Foster Camp Rips Ganim For Hiding Campaign Donors

If you want copies of Joe Ganim’s two campaign finance report filings, you’d need a wheelbarrow and about $750 to haul the paperwork out of the Town Clerk’s Office. Mary-Jane Foster’s Campaign Manager Tom Swan asserts if Ganim filed the reports in the format of the State Election Enforcement Commission, the size would be one third and more affordable for public access.

“Joe Ganim has pledged to run the most transparent administration in Bridgeport’s history but his campaign is actively trying to hide who is financing Joe,” says Swan in a statement. “Next he will tell us is that the check is in the mail. We call on Joe Ganim to make all of his finance reports accessible to the general public on-line.” Swan serves as executive director for the government watchdog organization Connecticut Citizens Action Group.

Ganim’s first two reports are hernia-risk thick because the campaign opted to list one donation entry per page rather than using the traditional State Elections Enforcement Commission form that has three entries per page. Short-handed staff in the The Town Clerk’s Office charge 50 cents per page for copies. Ganim’s two reports combined are about 1,500 pages.

Ganim raised and spent a mighty $300,000 in a short timeframe en route to defeating Bill finch in the September Democratic mayoral primary. He is actively raising money for the general election. The next round to file campaign reports comes next week, according to SEEC regulations.

In July. Foster called on Ganim to post his finance report digitally as she did on her campaign website.

“An open and transparent government is the first step in reestablishing trust in Bridgeport’s City Hall,” Foster said in July. “I am not required to do this by law but good government ethics dictates these principles. Concerned citizens should not be required to spend hundreds of their own hard-earned dollars just to see who has contributed money to my campaign and to my opponents.”

Foster asserts that as mayor she will require the Town Clerk’s Office to post any campaign finance reports it receives within 72 hours of receipt. She said she will push for either state law or local ordinance to enforce these actions.

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72 comments

  1. I’ve been waiting for something from the Foster campaign to give me a reason to consider voting for her. However instead of substantive policies, she’s got this joker pulling the same shit-slinging tactics as the Finch people.

    Just shut up and focus on her credentials. How is she qualified in any way to be the chief administrator of a major municipality?

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    1. Well I don’t like that he is hiding this. I don’t want to end up with Finch part two where everything is a f’king secret. This shouldn’t be taken lightly and is a red flag so early in the game.

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      1. Absolutely, people can rationalize anything. This is an obvious ploy to make it hard to research donors. Even if you have the whole stack it becomes more physically demanding and is classic Bridgeport government obfuscation. Where do you think the government learned it to begin with?

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  2. Brick is right. This request has all the earmarks of the Finch Campaign bullshit. Finch and his people still have not learned negative campaigns often lose.
    What are the projected policies from MJF?
    Policing
    Public Safety
    Putting 100 cops on at one time
    The list could be longer and the 50-day plan is too long-winded. Come on MJF, you can do better. Right now you are getting bad advice.

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    1. Andy–how about Ganim’s 100-day plan? Not “long-winded?” Mary-Jane offers the only realistic chance of keeping the criminal out of the mayor’s office.

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  3. The Finch-Foster Campaign is showing signs of weakness and desperation.

    If the Finch-Foster Campaign has competent staff and $750, they should just get the contributor report and peruse it for whatever.

    This is just another indication of a campaign for a mayoralty that would be focused on tail-chasing nonsense rather than getting taxes down, making the streets safe, and bringing jobs to Bridgeport.

    Save some stress and money for everybody involved in your campaign. Fold you tents, go home, and volunteer a worthy cause.

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  4. Seems like she is always angry! I know her campaign is broke and having trouble raising money, but I hope she isn’t losing it in public again! Anyway, someone should tell her his reports are public and she can get it free once someone shows her, her cell phone has a modern convenience known as a camera and she can print it out on her home computer and printer from her $1.8 million home on the water on her private road in Black Rock CT.

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  5. I would have had a press conference. Bill Finch would have had a press conference. Joe Ganim definitely would be on channel 12 and 3. And 8 news. A forgotten press release. No face.

