So here we go, the battle for Bridgeport’s eastern seaboard, a kneader versus a baker.
City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez won the endorsement handily over State Rep. Andre Baker who will wage an August primary to keep his legislative seat covering four precincts: Dunbar, Harding, Beardsley and JFK. As a single community district respective town committees issued the 9-3 endorsement for Martinez.
Baker requires certified signatures from five percent of registered Democrats in the district to take on Martinez.
Martinez’s council partner Ernie Newton is scouring signatures to primary State Senator Herron Gaston. Presuming an August 13 primary, Martinez and Gaston will be on the same line as the endorsed candidates.
As opposing candidates go Martinez and Baker are like fire and ice: Martinez, a go-getter campaigner with a flourishing personality versus Baker, the low-key funeral home director. Baker won the seat 10 years ago defeating Newton in a primary.
Give and take fireworks will be unlikely between the two because they’ve been friendly for years. This is really more about pounding the pavement to drag out supporters. And it could be decided by absentee ballots.
Martinez is a relentless constituent worker who has built a strong base in East End while the amiable Baker is also well known there running a funeral home for decades.
Martinez is defending state charges of violating Covid-related pandemic restrictions several years ago at a East End club she was managing, but that does not appear to impact her standing in her district.
Incumbent State House members Steve Stafstrom, Chris Rosario, Antonio Felipe, Marcus Brown and Fred Gee were also endorsed at the Margaret Morton Government Center without opposition.
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater.