Reports published on social media this week highlight troubling and undisclosed behavior by Brunswick City Council Candidate Joseph P. Delsanter.
A police report describing an incident of domestic violence allegedly committed by Delsanter against his then 16 year old daughter has surfaced on social media. Police responded to Delsanter’s residence after being called by his daughter.
The report claims that, according to Shannon Delsanter, her father Joseph Delsanter punched her in the face with a “closed hand” and attempted to spank her following a short argument before she went to high school. Delsanter does not dispute that he assaulted his daughter in the report, but justified his actions by saying his daughter had been “disrespectful”. Details of the incident can be viewed below.
Delsanter avoided criminal charges for the incident as his daughter asked that it not be pursued further by police. While the police report describing the incident is supposed to be public record, it is not available on the Brunswick Police Department records request page, but is available by through a formal public records request.
Another allegation made online against Delsanter provided evidence in a report that that the Delsanters violated Brunswick city zoning laws, building a structure in a Brunswick Park. According to a city official in the Mayor’s office, the issue likely will be investigated as a violation of city zoning laws. Why this issue was not investigated previously was not answered. The allegations are puzzling given Delsanter’s knowledge of existing zoning laws and park boundaries as a former city councilman.
The allegations are notable given that Delsanter has repeatedly faced criticism for running a strictly negative campaign against his opponents, broadcasting a range of lesser allegations against several incumbent candidates on Brunswick City Council in his campaign advertisements. With all the negativity being broadcast to Brunswick citizens, there should at least be uniformity in candidates owning up to and repenting for their past mistakes, and that includes Mr. Delsanter.
-Proud Brunswick Citizen
