Faith Leaders Endorse Gaston For State Senate July 11, 2022 Lennie Grimaldi Analysis and Comment, City Politics, News and Events, State PoliticsNo Comments </p> <p>A contingent of ministers including State Rep. Charlie Stallworth and City Councilwoman Mary McBride-Lee gathered at the East End church of Stallworth on Monday to endorse Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Herron Gaston for state senate.</p> <p>Gaston, also a city faith leader, won the endorsement over incumbent State Senator Dennis Bradley for the August 9 Democratic primary. Bradley is awaiting trial on federal charges for alleged violations of Connecticut’s Citizens Election Program of publicly funded races during his run for state office in 2018.</p> <p>Gaston was approved for a public grant that has infused his race with roughly $100,000 for the four-week stretch run to the primary.</p> <p>Bradley is raising money outside the voluntary program and, if need be, utilizing his own resources.</p> <p>Connecticut’s 23rd State Senate District covers about two thirds of Bridgeport and piece of western Stratford.</p> <p>Juliemar Ortiz, a former newspaper reporter and ex communications director for Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, filed a lawsuit against Bridgeport’s Democratic Registrar of Voters Patricia Howard asserting dozens of petition signatures of Democratic electors were improperly rejected that would have qualified her for a primary. She’s awaiting a decision from the court about ballot access.</p> <p> 0