    To the other posters, unbelievable. Jealous of Foster’s home? She pays the city of Bridgeport over $40,000 in property taxes. Ganim pays nothing and hasn’t paid Bridgeport property taxes in over a decade. I love these posts of pure ignorance. Very sad!

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    1. No one forced Mary-Jane to buy a home in Black Rock, Steve. If she’s paying that much in property taxes, the blame can be laid at Tax Bill’s feet. He’s the one who hiked taxes seven out of eight years as mayor of our fair city, all the while giving out tax abatements as if they were Hallowe’en candy.

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      1. Bridgeport Kid, Mary-Jane Foster wasn’t crying about her $40,000 in property taxes. She loves Bridgeport and most people living in Black Rock love Bridgeport and they pay the highest taxes in the city. I am not sure what you pay in property taxes, but Mayor Finch or Tax Bill as you call him won Black Rock in the primary. He is supporting Mary-Jane Foster. She is a favorite daughter of Black Rock and using the Ganim playbook, your candidate is like nowhere. Accept the deal Ganim’s camp made to get Katy and Enrique elected to the council they would help Rick attempt to peel votes away from Foster. So Bridgeport Kid, knock yourself out.

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  6. What is the purpose of these inquiries? To catch the Ganim campaign doing something wrong? The secretary of the state will not act until after the election and by then who cares? My wife has had a complaint in front of that office for two years and is still waiting for a resolution.
    I suggest the MJF campaign staff get off their asses and get the people to know who MJF is. In my neighborhood on primary day many people asked us who she was. Does anyone think the voters give a shit about a donor list?

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      1. anna, how nice to hear from your old wrinkly ass. I worked on her first campaign and on election day my wife and I spent 13 hours at the polls. What have you done?

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    1. I usually do not agree with you Andy, but when you’re right, you’re right! If you walked around Bridgeport with a picture of Ganim in one hand and a picture of Mary-Jane Finch in the other and asked the common folk to name each, I’d bet 90 percent would know Ganim to 20 percent for MJF. Not very scientific but true. Good Job, Andy.

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      1. Phantom, up until this point I sadly have to agree with you 100 percent. However, not all those who recognize Ganim are happy with him. But I am into marketing and promotion and I could have written the Ganim playbook.

        I expect Foster’s name and Face to be everywhere, after all, her campaign operatives can just not be that stupid and I am proudly working on her campaign. She has some really great people many of which are Finch people. Foster has to do in a few weeks what most politicians take months to do. Can she do it? Most definitely. Will she do it? Yes! The only ones who can help her are the Finch Foster Fusion group. It’s teamwork. For those who think Foster let them down, Go Fuck yourselves, you torpedoed her campaign the first time around and I will be damned if I give my time where the non-teamplayers are still criticizing the Mayor I supported. Phantom, seriously, with Foster, the best is yet to come. For those who care about the city of Bridgeport, get on board the Foster train. For those who care about one man’s redemption, join Joe Ganim. There are only two people in this race. One has the respect of the State and one does not. Want State money? This is not a personality contest, if it were the city is going to suffer terribly.

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        1. “This is not a personality contest” Oh really? It is for you. That’s all it’s ever been for you, Steven. It’s always about you and your use of personal pronouns like “I,” “me” and “my.” Everyone respects the dedication for your candidate, not an easy thing given the personal attacks you carry out against other bloggers.

          The big issue is the common good, not which candidate has the most charisma. Rick Torres’ legislative accomplishments on the City Council are making the front page of the Daily Bugle. He has a great deal of name recognition, a growing voter base and the support of the Republican Central Committee and several nationally known GOP moderates.

          Bill Finch made the front page several weeks ago, for fucking up and missing a deadline. Mary-Jane Foster made the front page when Finch threw his support behind her. She now has the same name recognition as schistosomiasis. Governor Malloy, the head of the Democratic Party in Connecticut, has misplaced her phone number. Odd behavior for someone who claims to be such a good friend of Ms. Foster. Senators Blumenthal and Murphy and Representative Himes are sitting out this round too. The union heads are proving to be fair-weather friends. The carpenters just endorsed The Crook.

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          1. It is all about me.

            Me me me.
            If I am not for me, who will be. If not now? When?

            I am the center of the Universe. I am.

