Committee confirms Sonia Wawel Asari for State Elections Enforcement Commission

Sonia Wawel Asari of Windsor was approved Feb. 6, 2025, by the Connecticut Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee to serve on the State Elections Enforcement Commission after a public hearing in which Asari described her legal and compliance background and addressed questions about staffing, enforcement and new technology risks.

The nomination matters because the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEK) investigates election complaints, oversees campaign finance compliance and helps determine whether matters should be forwarded to criminal authorities. Committee members pressed Asari about staffing shortages at SEEK, the search for a permanent executive director and how the commission should address new challenges such as deceptive synthetic media and AI-driven misinformation.

Asari, an attorney who said she currently serves as chief compliance officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island and previously held legal and leadership roles for state agencies, told the committee she has attended SEEK meetings since last year. "I am an attorney by trade, a compliance officer, adjunct professor," she said during her opening remarks, and summarized her experience in investigations, audits and policy drafting. She described working with diversity, equity and inclusion offices and leading compliance teams in the private and nonprofit sectors.

Committee members asked how Asari views SEEK's role. "Their role, and purpose is primarily around enforcement," she said, adding that enforcement decisions can have policy effects and set precedents. She and members discussed SEEK's staffing constraints; Asari said recruitment for an executive director is underway and described plans to work with the state Department of Administrative Services on a job description and a search committee. "One of the things that have been challenging is staff challenges because you need to look for a new executive director," she told the panel.

Members also questioned Asari about campaign finance enforcement, audits and timely processing of public financing applications. She said SEEK has "a really good, robust process" for auditing campaign funds but acknowledged members' concerns about long investigation and audit timelines. Asari said the commission can and should welcome input from legislators and campaign stakeholders and that she would support efforts to streamline investigative procedures where feasible.

Several members raised emerging technology risks for campaigns. Asari pointed to a recent bill addressing deceptive synthetic media and said enforcement will be difficult but necessary: "I most certainly have concerns around how laws are being drafted and resources required to enforce it." She said SEEK works collaboratively with the Secretary of State's office and with law enforcement on investigations that may have criminal implications, such as those mentioned in Bridgeport and Torrington.

The committee moved to approve the nomination; Representative Bob Godfrey made the motion and Representative Sanchez seconded. The committee recorded the nomination as approved.

Asari told the committee she would press for adequate staffing and an executive director able to improve timeliness and outreach to campaign treasurers and applicants for the Citizens' Election Program. She repeatedly framed SEEK's primary role as enforcement while acknowledging the policy implications of enforcement decisions and the need to clarify regulations where precedent is unclear.

The committee left the record open for any further votes required later in the day; the committee reported the nomination as confirmed following the roll-call procedure.