Last week David Walker, the former U.S. comptroller general, posted this on OIB:
Senator Musto’s poor judgment, lack of courage and failure to represent his constituents has me reconsidering whether I and others need to pursue (and win) elected office to change things from the inside versus the outside. Stay tuned. Musto will go if he does not turn around fast.
Walker’s comment was in response to Democratic State Senator Anthony Musto’s opposition to a government reform bill in the state legislature that would enforce Bridgeport’s City Charter prohibiting city employees from serving on the City Council. The bill is supported by numerous members of the Connecticut legislature. Supporters of the bill maintain Musto is caving to Democratic party insiders opposed to the bill.
Compelling in Walker’s statement, however, is the first public declaration he would consider running for public office “to change things from the inside versus the outside.” Walker has not specified what public office he would consider. He has been promoted by his admirers for several federal offices including U.S. Senate and president. He has refused candidacy saying he prefers to spend his time promoting institutional financial reforms in both federal and state government, particularly the state of Connecticut. Walker’s comment on OIB, however, now brings focus to a possible run.
Walker has built a high public profile, including a feature on the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes, imploring spending reform in Washington. He warned about a massive financial collapse well before it happened. In the past year now the Bridgeport resident, who purchased his Black Rock home from former Congressman Christopher Shays, has identified Bridgeport as something of a cause célèbre for fiscal reform, highlighting the city’s growing municipal pension obligations as unsustainable. The national fiscal figure has decided to play locally becoming a spokesman for the community action group Citizens Working 4 A Better Bridgeport that has flooded City Council meetings urging spending reforms and tax relief.
If Walker does decide to jump into the candidacy game, what would be a fit? He’s currently an unaffiliated voter. Walker’s fiscal messaging has been a means to transcend political parties. Next year is the cycle for governor. Democratic Governor Dan Malloy is expected to seek another four-year term in what is shaping up as a tough year given the state of the economy and Malloy’s promotion of one of the highest tax increases in state history to close an inherited multi-billion dollar budget deficit when he took office in early 2011. Among the Republicans in the conversation for a run for governor are 2010 nominee Tom Foley, State Senator John McKinney, State Rep. Larry Cafero and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton.
It could be difficult for Walker to get into the GOP nomination mix given the political relationships the others have built up through the years. Or would he roll the dice on a independent candidacy for governor?
But what if Walker decided to seek a legislative seat in 2014, specifically the State Senate seat occupied by Musto? The district covers all of Trumbull and portions of Bridgeport and Monroe. That would make for a fascinating political dynamic if Walker ran as a Republican. His message of financial reform would play in suburban Trumbull and Monroe, as well as some neighborhoods in Bridgeport. Taxpayers in Trumbull and Monroe feel the pain of more government spending and more taxes. Musto has been a regular supporter of tax increases during his roughly five years in the legislature. So Walker could create a natural contrast. Walker would not carry heavily Democratic Bridgeport, but winning in campaigns is relative. His reform message would play well in the higher taxed areas of the city such as Black Rock, Brooklawn and a portion of the North End. Historically, the road map for Republicans to carry that State Senate seat is winning Trumbull and Monroe and cherry-picking city neighborhoods supportive of a strong fiscal message.
Given Walker’s profile and a message that contrasts with Musto’s voting record, a Walker candidacy would be problematic for Musto.
What if Walker takes a pass on running in 2014? The following year Mayor Bill Finch is up for reelection. Would Walker make a mayoral challenge? Hmmm.
I wish him good luck. Mayor? Not a chance. Senate? Hmmm, I’d listen. On a side note, today is my birthday, May 27. I used to think the world was celebrating my day with parades. My friends surprised me with a kidnapping to the MGM Grand at FOXWOODS on Saturday, JAPANESE at the Shrine and a show. Dana Garvy, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon. Great night. The reason I am sharing? Kevin Nealon opened his set telling the audience he was from Bridgeport CT. Just thought I’d share. It was not flattering!
Just to be clear. David Walker would make a most impressive candidate for Mayor. I do not believe his credentials would resonate with the average voter. His name recognition is zero as well as his resume. Only those of us political addicts are aware of his past positions. PLUS and most important, with a shovel in the ground for Steelpointe, it will be tough to beat
Finch. No voter will want to take a chance in changing administrations. Will Mary-Jane Foster consider another run?
As usual, I complete disagree with der Schmekel. We need Walker as Mayor. Properly managed, he could win by mandate. How, you say? By getting the brain-dead registered voters of Zombieland to get off their couches and to the polls. It’s time. He’s the man.
Hand me down my voting boots, I’m marking my ballot Walker.
Which creates more of a zombieland? Another Bpt tax increase or Auerbach crying for attention on his birthday.
Good idea for Walker to be a Runner. Either Musto or Finch’s seat. But … let us not forget not to miss the boat on the Council elections coming up. We should run an entire slate of twenty people who are effective and who really care about Bridgeport and we should start now, NO?
Yes.
