Superior Court Judge William Clark has set Oct. 12 as the start of mayoral candidate John Gomes’s challenge of the Democratic primary won by Mayor Joe Ganim by 251 votes.
Evidence and testimony will segue into the following week essentially three weeks from the Nov. 7 general election. Absentee ballots for the general become available Oct. 6.
A blizzard of absentee ballots deposited into four designated drop boxes is the centerpiece of the court action. Gomes won the walk-in vote, absentees propelled Ganim.
Video surveillance of the drop boxes is now in the hands of the legal parties for review with several political operatives from both campaign camps under suspicion for mishandling absentee ballot deposits, according to sources reviewing the tapes.
From a legal perspective this could play into the narrative advanced by Gomes lawyer William Bloss questioning the veracity of the 251 votes. There’s too much stuff questioning the outcome.
But public relations will add a new twist tainting the Gomes camp for the very thing it is accusing Ganim campaign operatives. So it could be a pox on all your houses, triggering law enforcement probes of both campaigns.
Yes, this is going to be quite messy, both campaigns caught in a quagmire.
The handling of absentee ballots, per state law, is limited to close family members, caretakers and police officers.
Whose hands will be cleanest?
The candidate likely to benefit most from this is Lamond Daniels who has petitioned onto the general election ballot. Ganim will appear on the Democratic and New Movement Party lines with Gomes representing the Bridgeport Independent Party.
Daniels can craft a narrative that drives a wedge into the ensnared campaign camps.
Stay tuned.
Lennie, you mean: Stay tuned for more
Colgate ads?