In an editorial published in the Connecticut Post retired Superior Court Judge Carmen Lopez, a frequent critic of Mayor Bill Finch, charges local “Republicans holding public office have been reliable, loyal and dependable allies of the Finch machine.” See Lopez commentary here. Bridgeport Republican Town Chair John Slater fired off a response asserting Lopez “did not mention a single program or policy change which would benefit Bridgeport students.” Slater’s statement:
Throughout this campaign the Republican candidates for the Board of Education have continuously refused to join Democratic and Working Families Party (A different group of Democrats) Board members and candidates in the power games that have paralyzed Bridgeport’s school system over the last four years. Instead, we made it clear that Republicans will put kids first and focus on the students who have been victimized by the Board of Education’s political games.
It’s interesting that Ms. Lopez’s extensive commentary did not mention a single program or policy change which would benefit Bridgeport students. Instead, she engaged in baseless speculation about who the Republican candidates would support for Board of Education chairman if they were elected. In her fictional world, the mayor, who we have consistently criticized, would support Republican candidates in exchange for them voting for his candidate for board chair. The notion is laughable.
First, it assumes that the Democratic organization can deliver votes to any candidate, on any line, that they choose to support. You don’t need to look beyond the results of the last Democratic primary to know that’s not true.
Second, while we have consistently refused to engage in these power games, it’s clear that new leadership is required, leadership which doesn’t include those who played a principle role in the chaos of the last four years.
There are a couple of weeks left in this campaign and the future of Bridgeport’s schools is at stake. We should be focusing on the real issues which confront the city, the school system and the students, not speculating on which wing of the Democratic Party will be in power when the dust settles.
Republican Town Chair John Slater, let me ask you a question. Who has done more to challenge Mayor Finch and won in their fight against the mayor, your Republican Party or the Working Families Party? The Bridgeport Republican Party has NO power and has nothing to hurt Mayor Finch from running wild over the voters. So now in this upcoming election if you are Mayor Finch who are you scared of and who can challenge his power or who does the mayor support to help him? Thank you Judge Carmen Lopez.
Ron–Saying up just because Finch says down is not the way to make a better school system. That is just being contrary. The object is not to fight against the mayor. The idea is to educate the kids. If Finch supports something that is a good idea why shouldn’t someone support it? That is the downfall of the WFP. They are too concerned with fighting Finch to concentrate on educating kids.
BOE SPY, so let me see if I have this right, taking the voters of Bridgeport’s rights away from voting for whom the voters feel are the best candidates to run the BOE is the best way to run a school system with a dictator telling the voters they don’t know what they are doing, C’MON MAN.
Many cities have an appointed BOE. Looking at the people who got elected, and have been elected in the past and how many people in BPT actually vote, I would have to say taking the voters of Bridgeport’s rights away is the best thing and wouldn’t really affect that many people. Only 10-15% bother to vote anyway. You would vote for the BOE by voting for the mayor. The BOE members would become a campaign plank. You don’t vote for chief of police, fire chief or chief of staff. Aren’t these responsible voters who know what they are doing that you speak of, the same people who gave us Finch (three times)? C’MON MAN.
A lot of people didn’t vote for the Mayor and the elected board insures there are checks and balances. This matter was already decided by the voters during a Presidential election year so this was hardly something decided by a small minority.
I was hoping this point wouldn’t come up for another few days. But the good judge knows the system. Carmen grew up in it. Right about now is about the best time to begin to wind things up.
So let’s be the devil:
It is very easy to see an election where the Democratic vote splits between Republican Party candidates and Working Families Party candidates. I don’t know where this leaves the Democratic Party candidates.
Any bets?
.
Don’t underestimate the prediction of Judge Lopez. John Slater, I hope you change the course of action that seated Republicans have taken in the past. Change depends on that!
Although I find Judge Lopez to be an intelligent, well-spoken woman, I find myself trying to understand why the commentary by Judge Lopez is grounded in politics when she is such a staunch advocate for removing the politics from the BOE. Fight politics with politics? Does that actually work?
Saying the GOP is a subsidiary of Finch’s operation is ridiculous on its face. I have great respect for Judge Lopez but her comment on the above matter was both inaccurate and inappropriate.
Dave Walker, what are the “inaccuracies” of Judge Lopez’ comment and what was inappropriate of her expressing that thought?
