If you’re a mayoral candidate what do you say about where you want to take the city?
It’s always easy to emphasize what’s wrong. Crime has increased, so has unemployment. Where are the jobs? Employee morale is low. Are we really better off than we were four years ago? Okay, now what? The most difficult part of crafting a campaign message isn’t what’s wrong, it’s how you’d be better. And that’s the challenge all of Mayor Bill Finch’s opponents must meet. Unless the incumbent has been so irreversibly bad, voters want to know what is it about you that will inspire me to vote for you?
We’ve had some debate over the past several days about what mayoral opponents should be saying. Some OIB readers demand full policy positions. In time they will come. Right now it’s too soon. Why? Voters aren’t focused on a primary or general election. Oh really, there’s an election this year? As a candidate you create a gradual build to maximize your exposure. If I’m Mayor Bill Finch (aren’t you glad I’m not?), I’m hoping life in the city is nice and quiet, continue to raise money, kick out election-year goodies and blast away the final months into a Democratic primary. If I’m an opponent, I want to keep my name in the media as much as possible, cherry-pick incumbent vulnerabilities, raise money, build community coalitions and then kick out specific policy positions when voters are more inclined to be engaged in the months leading to election day.
Case in point is Mary-Jane Foster, co-founder of the Bridgeport Bluefish, who has formed an exploratory committee with an eye on forming a full-blown candidacy in April. There’s a reason it’s called “exploratory.” An exploratory pursuit wants to test the waters to determine viability, raise money and beef up on issues to become a credible candidate. The last thing you want is to get out there and sound like a martian. OIB, in public comments and in private, has received reader declarations demanding this one’s resignation and that one’s resignation, a form of litmus test to determine if the candidate is a true believer. Okay, after you’re done with that where are you as a candidate? One of the first things to come out of your mouth is that you demand the Democratic party chair to resign or the head of the business community to resign? Okay, you’ve proven you’re a flamethrower? Now what? A majority of voters generally will not gravitate to a candidate because of a call for a resignation out of the box. If it’s part of a broader message so be it. What are you going to do to make my life better?
Former State Rep. Chris Caruso would be mayor today if he had crafted a message beyond flamethrowing. In the summer of 2007 he had a double-digit polling lead over Bill Finch. Caruso failed to expand his message beyond corruption in a meaningful way. When I talk to him about this he tells me I’m full of dung, but that’s how I see it.
Raising enough dough to hammer home the right message is also critical. What do you mean Lennie, Linda McMahon had all that money, Ned Lamont as well, Tom Foley too and they all lost. That’s because their respective opponents had enough dough to compete. The question isn’t what the other candidate has raised. Do you have enough to compete?
Foster must be focused on raising money and preparing to be a candidate. If she cannot raise the scratch she’ll have a tough time competing. Same with mayoral challengers John Gomes and Charlie Coviello. What about Joe Ganim? The former mayor’s name recognition is high. But if he decides to seek his old job he too must explain why his mayoralty would be better than what voters now have. Races come down to dear ol’ MOM–money, organization and message.
Soon enough we’ll know if this is a race or a yawner.
Was I the only one to get a sudden urge to yawn when I read “… or a yawner?” From the CT Post:
www .ctpost.com/local/article/Hispanic-youth-in-center-of-battle-against-teen-1213189.php
Lennie, who is doing the telephone poll? Some folks think it’s Joe Ganim and others think it’s the Mary-Jane girls. Do you know?
IT’S ERNIE’S POLL.
Ernest “T,”
Have your pollsters give me a call.
I already know you live in another part of Connecticut.
Let’s get serious for a moment, especially all of those who want “the candidates” to disclose their “plans” for the City at this moment. Why ask the candidates? Don’t you have some ideas about what needs doing, and how to go about it? So, let’s hear from you … Isn’t this a great place to surface ideas that can be reviewed and chewed upon, accepted or rejected, defined and refined? …
If you need a model of a Mission or Goal Statement, take a look at what Mayor Finch posted in December, 2007 when he “committed to making Bridgeport the cleanest, greenest, safest, most affordable city with schools and neighborhoods that improve every year by:
* Reducing property taxes
* Developing innovative approaches to improving the quality of our education system
* Making our streets and citizens safer
* Building more workforce housing
* Supporting a healthier lifestyle
* Revitalizing our neighborhoods
* Providing more local jobs and small-business opportunities
* Protecting our environment and greening our city
* Creating a leaner, more efficient government
* Accessing 21st-century technology and infrastructure
* Supporting the Arts
* Ensuring a vibrant, diverse community”
Quite a list. The voter gets to judge whether there have been “hits and runs” or just “errors” in those issues that are important to that voter.
