Foster Concedes–Finch Wins Democratic Primary

Mayor Bill Finch, riding the power of incumbency and the Democratic party apparatus in a low turnout, turned back a spirited challenge from Mary-Jane Foster to win the Democratic nomination for mayor. Unofficial results show Finch winning overall, including absentee ballots, by roughly 5400 to Foster’s 3800. Finch’s absentee ballot operation alone, led by Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa, defeated Foster by roughly 450 votes. More than 300 absentee ballots combined were cast in the East Side 137th District, terrain of the queen of absentee ballots City Councilwoman Lydia Martinez, and in the 138th District.

Finch moves on to the November general election where he’ll face Republican Rick Torres, the GOP nominee in 2003, and policy wonk Jeff Kohut who is running as an independent petitioning candidate. Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 10 to 1.

Unofficial results show Finch carried a majority of city precincts running up large wins in the West End and portions of the North End. Foster won on the machine count in her home precinct Black Rock, Roosevelt School in the South End where University of Bridgeport students voted and Geraldine Johnson School. Several other precincts were very close. Absentee ballots, 880 were cast, are expected to provide an additional 450-vote plurality for Finch on top of his machine total plurality. Finch campaign operatives had predicted a super low turnout and that’s exactly what they got, unofficially the turnout was around 21 percent. The city has 43,485 registered Democrats. Finch’s machine total reflects a performance respectably above the vote trend of the party’s endorsed candidate for mayor compared to his 2007 primary vote total when he defeated Chris Caruso and also a similar number John Fabrizi received in 2003. In fact, Finch performed strong on Tuesday in the legislative district that Caruso had served. Caruso beat Finch handily there four years ago. Caruso did not endorse Foster despite Foster operatives making many overtures to him.

Foster emerged as the lone challenger to Finch when Caruso accepted a gubernatorial appointment from Dan Malloy and two other announced candidates for mayor, John Gomes and Charlie Coviello dropped out to endorse Foster, co-founder of the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball team, and executive vice president at the University of Bridgeport. This was her first run for public office and she stitched together many former Finch supporters unhappy with his job performance with factions of the party. Denied a ballot spot by Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala because of one too many candidates for Board of Education on her slate, Foster sought relief–and received it–from Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis who ordered Foster placed on the September primary ballot. In doing so, Bellis pushed the scheduled September 13 primary to September 27.

Precinct results:
www.ctpost.com/databases/item/Bridgeport-Primary-2011-results-6418.php

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115 comments

    1. Blaming Caruso, wow! Blame the messenger. Obviously the citizens don’t agree with the 20 people who post on this site. It is now time for the Mea Culpas … The first should come from Jim Fox/Ronin for a nasty campaign, the second should come from The Bridgeport Kid, you are obviously just a blooming idiot who thinks he knows Bridgeport, but you are clueless on its neighborhoods and history, go home. I’m glad there was a competitive primary as it was much needed in this city. It is time for everyone to get together and solve the problems the city faces, stop the mudslinging and do something constructive. I’m sure the rants will be ugly on OIB for the next few days but it is time to realize, and this might be hard for you to comprehend, this site really does not speak for the majority of the citizens of Bridgeport nor does the majority visit this site. Peace, and God Bless The City of Bridgeport.

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      1. It’s really somewhat pathetic some of the naysayers on here truly believe just because they post negative comments, the voting population feels the same way they do. Today proved them wrong. God bless Bridgeport and Mayor Finch!

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        1. Congrats Godiva, you still have a job. Now please stop asking for trouble on here. You have not been very ladylike, and truthfully, you asked for most of what you got in spades. Go home to the suburbs and leave us Bridgeport residents alone.

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        2. As my great-grandparents in Czarist Russia used to pray: May G-d bless Finch, Testa, and even Godiva–and keep them far away from us. May Finch, Testa and Beccaro have all blessing in a Federal penitentiary far away from Bridgeport for time enough to allow Bridgeport government became a place where respect, dignity and integrity rule the day.

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      2. I’ve worked my way out of some personal difficulties in the past, seen the underside of Bridgeport from a perspective I would never wish on anyone else. I am aware of some of the city’s history. Not all of it, but lack of knowledge on the subject is of no consequence. What I’ve seen is the city’s public education system is probably the worst east of the Mississippi. I do agree with Finch, the state of Connecticut needed to be called in. I don’t agree with the way he went about it or his motivations and agenda. Hopefully the State Supreme Court will sort it out.
        There’s a lot of poverty in this city. Coupled with the non-functioning schools and a high unemployment rate this creates a fertile environment for hopelessness and despair. I know, I’ve been there. I’m motivated by the greater good, not the history books.

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      3. bporteye // Sep 27, 2011 at 9:56 pm
        To your posting

        I don’t think we have to preach to the choir in quite so heavy handed a manner.

        Your conclusion about the people of OIB and others seriously sells short the goldmine of principles to start implementing independent of a slow-moving bureaucracy paralyzed.
        Your assessment short lives its value because we all know already the OIB visitor is not all of Bridgeport’s residents or voters.
        What has been interesting however, is to learn about the OIB visitors who have been more than able to present a vital, informed, collective intelligence presented through the communication medium of posting. And it is a gift these OIB postings reflect and are the creations of so many diverse perspectives.
        This is what I want to encourage. I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination was OiB ever intended to speak for “the majority of citizens.”

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  1. *** It’s been an uphill battle, but which way is up? Could it be another four years of complaining on OIB? Is Bpt headed upstream without a paddle due to lack of voter interest? Let them eat cake, no? *** FORGETABOUTIT ***

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      1. Testa is not to be faulted for everything. His twin lobster specials when he has them are the best and the veal Parmigiana isn’t bad either although I still love my favorite place San Remo, Everything is excellent!

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  2. We learned a lot about this Bridgeport from people like the Kid, Beacon, Mojo etc. People who could read and understand what they read, we are fortunate to be in contact with them. I see the light at the end of the tunnel for Finch and club, as a federal train comin’ to take them away. I am not talkin’ sour grapes, just reality.

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    1. I would agree with Black Rockin. bporteye should not criticize those who exercise their right of free speech who happen to be intelligent, democracy is on the verge of becoming fascism in BPT when those who speak up are punished while those who remain obedient sheep are rewarded financially. Certainly those usual suspects who show up every election for monetary self-interest do not represent the citizens of Bridgeport. Don’t kid yourselves in the Finch camp. This is anything BUT a mandate. As far as why we lost, I think we could have operated better with educating the populace and volunteers on how politics work in Bridgeport. It is intimidating to those who don’t take it as second nature and who haven’t survived the status quo to understand how things like absentee ballots work or where the districts are, etc. The entrenched arrogance of the Democratic machine demoralizes the populace and leads them to lump the good people in with the bad and be repulsed by politics in general. It is imperative, though, that we strive to get more good citizens active in politics. It is the only way change will ever come.

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  3. No way, yahooy. The North End was critical. Caruso spent 20 years yapping about how bad the political machine was and then sold it all up the river for some padding on his retirement pay all at a time when thousands of hard-working ACTUALLY skilled workers were slated to be cut by Malloy. This election was Caruso’s to ignore. No North End … no primary win for Foster. Anyone who knows anything knew this from the start. He was just fattening frogs for snakes. Mario pulled out the stops last time and the margin was only a few hundred. Caruso chose to let reform twist in the wind.

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    1. I agree with you. I just don’t think we need to blame Caruso for this loss. His silence during the primary was deafening. The man has never held a job. He can’t screw up this gig. Without it, he is on the street. I’d like to know who told him what.

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      1. Chris Caruso is not to blame for the loss. He certainly could have helped. The Foster field operations were not strong and exciting volunteers was non existent. Caruso will definitely have a hard time finding support on any future endeavors he may have. All Democrats need not feel they have to run to another party. The election is over. Finch won and life will suck if we are waiting for his failure. If he succeeds over the next four years, great! If he does not, we will have have to try this again. It is politics, you work your ass off and when it is over you support the victor because we are in this together.

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  4. I am sick to my stomach. Mary-Jane represented HOPE. How much more can we take? Four more years of pretending Bill Finch is the man for the job. Four more years of waiting and wondering when the ax is going to come down on more employees while the favorite few get raises and friends get jobs. Four more years of that suit and that smile!!!

    The large majority of people (who didn’t bother to vote) don’t even realize what they did by staying home.

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  5. Sorry to say it but Bridgeport gets what it deserves. Over half million spent on this primary and people don’t even bother to vote. Apathy is not a strong enough word.