Lennie, a few things you did not consider. First, IF David Walker were elected to Musto’s senate position as a Republican he would be only one of 12 Republicans out of 36 state senators so he couldn’t change anything. Second, no way would the Democrats support him with their machine. He will need money and an organization.
Lennie, when you use the word “fit,” as in “what’s a fit,” you begin to raise concepts like a candidate’s talents, experience and temperament. So having executive experience may provide some broader understanding of public administration that would have gotten Finch through the snowjob this past winter more successfully. Instead he has created a new snow story for Bridgeport, and it will not be about the storm itself as much as it was about what failed to happen on his watch.
Regarding the upcoming Council elections in the fall, it may be an expectation of people who run for office who have read the Charter and have some equal facility with the Ordinances as well as the City fiscal documents.
I am encountering young people who are new to voting and the idea of Open, Accountable and Transparent institutional governance is understood in this population far better than with their elders. What does that mean for coming elections? Time will tell.
JML, maybe the council opposition candidates can carry a campaign battle cry–We Eat Our OATs: Open, Accountable, Transparent.
That is a sucky battle cry. You are wittier than that, bring it.
OATay, Spanky.
Here we go again with JML’s OATs nonsense. That doesn’t square with your support of Vallas and the Machine majority that controls the Bd of Ed. And running an accounting organization, even a govt one, is a lot different than running a govt. And just from reading Walker’s remarks here in the Post and news articles about him he does not work and play well with others … how many people work for him … three? And then there goes the question of his insufferable ego … Finch is pretty bad and needs to go … but the enemy of my enemy is my friend is not a recipe for good govt … and trading Finch for Walker may be trading one problem for more govt dysfunction.
The elderberry wine will get you every time.
Who are you to be declaring others do “not work and play well with others?” You have been throwing sand (and other noxious items) at everybody else in the sandbox for years. And then you go on about “insufferable ego,” which may be another personal projection since you share so little of who you really are, other than a critic.
I guess when anyone was building a sandcastle, you took delight in trampling and kicking it to nothing? Perhaps you had trouble with “reading classes” in school as well, or maybe it has to do with the ability to reason. You cannot figure how I can write positively about certain aspects of the Vallas team, because, you claim, that flies in the face of OATs? NOT.
What I continue to observe is Paul Vallas knows where transformation needs to occur in this sick district. So he drafted a five-year plan and figured out a way to fund it. He set down the fiscal plan. It is on the Public Schools web site. It gets updated every 60 days. It includes projections to the year end! Imagine that, and it is set for year-end balance for June 30 2013, despite City cutting back $1.1 Million in the current year. Isn’t that good for the kids in the classroom? You don’t mention them today!
I am glad your postings seem so right to your own way of thinking. It provides us with a reason for cutting you some slack, but at the same time, not worrying too much about your thoughtfulness. Time will tell.
I would like to see Mr. Walker challenge Sue Brannelly and take over the City Council budget committee. Sue is no better than the rest of them. Today’s Post quotes her as saying the council had to seek more givebacks from the unions to cover the cost of the unaffiliated (Mayor’s staff and appointees) raises. Say WHAT??? Sue, Tom McCarthy and Tom Sherwood tried to double-talk their way through an explanation of why the raises were given last year but only showed in the budget this year. Bullshit! They waited for the 12 – 13 budget to be approved and then Sherwood did his magic and found the money for the raises. It was deliberate, devious and typical of the Finch administration. Without appropriate B & A oversight and the required financial reports (that they never receive), no one knows what’s going on with the budget. And if there’s a $2 million shortfall, who cares? They put it on the backs of the union workers, whose only choice is to give back or be laid off. Bullshit! We need an outside independent audit and we need it now. Mr. Walker, any recommendations?
Bet you anything Mr. Walker would like to cut union benefits too … this guy is no knight in shining armor.
Sue Brannelly indicated almost two years ago review of the “monthly” (but neither timely nor necessarily accurate) City budget reports was important. OK. It became a standing agenda item. But it is “standing” all alone and not monitored while the administration goes on spending in a way that forces observers to “seek” what they “hide.” No trust. No accountability. Nothing transparent. And not open for discussion.
And Fardy and I had reported during the 2011 and 2012 budget sessions the “ghost positions” and we were ignored. And then the “ghost positions” disappeared in September with no comment by the B&A group as a part of minimal oversight. And while compensation for positions dropped in September, no benefits were cut. Is it plain ignorance or deafness? I don’t think so. It is buying into the Finch administration package 100% and it damages all of us. Time will tell.
Is “competency” trillions of dollars in federal deficits?
Mayor Finch, like most Bridgeport mayors, has the political Hound of Heaven chasing him: the city budget.
Walker’s financial props may mean something if he is able to express himself.
No Bridgeport administration wants to talk about the budget. It is like talking about having cancer.
Helping Andy and Marshall and whoever else flush out the administration from their foxhole is a good thing. That’s a non-partisan thing. It’s supposed to be a *cough* open society, right? Right?
However, you can never seem to know how a person is going to be as a candidate until they run for something.