            The unions had an obligation to endorse the Democratic candidate. The endorsement made them look like idiots kissing Ganim’s ass and Mario Testa telling them they had to work to get Ganim elected on Steelpointe, where the birth of one of Ganim’s biggest scandals occurred.

            Malloy has not lost Foster’s number. Not endorsing Ganim should send shockwaves to the voters. The US Senators, same story.

            I am hoping Mary-Jane Foster has better name recognition than schistosomiasis. Perhaps “I” can help get a sign or two out so people remember her name.

            Remember, Remember, Remember my name–Fame

            Mary-Jane Foster, Line G

            Omg!

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  7. Andy, voters absolutely do care. They want to know where the money came from and what favors and to whom will be owed because of them. Ganim’s past transgressions has put him in this situation.

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  8. Tales of (and questions for) the City on OIB:
    1) Aquaculture School October 8 at 5:30 PM meeting of community group that has been reviewing the development of the entirely new school for two years. The youth who used to attend Longfellow have been separated for three years from their community. The Columbus School principal talked about his goals which are to increase math and reading competency (though he did not share results in recent years including last year) and of the $200,000 of additional grant money received this year to work on priorities that would otherwise not be dealt with.

    2) At the same meeting Alan Wallach representing the activities of the BOE, construction management and School Building Committee relative to the under construction new Longfellow School in District 130 waxed poetic about all the “bells and whistles” the new building will have as the youth of PT Barnum and surrounding return from Blackham, Columbus and Columbus Annex in the fall of 2016. Turf roof, two youth playgrounds for differing ages, community orientation for recreation and gatherings, and Chromebooks for all, including playground fixtures that interact with the computers. Lots more. (Question set off for me as to value of computer interactive playground when perhaps 1/3 of kindergarten entrants do not know the alphabet and because of that perhaps 2/3 do not meet first grade standards one year later. Priorities?)

    3) I went to the Tax Assessor’s Office today to use their computer system. Can we call it old? How about unfriendly? And known to be unreliable by the office staff. Does anyone care about open government? (Access to public information.) Accountability? (Trust but verify.) Transparency of property records and codes for those that have an abatement or some other adjustment? But only one person can talk about the codes and she was out today. (Trust but verify.)

    As we get closer to the election is anyone else concerned about our educational goals (reading a #1 priority at each grade level), about how City functions to serve its citizens. (Dismantling public feedback and display of feedback as dashboard fails OATS and is dishonest also.)

    And the Budget and Appropriations Committee is due for its final meeting before five of seven retire and leave that group. Is there a report for August out of Finance Department by the 4th Friday in September, or even by today? Not as of 2:00 PM. Missing a Charter requirement again? Nothing new for the Finance Department.
    Perhaps on Tuesday (Monday is a Holiday at City Hall) there will be no meeting for failure of material, lack of a quorum, or an “I don’t care anymore” attitude. People of Bridgeport, how can you worry about fiscal issues with taxes that are too much when the whole game is rigged against you and played by those who know how?

    I happen to believe there is a small group of people who care about the seeming minutiae of governance and understand the critical importance of structure and process in providing a level playing field and eliminating unfair advantage.
    Then there is a group, perhaps larger, who are in the know, but use it to keep the first group frustrated, as well as the largest group (including voters and those who have stopped voting) out of the know. So the election financial report filing wastes resources, creates problems for those who would monitor (but City Clerk charges $.50 for first ten copies, $.30 for the next 20 copies and $.10 thereafter. Above 30 copies that is one penny cheaper than Staples!!! What is different between copying in Town Clerk relative to City Clerk??? Just asking.

    Is this a “best foot forward” for a Mayoral candidate to show how changed or rehabilitated he is? Or is it a “bush league” demonstration that every campaign has a few people making decisions with negative outcomes? Time will tell.

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    1. Alan Wallach is still double dipping? Now here’s a problem! Did he explain why the much bragged about soccer field at Columbus is not regulation size? And the high school kids are still using Went Field? That’s what happens when a gym teacher is made a construction manager.