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  6. I would like to congratulate Mayor Finch. The people have spoken and we will have to support and hope you succeed in the next four years. I have worked very hard for a candidate who I believed in and wish her the best. I have also worked with some amazing individuals. Today at one of the largest voting precincts in the city, I had the opportunity to work alongside what seemed like the entire Democratic Town committee. One man is not an army and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know how to prepare for battle. I had an amazing day competing with Mayor Finch, a confrontation with Mario Testa, chatting with Mayor John Fabrizi, Mayor Joe Ganim, Michelle Lyons, Ms. Pappas from their lighthouse program, members of the board of education, members of the electrical union from Waterbury, Marilyn Santacroce, Dennis Scinto, Dennis Scinto Jr., etc. etc. etc. It was a great day sparring with these people. Sorry Mario, I still love your restaurant. Please do not poison me the next time I am in there. All things considered, the 40 votes lost to Finch is not so bad considering the pathetic turnout and the Machine unified on one front. I actually like and respect nearly every one of them and when you are on opposite teams you say some pretty hurtful things. I will say I have met some great folks on both sides of the fence. The election is over and we move on. I am sad at this moment having been deprived of sleep for nearly 40 hours. I do not regret any of this. Mary-Jane Foster made an impact and made history in many ways. I do not regret anything as I know I did everything I could possibly do to support my candidate with passion, sometimes to an extreme. Oh yeah I also had the Mayor’s two kids, Peter and Chris, two very nice young men. Asking voters to vote for their father was like seeing two kids saying if my dad doesn’t win we will go hungry. The point is Mayor Finch had his supporters there and I must admit they came out strong for him and I appreciate their effort. Enough said. I would do it again for Mary-Jane Foster and I wish Mayor Bill Finch a successful four years. I love Bridgeport and Mayor Finch must succeed. We are all in this together and united we stand, divided we fall. Best wishes to all of the great people who I have met and crossed paths with in the past few months. L’Shanah Tovah A Happy New Year to all of you. May it be sweet and joyful!

    Steven L. Auerbach

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    1. Rosh Hashanah, there is a ceremony called Tashlich.
      Jews traditionally go to a running body of water such as the ocean, a stream or a river to pray and throw in breadcrumbs. This symbolizes throwing away one’s sins which the fish devour.
      Occasionally, people ask what kinds of breadcrumbs should be thrown. Here are some suggestions for breads which may be most appropriate for specific sins and misbehaviors:
      For ordinary sins–White Bread
      For erotic sins–French Bread
      For particularly dark sins–Pumpernickel
      For complex sins–Multi grain
      For sins of indecision–Waffles
      For sins committed in haste–Matzos
      For sins of chutzpah–Any fresh bread
      For substance abuse–Stoned wheat
      For committing auto theft-Caraway
      For timidity/cowardice-Milk toast
      For ill-temper-Sourdough
      For silliness, eccentricity–Nut bread
      For excessive irony–Rye bread
      For unnecessary chances–Hero bread
      For war-mongering–Kaiser rolls
      For dressing immodestly–Tarts
      For lechery and promiscuity-Hot buns
      For promiscuity with gentiles–Hot cross buns
      For racist attitudes–Crackers
      For being holier than thou–Bagels
      For overeating–Stuffing
      For indecent photography–Cheesecake
      For raising your voice too often–Challah
      For pride and egotism–Puff pastry
      For sycophancy, ass-kissing–Brownies
      For being overly smothering–Angel food cake
      For trashing the environment–Dumplings
      For telling bad jokes/puns–Corn bread

      A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL

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    2. Steve, you’re full of sh**!!! Your campaign tactics didn’t work!!! Try being honest instead of making untrue statements about people. Those who live in glass houses should not cast stones! Better luck next time!

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      1. HAHA2. I am full of SH**? My campaign tactics? My lies? My glass house? Okay, why don’t you state who you are? State your facts. Why you are being a jerk after I congratulated the Mayor and let’s be honest. Hiding behind a new alias is cool but if you have a comment to make to me, identify yourself and throw a rock at this glass house and I can assure you it will not crack. MAKING UNTRUE STATEMENTS IS NOT MY FAVORITE PASTIME. PLEASE IDENTIFY THE STATEMENT AND I will happily respond. Otherwise I wish you well and enjoy your victory. I will have peaceful thoughts and well wishes and forgive you for your comments. It’s not about luck. It’s about faith in a candidate and supporting them because you believe they will be better for the City of Bridgeport. I do not always agree with my friends and foes. Some of my best friends are Republicans. I was a Republican after all for two years and supported Mary Moran. I did not agree with all of her actions but on a personal note she has become a very good friend. I am not sure about your glass house scenario but again, identify yourself and explain how you happened to pop out of the closet the day after the election. I do not recall ever seeing a post from you. You do know I was a volunteer and not a paid political strategist.

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  7. I worked my a** off for MJF and it was well worth the fight. That being said I cannot under any circumstances support a corrupt machine that continues to suck the city dry. Really, if Finch is elected again, what changes? Nothing. Same s**t, different year. I’m writing a check and hope to offer the Torres campaign whatever assistance they need. Rick can’t be bought. Say what you want, but the kid has the courage to speak his mind.

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  8. I think Mary-Jane Foster ran a great campaign and was an outstanding mayoral candidate. Since there is essentially no Republican party, checks & balances come from the primary.

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  9. Winners of the night!
    Mayor Finch
    Adam Wood
    Mario Testa
    Losers of the Night!
    Mary-Jane Foster
    John Gomes
    Ernie Newton
    Marilyn Moore
    Joel Gonzalez
    Jason Bartlett
    Jason Bartlett
    Jason Bartlett
    Jason Bartlett

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    1. Under your “losers of the night” you omitted the most important losers. The taxpayers of BPT.
      Congratulations to “Mayor” Finch you ran a brilliant campaign. You proved democracy isn’t always in our best interests.
      Congratulations to MJF and her team for reinvigorating interest in an honest city government.
      Congratulations to all of the people who took time out of their busy day to support the candidate of their choice.
      Lastly, congratulations to all you lazy bastards who didn’t vote at all, you got what you deserve.

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  10. *** Are Bpt voters really content with the political structure as is, do they feel the city is headed in the right direction? Do they care or are they just fed up with politics in general? Is an autopilot party more appealing than independent choice? Forty-plus thousand registered voters & barely 20% come out to vote in a Mayors race; pathetic! “Big ups” to those who took the time to care & exercise their right as a voter. Time to regroup & prepare for another upcoming battle this winter for local district DTC slates, no? *** KEEP THE FAITH ***

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  11. It is Wednesday, September 28, the August monthly budget report, for the second month of the 2012 fiscal year should be in the City Clerk’s office. Shouldn’t it? Do you believe the words of the City Charter?

    The public in general, both winners and losers, from yesterday’s Democratic primary do not know, or truly care, I guess. But you can draw a straight line from Sunday’s CT Post feature on City finances including debt, responsibilities, and obligations through our budget process right to the unshared Management Letters from Blum Shapiro, the City external auditors read by Mayor Finch and cabinet each year with no public notice. Material weaknesses and significant deficiencies are not comments to be coveted. They rank right down there with a Fitch A rating. Taxes will now rise, real estate values will suffer further, real economic development will delay further and the public will wonder, “How did this happen?”

    Too many people stayed home yesterday. They were probably too busy! Some were busy with jobs and family, but most of the parents at the school I worked at did not vote. Where is the disconnect between voting and education budgets, and teachers, and supplies? Bridgeporter Walter Kelly be praised, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

    This is not a rant, to the rant averse. It is a requiem prayer. Just a few words from a tired worker on behalf of opening up City process and results to all of the people. God may bless us. And praying is good, no doubt. But justice is served in pursuit of the smallest and least able who cannot stand up for themselves, and works of mercy are especially necessary when justice is not served. A “palm card” for the civically unknowing or a payment for a vote are signs of the sickness and fever that is yet present in our municipal body.

    Self-service, in the public arena, is not the pursuit of justice and it is not the traditional American way we feel in our hearts on Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day or the recent 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.

    The pursuit of institutional and structural “open, accountable and transparent” (OAT) process is more necessary today than ever before. The 2011 primary is history. But the problems, issues and concerns remain. Time will tell.

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  12. My school was Central, and let me start by saying the Finch crew was indeed present over there. Present, cheerful and very pleasant. Kudos to well-paid supporters for Finch, they did their jobs and they did them well. Nary a cross word was passed between us, some light sparring here and there, but not much.

    The tireless work of Gejuan Williams for council yesterday should not be without mention. He was at the School all day with a smile on his face. We did not lose 132-2 by much. 32 votes to Finch in that part of the district, but it kind of surprises me the folks in Bridgeport leave the choosing of the Mayor up to the few who do come out and vote in the Democratic primary. I don’t really think they get it, and don’t think most of them really care. Shame on Bridgeport for that. But that apathy leaves no room to complain. The next time I am listening to a complaint in my neighborhood my first question will be: Did you vote in the primary? If the answer is no, I will gracefully change the subject.

    Thank you to all the tireless MJF volunteers who banded together, shared poll workers and ran around for the Cause all day yesterday.

    Thank you Mary-Jane Foster, for fighting the good fight.

    Thank you Jason Bartlett for knowing what to do every time I asked you.

    Thank you all!!!

    And God Help this City.

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  13. A recent posting read “Jim Fox is kicking ass in Black Rock.” Well, Jim Fox got his ass kicked, he came in dead last out of the four candidates for city council. Sue Brannelly was the top vote getter at Black Rock School, even more than MJF. Hopefully a lesson learned here is negative campaigning will backfire on you.

