Perez Wants Every Half-Cent for Undocumented Vacation and Sick Time.

Convicted former Hartford mayor Eddie Perez says he’s owed $131,590.32 in unused sick and vacation time from the city of Hartford.  The former gang member and Trinity College factotum resigned his office after a jury convicted him of corruption last June. Perez is free on bond as he appeals his conviction on five counts.

Perez, who is represented by counsel, says he’s owed $66.865 (yes, a half-cent) for 1,200 hours of vacation time and 768 hours of sick time.  He made the claim in a December 22, 2010 letter to the city. Perez won three terms as mayor but appears not to have kept very good records of his time in office.  City officials are looking for proof of the hours he worked and what vacation and sick time he used while in office. Perez, who claimed dyslexia caused him to misunderstand his corrupt acts, was often in court during the pendency of charges against him.  Was he using vacation or sick time?

The one-time bully brought low won’t see one red half-cent until he can compile some proof.  Maybe it’s in the name of phantom Willie Nunez, the name Perez used for secret correspondence in the city email system.