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    1. Quentin, when I worked the polls during the last primary, many many people did not know who one of the major players was and what they stood for. Do you mean to tell me these same people are worried about campaign financing? Ask people the most pressing issues in Bridgeport and NOT ONE will say campaign reform.

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  9. QD,
    Andy is quite right as a matter of fact. Until that tax bill hits, “Why worry, be happy.”
    Until a public safety expectation fails, a dependence on professional educators is proved baseless for your child, or when a “public servant” fails to take a moment to understand your situation and respond respectfully, it seems far removed from you as a citizen, a voter, a taxpayer. And then one day you remember POGO and Walt Kelly, Bridgeport cartoonist with his famous saying: WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US. Is there an military organization in the world that can protect us from ourselves presented in that fashion? Time will tell.

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  10. Quentin: I presented Joe’s plan in quite a bit of detail on this blog several weeks ago. Joe presented detailed pieces of his plan in the media, in his literature, and in the debates. The whole plan was presented by Joe, albeit in parts, if you were paying attention. You need to pay attention.

    You are running for office; I haven’t seen or heard anything of your plan. What is it? What is your mayoral candidate’s plan? I heard a bit of it at the debates, a couple of really good ideas, but no plan. Joe’s is out there, and it will be presented again. (Pay attention!) Where are yours and Rick’s?

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    1. Lennie posted a link to Torres’ tax video on this blog, which is on both Torres’ Facebook page and web site. Simply click on the word video highlighted in blue in the post on OIB. So far 20,000 Bridgeport residents have. Yes, we can track the location easily with GoogleAds.

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  11. it is mostly the same group of losers who have been posting on this site for years!!! What has changed? NOTHING!!! It seems the different factions of the Democrat party fight for the jobs they or their family members can glom. They are the winners and the rest of the people are the ones who pay!!! Someone mentioned MJF pays over $40,000 in taxes. If her home were down county near the water, her house would be worth at least double, and half the taxes!!! There have been some good Republican candidates for mayor, G. Comer, M. Garrett, R. Torres, but party IDEOLOGY, not the betterment of Bridgeport, prevailed!!! The sad thing is many people in Bridgeport won’t vote for Republicans because they are afraid they will lose their job or their free stuff!!! It is real sad!!!

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  12. Now is the time and here is the place to vote by the words of JFK.

    Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.

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  13. Jennifer–you’re smart, and good. But “power to the people,” out of Malcolm X’s playbook, and a black panther tattoo is asking a bit much. And calling an acceptance of an endorsement, without any quid pro quo, a “sell-out,” without any facts to back it up, is political smearing beyond comprehension. I only wish Rick would go back to being the guy I used to know.

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    1. To be clear, Torres Never said black panther, that is your interpretation of a symbol used for years by many races and organizations. Solidarity does not equal black panthers. He did say to show solidarity with my black brothers’ struggle. I know it confuses, offends and upsets a few people, his substance is solid. I would say from the conversation Rick had with Finch and what was offered him, with an attorney present, his experience would relate to a deal. MJF had her own spot on the ballot, she has accused Finch of backroom deals in print, she absolutely has accountability in the questioning of deals. More than a few of her 50 days in office promises are in direct opposition to Finch and probably cost him the primary. I am not saying she cut a deal, but in all honesty do you think she likes having him in photo ops and saying she has admired much about him and his tenure? Maybe the deal was I will pretend I like Bill, I will pretend I like Bill.

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      1. Jennifer, she has to admire many things about Finch. He has started the process of a transformed city. Steelpointe, Downtown, schools and parks.

        Now let’s see if Foster can get elected and continue and create.
        Jennifer honestly, Torres has about as much chance of becoming Mayor as Ganim has at getting the endorsement from President Obama.

        Come Back Bridgeport is correct, Rick Torres’ tattoo is extremely disturbing, his ideology is disturbing and he is a Republican in a city that is 10 to 1 in favor of Democrats.

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    2. You’re wrong about the tattoo, CBB. It’s not a “black panther” tattoo, it is a raised fist, a gesture that symbolizes “power to the people.” Get your information straight.

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  14. However, there is a young high school employee of Rick’s whose name is Karl Marxx, so perhaps I need to reexamine the thread you use to weave the storyline you present.

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  15. From reading this blog thoroughly, I don’t think anyone really knows anything about anyone. No real answers on candidate positions, no substance to philosophies on whether it is right or wrong for Ganim to even attempt this takeover. Though the “it is wrong” side does seem to have more bite than the “because he is Joe” side. Is it also a closed set of people whose minds are already made up on here anyway? If so, what’s the point? Just to argue for the sake of arguing, I would have to conclude. I am not excepting myself from my own critique. The only one of substance is John Lee, and you can tell people’s eyes glaze over from his details. But he is making a difference, partially to credit for the council’s decision to support access to government department heads. Way to go, John! John Lee for mayor. Write that in.

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    1. The number of hits on this site, and the number of people who read and do not comment, the arguments back and forth actually open a lot of the eyes of voters, to the candidates. People who post under their own name are usually recognized in parts of the city (present person big exception) and have influence on their friends, families and neighbors. And to know Lennie is to love him, and gosh darn it he did not get the easy ride back from his fall from grace. He figured out a way to use his talent and inside knowledge to earn a living and give us a place to vent, rant, laugh and support our beliefs and candidates. He does a body good. And, you do make excellent points in your post. I am voting for JML for city council, aren’t I lucky to have him on my side?

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    2. Thank you Park City too for your support. But Tyisha Toms and I are running for City Council in the 130th on November 3. Look for us at 10E and 11E on the ballot. And look for info on Bridgeport Watchdogs later in the week. Does it matter? Time will tell.

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      1. Apologies to readers, a correction, and an observation.

        Look for John M. Lee at 10E and Tyisha Toms at 10F. We are City Watchdogs and new and needed voices for District 130 voters.

        In the primary we were listed side by side on the Ganim line though we were not part of his candidacy nor because we had any choice in the matter.

        In the General Election, the submission of our petitions to run put me (10E) on the same line as Tony Barr for Mayor. Tyisha Toms will be (at 10F) on the same line as Chris Taylor who is running for Mayor. Barr has shared his history of incarceration with the public when he has spoken before the City Council and the Board of Education. Taylor’s website speaks of more than several misdemeanor criminal charges that seemed like life sentences before turning his life around.
        Tyisha Toms and I believe in life turnarounds as we each walk life’s journey. So we support those working “second chances” and those who ask for them. But we also look for real evidence to serve as verification of a new request to be trusted by others.

        It is an unusual year in Bridgeport when “the luck of the ballot draw” allows our first-time candidacy to run on the same lines UNINTENTIONALLY as three other candidates who somehow are using second chances to become public servants. For those who believe in second chances, what evidence standard do you require to show lasting and genuine turnaround? Will you seriously consider others who have not run afoul of our laws but who are using their “first time” opportunity” to serve the public well? Time will tell.

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  16. I believe Mary-Jane Foster will be known by many in this city before the Election comes in November. She will be active in many parts of the city and stating her case to make Bridgeport a city we all could be proud of.
    Of course she will not appear on the Front Page of the Post as other candidates because She Is Not a Crook and She is Not a Prejudiced Candidate.
    She is Capable, Willing and Able to do the job of Mayor for this City.
    No questions asked, a Vote for Mary-Jane Foster for Mayor is the correct, right and just way to go for this city.

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    1. Pat Fardy,
      Are you and Andy living in the same house? It seems he is not a happy camper with MJF so much so he is willing to let Ganim continue to steamroll Foster. No different from the primary I guess. Bob Walsh is still criticizing Finch while it is all the Finch people supporting Foster. Honestly, at what point do people wake up and admit they are assholes?

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        1. Yes, we are married for 49 years and we do not always agree on policy and candidates for offices. BUT on the FOSTER FOR BRIDGEPORT we do agree and will work for her. She has some very good people working for her now and things will change so she will be seen and known to many voters. Then they will see and understand why she would make a wonderful Mayor.
          VOTE FOR MARY-JANE FOSTER as our next Mayor for this city. Change is important and Changes will be made.

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  17. Ms. Foster’s name recognition is not that good. She doesn’t like knocking on doors, for one thing. That’s a drawback. For another, there aren’t that many armchair liberals, her voter base. She has maxed out at 9%, not enough for a mandate.

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  18. Jeff, I also posted mine weeks ago on this blog in a conversation with Ron Mackey. Here it is, albeit in bits and pieces.

    “Ron, I can answer your earlier question about the East End/Side. I’ve lived in the lower East Side, on Dover St., my entire life (55 years) in those brick row houses. What the residents in these areas need more than anything is a FINANCIAL break! Anybody who comes in with promises of reducing taxes, better schools, more jobs, or new businesses that doesn’t start with “reducing spending” is either a fool or a liar. I said many times on this blog I could cut the spending budget by 10% the first year without eliminating any social programs. I have many years working with multi-million dollar budgets and I know it can be done. We just need someone who’s not in someone else’s pockets and are able and have the integrity and courage to make the tough decisions that need to be made and put Bridgeport first. First you cut spending, then you put together a “fair” budget that is not larger than the money coming in and then you tackle taxes. All this is done in front of the public with all involved. And that’s how this Republican can address the issues of the East End and East Side.”

    “Ron, you have to start somewhere. After those three things start to take effect, then you have a city with a better business climate. With competitive tax rates you can lure business back without needing to give long abatements. Maybe five years max and negotiate the hiring of BPT residents for those newly created jobs. Now, those jobs will need a skilled and educated workforce and that’s when you start with the schools. If you look at schools being as businesses, no business would just throw more money at a failing business. They would either replace management or close all together. And the same can be said of the school system. First you give parents and their children all the choices available. The competition between those schools will weed out the bad ones. Then you look at how every individual school needs to be funded. I don’t believe as some do that teachers are the ones responsible, however I do believe there should be consequences for the bad ones. I believe many of the school issues are because of the way they are run, i.e. management. Our first and only priority should be the children, not cronyism, not nepotism, not unions.”

    “P.S. I was a Teamster for 18 years and in management for the last 17 years so I have a vast experience between the two. I know of what I speak.”

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  19. My read on the gripe of the Foster campaign is an attempt to point out the Ganim campaign did something to intentionally make it difficult to access the report of donors to the Ganim campaign. I feel it is a legitimate concern for anyone expecting the next administration to be open, accountable and transparent.

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    1. Tom White // Oct 10, 2015 at 12:39 pm
      To your post
      Tom,
      What’s obvious to you and what’s obvious to me is apparently not obvious to others, who do not know the difference between open, imaginative, absolutely legal campaign practices and the kind of deceptive campaign practices that would see the incumbent Mayor string a chain of green billboards all across the city of Bridgeport with his name loud and clear, along with his pitch about road paving. All paid for out of taxpayer dollars, not campaign dollars. Not legal, not ethical, not transparent.

      In the final analysis, the voters of Bridgeport have the right to vote and the opportunity to express their trust in an individual named Joe Ganim. I guess we will know then how upset they were with a campaign report submitted on paper rather than on a computer. Whew! That’s a big one.

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  20. Quentin: What you presented is the philosophical rationale for a plan, but it has virtually no specifics (in terms of goals, benchmarks, targets, numbers), not even “roundabout” general targets/goals for the major areas of city government concern. I respect your strong commitment to your philosophy, but you haven’t translated it into any sort of real plan. (Do you have access to Rick’s plan?)

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  21. Most of you guys are nuts. Are we really going to elect a 16-felony-count criminal to the mayor’s office? And becomie once again the laughing stock of pro-development America? Let’s get real. Mary-Jane number one, Rick number two. Ganim, no number.

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    1. Come Back Bridgeport. As long as people say they do not know who Mary-Jane Foster is, as long as Ganim gets daily face time on News 12 with his groupie Frank Recchia, as long as Ganim has his signs on every public property available, one might assume the city of Bridgeport would elect a 16-felony-count criminal. But we all know to assume makes an ass out of you and me. Ganim has had 1000s of signs all over the city for months so when people say Who is Mary-Jane Foster, don’t be shocked. Then add to that row G, it makes that election possibility very real. Add to that the many different people speaking different languages voting, the visual of Foster’s name on a sign couldn’t hurt. There is a lot of work for Foster to do in three weeks. How about a sense of urgency?!

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