She says “Republicans holding public office have been reliable, loyal and dependable allies of the Finch machine.” Other than the Republican registrar of voters, what Republicans hold office in BPT? If the answer is none, then the entire statement is inaccurate on it’s face. Since she offers no examples to back up her statement and since there are no Republicans hence no conspirators this is just a slanderous, unsubstantiated accusation. As an ex-judge she should know this. That would make the comment inappropriate.
BOE SPY, BINGO!!! Tell you what BOE SPY, ask the Republican registrar of voters and the Deputy registrar if they have ever had that conversation about Democrats and Republicans supporting each other against the WFP, in fact it was OIB or the Post who wrote about this before.
OK, was it OIB or the Post that uncovered this plot? Or was it a Clozaril cowboy OIB poster? Anyway, your conspiracy consists of the Republican registrar of voters. This would be the same guy who has never uncovered voter fraud in BPT? Maybe the Republicans also conspired with the Democrats to let the Democrats elect whoever they wanted. Maybe the Republican registrar of voters is not as much of a Republican as his title would suggest.
I can see why the Democrats would not want WFP to win but why would the Republicans care? It would make more sense to me for the Republicans to support the WFP because enemies of my enemy are my friends. The WFP is good for the Republicans. The WFP splits the Democrat votes and WFP victories erode the lock the DTC has on Bridgeport. Every vote for the WFP is half a vote for the Republicans.
Judge Lopez mentioned the BOE, specifically Thomas Cunningham, Republican registrar of voters. The land use boards and the charter revision commission, even though these offices are not elected, they are still public offices! None of the Republicans running for BOE have said they won’t vote for Moales! Wonder why!
Did anyone running for BOE say they would not vote for Moales? Saying you would dismiss Moales would turn all of Moales’ supporters against you. Remember, Moales has a big church in town. Using his pulpit as a political pulpit would revoke his tax exempt status but he still has influence over his flock.
Really Mr. Walker … then why is the GOP supporting Finch’s education policy, in fact why are YOU supporting Finch’s education policy? Who are you to say what is appropriate? Judge Lopez’s comments are a quite accurate description of the relationship between the leadership of the local GOP and Finch.
Dave,
I have no idea who you are and what you believe. I also know you do not know me and what I believe, including in connection with education policy.
Really Mr Walker? You support keeping Vallas in office … that is a key point of Finch’s education policy. And your comment you are not a politician is ludicrous when you were Comptroller General, something you love to brag about, and have held other appointed positions. You are part of the revolving door between govt and business. For you to say you are not a politician is ludicrous. You just have not run for office.
David,
I suggest you buy a dictionary or use related online tools more. You obviously don’t know the definition of some of the words you use, including the word “politician.” The CGOTUS job is a professional and CEO position that is made through an extensive appointment process that involves the Presidemt and top Congressional leaders from both major parties. The persons involved on the appointment process are politicians but the CGOTUS is not. To date, I have never run for elected public office and have been a political independent since 1997. I suggest you spend more time on Arizona issues since that is where you live and you are not eligible to vote in Bridgeport at the present time.
Please remind all of us of your credentials, accomplishments and residency so we can give your “fluid logic” views proper consideration. Reading your comments are a waste of time. Adios in Arizona!
Once again Dave Walker, what are the “inaccuracies” of Judge Lopez’ comment and what was inappropriate of her expressing that thought?
Dave Walker, your comment shows how little you know about Bridgeport politics.
Ron,
I’m a professional and not a politician. I care about progress not politics and results rather than rhetoric.
Really Walker … is that why you headed a so-called think tank that comments on public policy? The old line about “if it quacks like a duck” applies to your comments about not being a politician.
Now it seems ironic Judge Lopez used the words “whisper campaign” in her commentary. After the closing comments in last night’s BOE forum, one candidate’s in particular, there most definitely is another “whisper campaign” afoot.
Ron,
My major point was there is no way the GOP is a supporter of Mayor Finch nor is it in any way controlled by Mayor Finch. The two GOP candidates for BOE CW4BB endorsed as part of our fiv- person BOE list are independent-minded people who want to focus on the kids and progress rather than personalities and politics. I know because I personally interviewed them.