If you are looking for “expanding economic development,” “reducing property taxes” rather than merely postponing or deferring reality with a bigger price tag, or “creating a … more efficient government,” you may still be waiting or disappointed.
What are the things that resonate with your vision of long-term progress in the Park City? State your vision, and how to pursue it. The devil is in the details. You need good information with enough detail to have some assurance that your actions will have overall good effect on balance. For instance, there is a question of whether the voters of the City know that tax increases are in the cards anyway. Perhaps they want to have assurance that taxes won’t go above certain levels of property value (State law changes–circuit breaker caps) especially because certain news has been kept close to the vest, away from the voters and even full disclosure not provided to the City Council members. The latter as a group seem to vote too often without having read, reflected upon or understanding what they authorize.
Budget Overview Bridgeport 2011 is meeting for one hour on Thursday evening at Black Rock Library at 5:00 PM. A chance for you to participate in some non-partisan citizen action during the month of April as the Budget and Appropriations subcommittee holds multiple hearings. Take a look at how we make financial sausage in Bridgeport. Sure to be enlightening in an election year.
Has Ernie started a new career as a public-opinion pollster?
BEACON2 // Mar 23, 2011 at 10:47 am
To your posting
B2,
Twelve commitments to Bridgeport from Mayor Finch in 2007 seem today to be nothing more than twelve empty promises …
How is it we can make the required adjustment in our voting habits so our vote produces a Mayor we can rely on to perform and not just “promise?”
Bridgeport as a City needs specifics that show an understanding of problems facing the City and an understanding of what these specifics will do for our residents and taxpayers.
Does it matter if the Superintendent is invited by the Mayor to be a formal member of the cabinet? Is this going to help develop and enviable model of public education for Bridgeport?
Does it matter that there must be a 24/7 relationship between the City and her Department Directors to the degree the Director must be committed to residing in Bridgeport, feeling Bridgeport and experiencing Bridgeport? Does this relationship give greater impetus to move department action and process in a kinder and more cost-effective direction?
Does it matter that the preparation of the City’s Budget should be about the most open of all City processes, with a minimum of 100 invitations to the community leaders, religious leaders and social activists issued for every budget meeting? Will the openness give us honest numbers, better projections and ending the shadow government that directs the City’s dollars?
Does it matter that the twelve commitments of Bill Finch are as oblique and generalized as any piece of political rhetoric can be, with nothing to make your heart and your head believe him? The Mayor certainly didn’t look to the specificity offered by the twelve commandments as a model that gives measurable and meaningful standards of performance.
And last but not least, does it matter that a full-blown Ethics Commission operation should be immediately part of the City’s profile? With teeth to its findings and force to its sanctions?
Is that what you’d like to get serious about, B2?
So much to do. Four years is so little time.
How about three promises to the voters around three goals that are priority 24/7? Easy enough to have them printed on three fingers (for most people) and still have pointer and thumb free for silent signaling. Behavior, not words, is the key.
I know about the ten commandments (although the Catholic Church added in a few more God forgot to provide to Moses apparently) and I am aware that others follow 12-step programs in pursuit of a better life with some serenity.
I keep hoping what we face as a future in this City is not so intimidating to most people they end up dissociating from reality. Dissociation has people looking for relief or entertainment, instead of looking at the reality around them.
I suggest limiting the goals to three major items. Three ideas can be understood, remembered and become part of your daily life. A public scoreboard can keep track of events, numerical trends, and timelines to keep all aware of progress towards our most important goals. Maintaining such a scoreboard is accountable behavior. Posting it in public places, electronically, in print media, or other is open behavior. A willingness to connect dots and explain why City policy, regulations, ordinances, Charter requirements, etc. is public transparency in looking at municipal governance.
Beacon: Two well-written posts that make sense but I am afraid they are falling for the most part on deaf ears. It’s easier to post bullshit than it is to post thoughtful goals for a mayoral candidate.
Look at the posts on here today and one from a political candidate for a political office.
The 4 goals I am thinking about are:
1. A plan to drastically reduce our dropout rate which is now around 68%.
This can be done by revamping the high school curriculum so those students not going to college can have a step up when entering the job market. Courses for paramedics, nursing or nurses aides and rudimentary training in the various building trades.
