If State Rep. Christina Ayala’s to win a second two-year term she’ll have to wage a primary against Chris Rosario, the city’s director of Anti-Blight and Illegal Dumping, who has formed a candidate committee (see here) raising money to qualify for the state’s Citizens Election Program of publicly funded campaigns. Ayala has only recently formed a committee to seek reelection. But she says she’s committed to an August primary.
Christina, in a text response to OIB, writes “Rumors of different potential primary candidates but I have anticipated the possibility since I was first elected … Never a dull moment in Bridgeport: especially my dear East Side! I am back on my committee and ready.”
Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey recently returned Ayala to her committee assignments, satisfied, for now at least, there’s no imminent fallout from a state investigation looking into alleged Ayala campaign irregularities referred by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to state criminal investigators.
Ayala has been a lightning rod of controversy since her election in 2012 that include a hit and run, domestic confrontation and accusations of violating state election laws.
Connecticut’s 128th Assembly District is the heart of Latino politics covering the East Side and Hollow neighborhoods. Christina’s cousin State Senator Andres Ayala had represented the district previously. But Rosario’s entry into the contest poses a major challenge for Christina. Rosario recently won a seat on the Democratic Town Committee from the East Side 136th District in which his political supporters won all nine contests. Committee members from the 136th and 137th District control the endorsement that will take place next month. Rosario has the votes. So that means Christina must wage an August primary.
Christina has been well schooled in primaries by her parents, Sandi Ayala, Democratic Registrar of Voters and Tito Ayala, a former city councilman and ex district leader from the East Side.
Rosario, who’s well-liked in city political and government circles, will have the support of Mayor Bill Finch and his political operatives. So get ready for East Side primary fever.
Rosario is a nice, apparently bright guy and surprisingly (we think) untouched by the scorched earth routine of the regular Finch operations. He would certainly be a cut above the drama of the incumbent. Still, if the Finch administration doesn’t stop putting their feet on everybody’s neck, Rosario will lose just to spite them. Not to mention, it’s hard to count this branch of the Ayala family out. Married, divorced, mad, not, whatever; they come together when it counts and for Tito and Sandy–this one counts.
OH, NO! Another committee to watch. 😉
Chris Rosario is Andres Ayala’s protege, it would be hard for him to endorse either candidate.
If this guy is honest, then vote for him!!! One less criminal in Hartford would be a good thing.
Agreed! Bridgeport deserves to have more dignified representatives who are cut from the same cloth as Auden Grogins.
Is this guy honest? Is he another party yes man? Is he working for the City and now working for the State should he get elected and thus have the same conflict of interest? Will he support PA 5724? What are his qualifications? Is the Blight/Neighborhood Revitalization Office he heads just part of a Gestapo who penalizes those who disagree with this Administration? You know the answers to these questions! Find a decent Hispanic candidate who is qualified with no conflicts of interest who is NOT part of the same Democratic Town Committee corrupt organization! HOW PATHETIC!
Good guy on an individual level, but there is nothing substantial. He replaced Tom Coble and he was placed there strategically. He used to be a liaison for the city council. Usually it is only people who are not very independently minded who climb up the ladder. I guess maybe he is independently minded within the parameters of the system, whatever that means. More of the same, nothing new. I don’t think he even wants to run, but feels the pressure.
It is part of a double strategy. One is to be able to keep a good-paying vulnerable position with the City in the event the tent comes caving in. It’s easier for an incoming mayor to keep an elected member of the legislature employed with the city. Second is to form a stronger base for Andres Ayala to run for mayor, Ezequiel to try moving to the Senate filling Andres’ seat and Rosario keeps his post. BptPorter is right, Rosario is a good guy on an individual level. Problem is he is surrounded with some sad examples of leaders. I can imagine who is running his campaign. I bet they are all still “Juntos for Bridgeport.”
seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/Data/Attachment/Unassigned/SEEC3_079056_1.pdf
seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/SearchingDoc.aspx
And we need people who are independent-minded to represent us in Hartford.
Chris Rosario may have the committee votes over Rep. Christina Ayala. That’s a step up, of course, if so.
Who has the primary votes? I suspect in that Assembly district there are more likely Democratic voters in the 137th side of things than the 136th.
Anyone have an insight?
What are the chances Christina actually makes it all they way to election day without getting drunk and causing havoc somewhere?
Things for Bridgeport voters to consider when deciding to vote for Rosario vs. Ayala. Does Rosario have a curriculum vitae that includes assault, drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident, lying about where he lives and having his Mom back that up, delinquent taxes? If not, then there should be no question in any voter’s mind as to whom they should elect. I wish this young man success.
Chris is a nice guy BUT a puppet for Finch and the gang. If it were not for the woodpecker and mac-zipper he would have been the office water boy forever.