Dave Walker, I agree with you when you said, “there is no way the GOP is a supporter of Mayor Finch nor is it in any way controlled by Mayor Finch.” My point is Mayor does not want any Working Families Party members elected to the BOE, so how does he accomplish this? To have Democratic voters to vote for Republicans because by law there must be members from the minority party elected. The Democratic Party try to do this at the last election for BOE.
Ron–Correct me if I am wrong but the DTC and Finch do not have anybody in the election for BOE. They lost all the seats on the Democratic line in the primary. WFP has one of the Democratic seats and they fielded two candidates of their own. I do not know who backed the other two who won the Democratic seats but if it was the WFP, of the eight people running, five are WFP or WFP friendly.
BOE SPY, the law requires the minority party has to hold seats so the fight for that slot is either the Republican Party or the WFP, so the mayor NEEDS the Republicans to win those minority party seats, he does not want any more WFP members.
That law is moot. The WFP, the Democrat version of the Tea Party, holds one seat. As long as some minority party holds one seat, that law is in compliance.
BOE, the WF Party is not some left-wing “tea party.” They advocate for those who don’t have any voice. They advocated for mandatory sick leave, something that is not just a labor rights issue but a public health issue as it applies to food workers. The tea party is just about bringing the US back to the 17th century.
Is that what the WFP is about? That must be why they are trying so hard to get on the BOE. The nutrition center does not give their part-time cafe aids sick leave but the WFP has not brought that up. Or it is the poor, voiceless teachers union that needs an advocate? It cannot be about the kids. What ideas have the WFP proposed to improve education?
Sick leave isn’t really a labor right. It was offered to employees as part of a compensation package. It was first argued for by unions and then adopted for management.
You listed Dave Walker as one of Finch’s education policy supporters. The policy seems to have bipartisan support. Big Republican power brokers like the BPT Republican registrar of voters and DW along with Dems like Dan Malloy and Obama. (Obama has not endorsed reforms like Finch’s but he has not come out against them.)
http://dianeravitch.net/2013/05/02/the-mess-that-is-obamas-education-policy/
The Tea Party seems to fight for the middle class (the largest group in the US that do not have one single lobbyist) by shrinking government to reduce taxes. I wouldn’t mind if the government spent its (my) money more responsibly.
Ron, the GOP is working hand in foot with Finch on education policy as are Walker and many of his political allies. They all support keeping Vallas on and they have all supported many of his privatization initiatives such as charter schools and Vallas’ attempts to get around mandatory credentials by hiring teachers from Teach for America.
Hiring Teachers for America was a BOE policy long before Vallas came to BPT. BPT also has had many private schools before Vallas came. The difference would be the current private schools in BPT are elitist that only the wealthy can afford and the ones Vallas proposes would be open to all. The WFP opposes a two-tiered educational system but the rich will always have the best schools. This will just level the playing field for the poor who can handle the curricula. We already have elite magnet schools or would the WFP do away with those as well?
Ron,
You may be correct about Finch and some Democrats’ preferences but that doesn’t mean the GOP candidates support Finch or are controlled by him or anyone else. That was the absurd leap of logic. Bridgeport voters should vote for the three BOE candidates they think will conduct themselves in a professional and independent manner and who will focus on what is right for the kids and not some other person or political party. That’s what I will do on November 5th.
David Walker, I see you have a problem reading and understanding what I said. It’s absurd how you try to put your spin on my comment but I’m man enough to stand by what I said.
Ron,
I have no idea what you are referring to. My last post was for David Moore AKA BlackRockGuy who is in Arizona. I understood your comments and responded as I deemed appropriate. I’ve got to go now. I have meetings in DC.
*** It’s time to let the Supreme Court make the final decision on Vallas one way or another. If they say “No Go” then it’s “bye bye” but if they say “You Can Stay,” then it’s time to work towards a happy medium for all! *** ONE NEVER KNOWS, DO ONE? ***
*** Democrats have been running the city of Bpt for years, not Republicans. So Democrats should be first in line to take credit for all the “bad as well as the good.” After that it’s registered voters who continue to vote Dem and voters who’d rather sit home than go out and vote who are also to blame! And now you can blame the Republicans for not doing more in working like a team instead of bickering individuals and getting the word out to voters for better support. Yeah there’s plenty of blame to go around for everybody who votes or doesn’t vote in the Park City these days, no? *** VOTE CHANGE, VOTE ANTI-INCUMBENTS! ***