2. Dedication to redevelopment, not the BS we have seen to date. We have the land, let’s find companies to take this land and bring jobs to Bridgeport. Enough with developers like those for Steel Point who tie up property for years and years with no penalties.
3. A clean and bright city which we have not seen in the last 8 years. We need a person who cares about people’s quality of life. Clean the streets as they are now disgusting. Institute a plan to get supervisors in public facilities off their asses and check the garbage pick-up routes. They are a mess because the collectors are to lazy to pick up what they drop on the road. Make them also pick up trash that does not fit in a full can.
Stop piling snow or other storm debris at the gateway to downtown every time there is a major storm. Send drivers and supervisors to plow school in upstate New York to learn how to plow.
4. I have a fourth, Public Safety. Let’s get the cops working inside off their collective asses and into patrol cars. Expecting 21 street cops per shift to protect us is impossible. Get the 4 deputies out of the union and serving at the pleasure of the chief. Speaking of the chief, enforce the charter and make him live in the city not 20 miles away.
town committee // Mar 23, 2011 at 1:49 pm
to your posting
tc,
Your experience is a big help.
BEACON2 // Mar 23, 2011 at 12:44 pm
to your posting
B2,
Why are you not running for office this year 2011 … of all years, it’s a message year, not a machine year.
… it will be one of the best campaign years because of the number of people publicly seeking election to the Mayor’s Office, who represent a totally different spirit and tone in their approach to City Government operations.
This is not a group of candidates that we’d ever see in a “watch the puppet move his mouth,” with the machine pulling the strings to what he says and thinks … somewhere nearby.
The City has a chance to experience something very dramatic on September 13, 2011. The voices of candidates and OIB’ers can be pretty strong together …
To Carolanne and every other candidate against the incumbent:
I hope you realize the more candidates who get into the race and thereby splinter the anti-Finch vote, the better it is for the incumbent.
I sincerely hope as this campaign evolves, before the election you all can get behind and endorse one anti-Finch candidate. Otherwise, you’ll have another four years of the same.
Booty. You’re not kidding. We all saw how that worked in the election to replace Caruso. The list was loaded with spoilers and the Calamarian-endorsed candidate prevailed. We have to watch out for the same thing in the next mayoral.
Lennie poo-poo’s my insistence that the viables like Gomes and MJF get out and shout NOW. Time is running out. They think it a better strategy to wait then hit the voters with their electioneering. I don’t. The more they are before the public they can create their own name recognition. They have to get people who don’t normally vote to get off their asses and VOTE, otherwise … GUESS WHAT.
Booty // Mar 23, 2011 at 3:33 pm
to your posting
boo,
Cop out
Plain and simple cop out
You know better than that
If you are saying no to one of the best opportunities this City has had in thirty years … and more.
Huh?
I didn’t express a candidate preference. What I think should happen is every candidate should run on their individual merits, but when it gets close to election time, the other candidates should throw their support to the front runner (whoever that might be), rather than split up the vote. Or do you think each camp should support their candidate to the bitter end and thereby hand the election to the incumbent? Can’t you all agree it’s more important to kick out the incumbent than whether any particular candidate wins?
If there are 10 votes, and the incumbent gets 4 and the anti-incumbent candidates get 3, 2 and 1, who wins?
Jailhouse humor by Ernest T.
THE RESULTS ARE IN. “NEWTON” WINS BY A LANDSLIDE … HA-HA.
Ernie started off as a Bpt School teacher before becoming the “Moses” of his people.” Is it any wonder our dropout rates are so high & we are turning out such low-performing students? It is very clear to me we also need to apply much higher standards for teachers in the future. ‘Nuff sed?
That IS a joke … HA-HA!
And the city and the citizens lose … big time.
Thanks for the kind words, I’ll see what the voters have to say!
If only anyone took you seriously anymore Ernie.
GRADUATED WHHS “’74”
WSSU “’78”
Warren Harding High School
Winston-Salem State University NC
Ernie, did you major in Ebonics?
Anybody can badmouth Ernie Newton. It’s easy.
But Ernie Newton’s power comes from being understood. Those that diss him just don’t understand and immediately identify themselves as political know-nothings.
(nod and a wink)
You must have majored in Ebonics.
LE,
ZZZZZZZZZ.
LE,
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
*** Time for mayoral exploring has come & gone, no? More like time for fund raising & getting a political platform message out on positive change for the future! It’s starting to look like nothing more than a halfhearted attempt from all those interested in being mayoral candidates. *** Time’s a ticking! ***
OIB, I’m having so much fun! Listening to all the CRYING and Monday-morning quarterbacking!
