Former Mayor Bill Finch, seeking to regain a state senate seat, is poised to receive an approximate $110,000 grant from Connecticut’s Citizens Election Program of publicly funded races in the tri-community Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe district.
Under the voluntary clean-money program, supervised by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, state senate candidates must raise $17,300 from at least 300 individuals residing in municipalities in their districts to qualify for a grant. The maximum personal contribution is $320. No contributions from state contractors or PACs. The full general election grant is $124,000.
Finch statement:
“I am thankful to every contributor who donated to my campaign for State Senate and proud to participate in Connecticut’s clean election program, which I supported and voted into law in 2005. Connecticut’s public financing program has been touted as a national model by Common Cause.
I’ve led the charge on many progressive issues, not just public financing, long before they were mainstream. I fought for tougher gun safety laws to keep our communities safe. I worked to expand LGBTQ+ rights and strengthen hate crime laws. Built more new schools than any other Mayor in Bridgeport’s history and brought new businesses and new life to downtown and Steelpointe.
We also made Bridgeport a nationally recognized climate leader and got tens of millions of dollars to protect homes and businesses from flooding. If Democrats stand together, we can make a difference for people in Trumbull, Bridgeport, and Monroe. Because I’ve been there before, and I’ve seen it happen. I ask you for your vote in the Democratic Primary on August 13th.”
Finch will face off in an August 13 primary against college law professor Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, City Councilman Scott Burns and ex councilman Tyler Mack. The seat is open as a result of a retiring Marilyn Moore.
