not to expect reimbursement for security costs during a private presidential visit, but pointed out the president raised $2 million for his re-election campaign during the trip.
“I think if somebody really wanted to do a good deed for the president, they could make a donation to cover the cost, get a tax deduction,” Joseloff said according to CBS New York. “We’ll be happy and hopefully they’ll be happy.”
Joseloff added the president also had the opportunity to soften any hard feelings in the town about the visit's costs by holding a public event, such as visiting the town's 9/11 memorial. He noted that though the memorial was just yards from where the president's helicopter landed, Obama did not visit it.
Click for more from CBS New York.
Click for more from The New Register.
The Associated Press contributed to the report.