LG the Omnipotent One,
Please explain the difference between an exploratory committee and a campaign committee?
The same dollar limits apply for individual and/or PAC contributions.
If your exploratory committee becomes a candidate committee, your total limit remains the same and any money given to the exploratory committee is simply added to any funds given to a campaign committee so there is no advantage there.
It is not like a state election where there are several constitutional offices to consider. There is only one mayor and that is it.
In a race like this, I think some people use exploratory thinking if they finally drop out of the race they can claim they were never really in it.
Also LG,
In a race where you have a number of candidates with a strong background in public service or a very high public profile then there may not be the need to start talking issues right away but with a weak profile then they have a lot more ground to make up heading into the race.
Don’t forget the old “if you snooze, you lose.”
Can someone forward the headquarter addresses for the candidates to me? I’d like to stop in for a visit. I still haven’t made up my mind on who I’ll support and a visit could help.
Finch’s HQ is in the kitchen at Mario’s.
Gomes is in a building he owns on Park Ave on top of a Subway he used to own at the corner of Wood.
MJF has an unlisted HQ.
And Jeff Kohut is up in a tree in Remington Woods.
Charlie Coviello keeps saying his is at a barbershop thinking you are asking about a haircut not a headquarter.
And Ganim’s is at the family compound in Easton. If you don’t know where that is don’t bother asking.
Grin Reaper,
Once again you kept it short, sweet & to the point. Poetry for the common man. Keep up the good work.
Just my opinion, but for the right candidate, the real challenge in this year’s mayoral election isn’t attracting the money or developing a message. A qualified candidate with brains, vision, experience and credible advisers can certainly manage those issues.
The real challenge is voter apathy, AND overcoming the formidable, well-organized cabal that’s been the campaign architect for far too many less than stellar public officials.
Plans, lists and blue-sky dreams by the hundreds are easily developed. But it takes an organization to implement and achieve objectives. Organization, as in MOM, needs to be recognized for what it is and for what it can be: a powerful aid to achieving success; or a barrier to those striving for change, and willing to challenge today’s status quo.
*** No money or political platform, just a smart team & voter apathy has beaten a lot of endorsed Mayoral incumbents in Bpt, no? (NOT) *** BOOK SMART DOESN’T MEAN POLITICAL SMARTS IN BPT. ***
YOU MISSED THE POINT!
Read it again. Obviously, you need all three!
*** Yeah the point; got it, Sherlock! Who’s the right candidate in your mind who has all the right stuff, you? *** FORGETABOUTIT ***
*** Great speech-blog anyway! ***
Thanks, GOVERNOR yahooy boy!
What I’m getting out of this post:
Ernie Newton would be much better off as a mute, he shows his ignorance and emotional immaturity more and more by the day. Doesn’t surprise me he talks in the third person, his over-inflated ego precedes him.
In a hotly contested mayoral race Mr. Grimaldi’s love for an unannounced candidate is showing through again.
Now my opinion:
Timmy Herbst will be Finch’s end-all and downfall.
Whether it is Mary-Jane or John Gomes–or both together, Bridgeport will be better off in 2012.
Timmy does have Finch by the balls, that’s for sure. Sending Adam Wood in to mend the feces (I mean fences–no I mean feces) didn’t help either. I still want to know who commissioned the latest phone poll, Ganim or MJ? Does Lennie not know or is he not saying?
HEY GR, I’ll show you before it’s over.
It’s funny. Gomes worked for Finch, MJF supported Finch and because of a disagreement both want to be Mayor! HA-HA.
Yeah, and you don’t have a bitch with Finch, Ernie?
Ernie, I have stayed out of your posts but I must say you are out to lunch on this one. Gomes had the goods on how screwed up Public Facilities has become and he needed to go.
Mary-Jane supported Finch in the beginning and then saw how he has screwed up this city. Instead of sulking she decided to do something about it.
Now for you: You will be running for some office, senate, mayor, who knows what. But I can see you are back in Ralph Ford’s pocket and looking for Mario’s support which means you are part of the machine that has done squat for Bridgeport.
