Court Decision Due Thursday In Challenge Of Democratic Primary

Superior Court Judge Barry Stevens is expected to issue a decision Thursday afternoon in the lawsuit challenging the results of the September 10 Democratic primary won by Mayor Joe Ganim over State Senator Marilyn Moore.

No matter how the judge rules it leaves no time for an expedited appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court with the Nov. 5 general election next week.

The case was brought by supporters of Moore who won the overall machine total but lost via absentee ballots, something the plaintiffs assert produced irregularities to alter the results. And that’s the issue the judge is weighing, per state statute: was a there a mistake in the count of the votes?

Plaintiffs want the judge to order a new primary for all Democratic candidates who appeared on the ballot, none of whom are party to the lawsuit.

Attorneys representing the city argued in their final court briefing that “Faced with a heavy burden and a significant vote margin, the plaintiffs simply did not offer proof, beyond the realm of speculation, of any such mistake.”

Stakeholders are awaiting the judge’s decision while candidates are spending heavily to churn out votes for election day.

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18 comments

  1. Well one thing we know is if the City doesn’t win that they will appeal the decision. Below is from the Connecticut Post.

    “The Connecticut Post endorses a write-in vote for state Sen. Marilyn Moore for mayor.”
    https://www.ctpost.com/opinion/article/Editorial-Marilyn-Moore-for-mayor-of-Bridgeport-14571664.php

    “No candidate is without flaws. Still, anyone with a chance to upend the city power structure, in this case the ossified Democratic Town Committee, deserves a chance. Moore has run a haphazard campaign, but she remains a better choice if only for her ability to shake up the political establishment in the city and bring some new life to a stagnant system that continues to look out for the interests of the few at the expense of the many.”

    I’m not a big fan of the Post but they sum it up better than anybody, she (Moore) remains a better choice if only for her ability to shake up the political establishment in the city and bring some new life to a stagnant system that continues to look out for the interests of the few at the expense of the many.” People on OIB have been crying for years about the power that Mario Testa and Joe Ganim have over the DTC, well this is the best chance to make that chance even with Moore haphazard campaign, you the voter can make this change,if not then it’s 4 more years of the same, 4 more years of Mario Testa and Joe Ganim.

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  2. Seems to me that if he rules in favor of Plaintiff there will be an appeal and if he rules in favor for defendant there will be an appeal – so why are we proceeding with an election when the court case is calling for a total do-over for all the offices. There is not enough time for an appeal or ruling by the CT Supreme Court to hold an election on tuesday

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    1. But if Ganim loses then they better put all of his powers as mayor on hold because we have seen enough to know it’d be a free for all on grabbing every last dime he could.

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    1. Troll, I have no idea what Judge Stevens will do, but in discussions with lawyers and judges familiar with him they say if he goes by the book he will dismiss the complaint, if he prefers an overreach he’ll side with plaintiffs.

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