*** WALKER FOR MAYOR, OR BUST! ***
*** AS OF RIGHT NOW, WALKER, I’LL SUPPORT YOU FOR MAYOR, AND IF YOU WIN AND GIVE ME BACK MY OLD JOB, WHICH I WAS “GOOD” AT AND “PROACTIVE” IN “COLLECTING CITY-OWED REVENUE!” AFTER ONE YEAR IF YOU SEE NO IMPROVEMENT IN MY DEPT OVER ALL, I WILL RESIGN NO QUESTIONS ASKED. BUT I’LL EXPECT YOU TO DO YOUR JOB TOO, NO? *** TEAMWORK IN CLEANING UP CITY GOVERNMENT AND COLLECTING CITY-OWED REVENUE, ONE DEPT AT A TIME! ***
*** YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU “ASK” FOR, THEN ONCE YOU’VE GOT IT, YOU CAN SHOW THEM JUST HOW LUCKY THEY ARE TO HAVE YOU, NO? *** CARDS ARE ON THE TABLE! ***
Mojo, was that the same negotiating you had with MJF? Just curious? I need to be constantly reminded what an ass I am to believe people actually work on campaigns to get a quality individual elected as opposed to personal gain. Not judging, just acknowledging my own ignorance.
*** ONE PERSON IS “NOT A TEAM” SO ONE NEVER KNOWS A “GOOD FIT” ‘TIL YOU TRY SOMETHING ON, NO? *** NO QUALITY MAN OR WOMAN IS AN ISLAND IN POLITICS, BESIDES YOU’LL NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU ASK, SO DON’T PULL ANY PUNCHES ON POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES THAT ONLY TAKE A MERE “YES OR NO!” ***
You may be right.
It probably would be more beneficial if political campaign headquarters were not regarded as ’employment agencies.’ We have had too much of “I will support your candidacy if you promise to give me a job” in this town. No? ***
yahooy, der schmekel agrees with altar boy. Either hell is freezing over or pigs are flying out of your butt.
This is a topic because David Walker said, “… has me reconsidering whether I and others need to pursue (and win) elected office …” Jim Callahan makes a great point when he said, “you can never seem to know how a person is going to be as a candidate until they run for something.”
The topic is “What’s a fit for Walker to run for what office? Well, Steven Auerbach points out a number of things like, “David Walker I do not believe his credentials would resonate with the average voter. His name recognition is zero as well as his resume. Only those of us political addicts are aware of his past positions.”
Walker will need money and an organization in order to run but What’s A Fit for Walker, what position could he run for and win? There is no way the Democrats would support him with their machine. The easy route would be for him to run for the City Council in his district but Walker doesn’t want to be a City Councilman. He cannot beat State Rep. Auden Grogins for her seat. If Walker ran for mayor then what political party would he be in? He has no organization and workers to get out the vote city wide, he would need a Mary Moran miracle. What relationship does David Walker have with the black and Hispanic community? What type of coalition could Walker put together, the City unions will not support him. So now that leaves the State Senate seat Musto holds, so if David Walker were elected to Musto’s senate position as a Republican he would be only one of 12 Republicans out of 36 state senators so he couldn’t change anything.
Once again as Callahan said, “you can never seem to know how a person is going to be as a candidate until they run for something.”
Honestly, I have not seen one comment from David Walker here. Let us all keep from projecting, shall we? So is this how we roll now? A person makes one comment and it is extrapolated out into every imaginable combination of potential circumstances using only conjecture as a guideline? There is some impressive knowledge represented by the posters on this site and I know any potential candidate should read it to assess the temperature of this slice of the populace, but Good Lord! OKAY, enough said, I still think you all rock!
I think Lennie is trying to help him gain recognition and a platform with a small group of followers. This is how it all starts. It is how it plays out that is most important. I do not see it playing out. On a side note, Michelle Bachmann will not be running again. I am shocked beyond words. Next Sarah Palin will announce she is running against Hillary and the Republicans will get excited and that is why a Republican doesn’t stand a chance these days. Sorry guys, you are who you support and the pickins are lookin’ slim!
Steven Auerbach, I agree with you. I like Lennie and I understand when he does a topic about David Walker it gets a lot of traffic on OIB but I never saw one person ever get so much print space as David Walker. I’ve never met David Walker, I’m sure he is a nice person who has lived in Bridgeport over three years. The ball is in David Walker’s court, there have been a lot of trial balloons floating around, so let’s see if it’s just a lot of hot air.
*** Walker is just as “good” a candidate for Mayor as the next man waiting in line ’til after hearing his political platform and such. If reasonable, he might get my support and the support of the “Mojo Zombie Party!” Especially if he does a little past political and ex-city employee research concerning just how well (wink) Mojo did his past city job but was axed due to political differences and his decision to support and run on the Caruso for Mayor ticket. *** HIRE A VET. ***
*** Hiring deadbeats and numb-nuts just because they supported you in a run for office will only make your job harder in the long run, no? However hiring a Vet, ex-city employee who by the way was an excellent worker and independent (at times) local city pol can only make your job as Mayor easier! *** IF YOU DON’T ASK, THEN HOW WILL YOU KNOW? ***