Ernie, you have held a lot of elected positions in the city and I am sorry to say you really did not accomplish much for Bridgeport. Will you accomplish much for Bridgeport in your next life as an elected official? I doubt it. You see Ernie, you are part of the problem with Bridgeport politics. You may ask what the problem is and you may not ask but here it is. You are like the rest of the people we unfortunately elected in recent years, you are in it for yourself and not for Bridgeport. Ernie, we don’t need politicians embarrassing themselves on this blog.
Any word on Republicans running???
I believe John Slater should get the Republican nomination for mayor. He will finally change Bpt.
Ernie, they don’t want to be Mayor because of a disagreement. They want to be Mayor because they have seen up close and personal the poor performance of the administration. They know the city cannot afford four more years of this low-talent crew with misguided priorities using smoke and mirror budgeting. They both feel, from my discussions with them, they will do a better job developing jobs, supporting small businesses, bringing in talent, dealing with the looming financial disaster etc. … I am on record supporting MJF if she steps in as a candidate. She was the vision and leadership behind the last transformational development and job creation effort in Bridgeport–the sports entertainment complex. Remember all the years looking at the ugly old factory? Whoever thought it could be transformed into something so positive for Bridgeport and the region? She did it and she will do it again. Some people just know how to make things happen and she is one of those people. I see her transforming UB’s image in the short time she has been there. I hear more people excited about UB’s comeback, new programs etc. … she has gotten out and promoted the University and put excellent partnerships together producing very positive results. She has done this on every project, non-profit or job she has had as long as I have known her. She will be a great Mayor.
Big contrast to the ineffective crew in there now. I think John Gomes, MJF, Joe Ganim etc. … are all looking at this crew saying we need someone in there who is not so weak and knows how to lead, otherwise Bridgeport will squander away another decade of potential progress.
*** Forbes Magazine might just be right, is it all downhill from here for the Park City? *** GONE FISHING ***
tc, you of all people should be casting stones. I’ll show you whose help I need!
Ernie, not casting stones just telling the truth.
1. You are seeking political office?
2. You have held political office for a number of years all with town committee endorsement.
3. You are seeking help from your district leader Ralph Ford and from DTC chair Testa.
4. You still have not stated any accomplishment you have been involved in directly as an elected official.
5. What do you hope to accomplish if & when you are again elected to political office?
6. Read your past posts. Really Ernie, they put you in a bad light.
Why me of all people?
tc, say what you like! The VOTERS will prove you wrong.
Ernie, you are dancing around what I said. I asked you what you accomplished the last time you were in office. I also asked what you hope to accomplish if elected again. Nowhere did I say you would not be elected. Don’t dance around the questions with political BS. Remember, I am too old a cat to be screwed around by a kitten.
tc. Well done regarding Newton. He actually thinks I am the only one who detracts his political aspirations. Both he and Ganim are riding on this delusional cloud banking on past popularity to return each of them to office; offices neither of them deserve.
The other two viables, MJF and Gomes have still done nothing to develop serious name recognition and to inspire the apathetic non-voters to get to the polls. As long as the Calamarians can reinforce voter apathy, Finch comes back.
I think Ernest “T” and Ganim are being supported by Calamarian controls. Both will draw a significant number of votes from past supporters only diluting the field in favor of Finch. Neither has enough real juice left to voter-mandate them back in.
The solution is simple. The Tofu Tootsie has got to come down from her combative lofty perch and convince her candidate to get out and shout right now. The same goes for MJF. Her viability is waning in the minds of many who truly think she is the best candidate to actually wrest the office of mayor from the grips of the Calamarians. We need change so desperately. I truly resent the pretenders who have the capacity to rob each of us of our future. And to what end?
Yahooboy, JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE POLLS SAY ABOUT JOE AND ERNIE, YOU WILL BE EATING THOSE WORDS. I KNOW WHAT THE POLL RESULTS ARE!
Do you honestly believe the people of the City of Bridgeport want you as mayor or anything else elected either?
tc, you may have been around a long time, but so have I. If and when I become a candidate, I will answer all your questions. You may be a Big Cat, BUT I’m a MEAN DOG!
DOG is right!!!
yahooy, move into OUR CITY!
Ernie Newton should run for mayor of Fairfield Hills … he will be a committed candidate (wink wink).
Lake Forest Guy, thanks for your input. Join ME!
So the field is already crowded at this point with Gomes, Foster, Coviello, Finch and possibly Ganim. Caruso’s lack of clear policies hurt him in the primary, but he could still be a force to be reckoned with. He’s well thought of in the North End. His support could sway a primary away from the actor chosen to play the part of Captain Harvey Milquetoast on the DTC stage.