DeJesus, Gomes And Moales Receive Public Money For State Senate Battle

Game on! Nearly $200,000 in public funds will help finance the campaigns of candidates running in the February 24 special elections for State Senate and State House, per approval Wednesday afternoon by the State Elections Enforcement Commission that oversees the state’s Citizens Elections Program.

The State Elections Enforcement Commission parceled out grants to the following State Senate candidates: $71,000 for Democratic endorsed Ricky DeJesus, $47,345 for Working Families Party candidate Ed Gomes and $23,672 for petitioning candidate Ken Moales. The money will be wired into the respective campaign accounts within the next few days which means fast-blast spending in the final 10 days.

Officials in the Town Clerk’s Office this morning completed a review of petition signatures submitted by Moales to verify the more than 1,000 district electors needed to qualify for a public grant, according to guidelines here.

Candidates for the State House special election Democrat Steve Stafstrom and Republican Enrique Torres had their $21,000 grants approved last week.

On the financial side, candidates for State Senate must raise $11,250 in donations from $5 to $100 from 225 residents of municipalities included in whole or part of the district to qualify for a public grant.

In addition to meeting that threshold, minor party and petitioning challengers such as Moales and Ed Gomes had the added burden of submitting more than 1000 certified signatures from within the district to receive public funds. The  program offers a three-tiered signature process from one-third of the grant to the entire grant. A one third grant provides $23,672, based on just over 1,000 verified signatures, two thirds $47,345 for more than 1,500 signatures. A full grant, based on more than 2,000 signatures, flushes a campaign about $71,000.

The signatures come from electors within Connecticut’s 23rd Senate District that covers two-thirds of Bridgeport and a portion of western Stratford. It’s a labor-intensive process often riddled with flawed information. Elections officials match the information from the petition sheets against the voter files. The most accurate way of achieving a valid signature is knocking on doors with a voter file in hand. Sometimes campaigns will camp out in front of grocery stores to reach larger numbers of people in hopes they reside in the district as registered voters. If you’re not on the list as a registered voter, the petition signature is invalid.

As the endorsed candidate, DeJesus was not required to secure signatures for public money,

Moales’ Campaign Manager Kirk Wesley issued this statement to OIB today:

I’m not sure what our final total will be but we know that we have done the work and due diligence necessary for this campaign to qualify for at least a portion of the grant that is available and anything outside of that will be perceived as erroneous, not by myself or Pastor Moales, but by the over 100 volunteers and workers who beared the snow and treacherous conditions to engage and get signatures from over 3,000 registered voters in the past 2 weeks.

Being a petitioning candidate, it was understood that qualifying for public financing would be a daunting task that would require hard work and sacrifice, and I can wholeheartedly say that everyone involved in this campaign has dedicated themselves to that effort. We hope that our efforts are recognized in a just and fair manner. We hope that there is an understanding that those petitions were generated by people who believe in something, not just someone; and truly sacrificed their time and efforts for that belief.

This campaign is not just about Kenneth Moales Jr., this is about a segment of this community who have felt politically marginalized for years, and see an opportunity to get involved in a more relevant way. A segment that might not have as much time to post on your blog, as others obviously do, because they have to catch the bus to their job in Westport, and then bus it back to Bridgeport and still can’t afford their rent. People who are generally ignored day in and day out. Our message is focused on building people and community, but there is obviously an anti-Moales sentiment that does nothing but tear down–and it’s sad. However, this campaign is all about the people, so whatever amount of money we have and get over the next 2 weeks, that’s exactly what we will make it about … The people of the 23rd District.

DeJesus report here.

Gomes report here.

Moales report here.

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19 comments

  1. Mr. Wesley, maybe you need to ask yourself why there is such an “anti-Moales sentiment. I know I am going to do everything within my power to ensure Moales is not elected as my representative in the State Senate. It would be an absolute embarrassment to Bridgeport.

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  2. Rev. Moales’ Campaign Manager Kirk Wesley said, “there is obviously an anti-Moales sentiment that does nothing but tear down–and it’s sad,” well why would he say that, why would anybody be against Rev. Moales, maybe Mr. Wesley can give some examples why.

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  3. Mr. Wesley,
    Many people do not have time to post, to represent a candidate, to participate in the electoral process and that does cause a problem when elected leadership is based on an informed voter in the booth.

    You have indicated the results are generated by people who believe in something rather than somebody but you do not explain. What are the beliefs your candidate represents and you have tapped into? Are they universal and apply to the community at large? If so, then it is not a time to be shy about sharing. What beliefs or principles have you noted that have made a difference? Time will tell.

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  4. Wesley, you are nothing more than a shill for Moales and Finch. If I hear building community and people one more time. It is a bunch of bullshit words all you professional black politicians and community gadflies use all the time. Here is a clue, stick them up your ass.

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  5. A modest proposal …

    Resolved, anyone running for public office in CT who seeks public campaign funds must pay all local and state taxes owed up to the previous calendar year OR else be ineligible to receive such funds until all outstanding balances, including interest, from the previous year(s) are paid in full.

    How hard is it?

    Speaking of which, can we please know from all of the candidates:
    1. Their stand on HB 5866, whether they’d support it “as is” or not.
    2. Whether they’ve signed the no-brainer anti-corruption petition.

    www .change.org/p/bridgeport-mayor-city-council-and-its-state-delegation-we-the-undersigned-want-the-enforcement-of-the-bridgeport-city-charter-banning-city-employees-from-serving-on-the-common-council-we-also-demand-the-elimination-of-all-other-conflicts-of-interests

    ?

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    1. And the stand on HB 5866 should be concise, not “I support the bill in any form.” Such blanket statements are purposely vague and evasive.

      Answer the simple question:
      Will you advocate for the passage of HB 5866 as is–without changes?

      Period.

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  6. I spent a few minutes scrolling through the DeJesus report. As expected, lots of DTC members and city employees (often the same people).

    It was amusing to see so many $50 and $100 contributions in cash. Golly gee.

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    1. Steve, the state’s public financing system for special elections provides an advantage to endorsed candidates. Challenge candidates must secure signatures for pots of money, on top of meeting the financial requirements. It’s a laborious process and Gomes came close to meeting requirement for the full grant. The good news for the Gomes campaign is it will have enough dough to make a case to voters. We’ll see.

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  7. Steve, put more succinctly the Dems and Reps on the legislature agree on one thing and that is they will do everything they can to protect their own territory against minor party candidates and petition candidates. These rules are written to maintain the status quo.

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  8. This makes me sick. I was required to get 315 signatures, I turned in 350. Was required to get 113 Bridgeport donations, turned in 114, was required to raise $3750, raised $3800. Filed all the forms, the day before the deadline I was demanded to ride to Hartford to learn the eCRESS computer program as I was told first time all the 130 contribution signed forms had to be transferred to this program and the treasurer had to submit them. Treasurer was inaccessible the deadline day, I transferred all the forms to eCRESS, all application forms were in order. SEEC would not accept it. I had no paid staff and no army of workers so I guess I was out of luck however now am attempting to file suit.

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  9. So sorry, Bob Halstead. I know you to be an honest, hard-working man,beholden to only your constituents. Try 1800CALLFBI and the SEEC. Don’t give up Bob, of course, unless you want to forget these nasty thugs and just live happily ever after.

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    1. It does make me wonder if this is truly corruption that has pervaded the governmental agencies of Secretary of the State and State Elections and Enforcement Commission. I am not giving up.
      Corruption regularly seeps into government operations on subtle levels as I can attest to first-hand in my 25-year career with the City.
      I’ll also give the FBI number a shot. Thanks for your remarks, hIcsmh.

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