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  14. Well Jim Fox probably reported Jim Fox was kicking ass. He has multiple personas on here, himself, Ronin, cupcake, and possibly one or two others. I think all of his campaigning was on here and here only. I live in Black Rock and saw very few of his signs.

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  15. This is hardly a mandate for Bill Finch. It should serve as a wake-up call to Marty “Tardy” McCarthy and Sue “I’m out of the loop” Brannelly to attend City Council meetings on a more regular basis. Hopefully McCarthy will pay attention and not spend the duration of the meeting texting on his cell phone.

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    1. Hey Kid, instead of bitching about everyone why don’t you do something about it? If you think they aren’t living up the job go do something about it. Calling them names on here isn’t going to serve as a wake-up call to anyone. Just makes you look like a whiner hiding behind his computer.

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      1. Don’t worry about it, pal. It would be in the best interests of the people of the city of Bridgeport if the City Council, all 20 of them, took the time to examine every aspect of the budgets submitted by the mayor. The City Council exists to provide oversight, not a rubber stamp. There is no mandate here. The mayor will raise taxes after the November election. That’s the only viable option to clear up the city’s debt, short of declaring bankruptcy. But he will wait until after the November election and get it out of the way before an indictment is handed down by a federal grand jury.

        It’s hard to fathom the machine supported an incumbent who will be forced from office next year.

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  16. I hope and pray these dissenting voices stay alive on this blog. All the great things in Bridgeport have happened in spite of its politicians so please keep blogging. I worry about the issues not discussed, such as how our property values have kept going lower and lower under Finch. That makes it impossible to refinance or to sell a property. I worry about what is going to happen to Downtown North. I worry about what is going to happen to the Palace and Majestic Theaters, the Remington Shot Tower, the Mechanics and Farmers Building, the Newfield Building, McLevy Hall, the blocks purchased by Forestone, the Middle Street Boys Club, the Kayes Building and other architectural treasures. I worry about a seaport being boarded up. I worry about an abandoned Pleasure Beach. I worry about an abandoned bath house at Seaside Park. I worry about the horrendous state of the roads for bike safety. I worry about our fragile artist population, will this bad election discourage them to the point of giving up and leaving Bridgeport? I worry about the Knowlton Street Corridor and the Brass site. I worry about the wasteland on the Stratford Avenue Commercial Corridor. I worry about the Catholic Diocese closing down parishes in the inner city. I worry about the wasteland that was the project of BEDCO on the East End and Seaview Avenue. I worry about all the vacant land around Steel Point, East Main Street, Congress Plaza and Bryant Electric. I worry about a City that has no grassroots community organizations in that most of them have died. I worry about a City run by outsiders who do not give a hoot for the people living here. I worry about a disenfranchised population who don’t feel any empowerment and who get bossed around by political bullies. I worry about how Harborview Towers gets bought off by $5 million in Stimulus Money for new windows then has their ABs filled out by corrupt politicians. I worry about a gutless newspaper that changed its name from Bridgeport Post to Connecticut Post.
    How can anybody celebrate this election?

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    1. Bridgeporteur, That was amazing. Do I know you? Development in all four corners of the city is my favorite topic. I do not know if anyone is still celebrating this election. It is Thursday and it is just like this past Monday. Bill Finch is still Mayor and life will move forward. If the people of this city decided to stay at home instead of vote, there is nothing that can be done. The voter turnout was pathetic but make no mistake about it, Foster was a formidable candidate with a lot of business experience. The party knew Foster was resonating strong in the North End and that is why the entire DTC walked the area as well as the Mayor three days before the election and stood steadfast at the Winthrop school. I must admit the picture of Finch hugging his kids was priceless after he was announced as the winner. It is because he wasn’t as confident as the press makes him out to be. But Finch will be Mayor for the next four years and to continue attacking now that the election is over is a waste of time. We are all first and most importantly Bridgeport residents. Anything negative happening in this city is going to affect all of us. Eventually the 1500 Foster signs will come down and the Torres and Kohut signs will go up. The people will have a choice again and I am sure this time around the turnout will be just as pathetic. Mary-Jane Foster was the chance for change this time around. Finch needs to make some changes and I am sure he will survive. I like Rick Torres but I would rather stick needles in my eyes than support another Republican in this lifetime. Jeff Kohut is also a terrific guy. Good luck to all!

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  17. Unfortunately there is no Republican presence of any significance in Bridgeport … Just like New Haven, Hartford and every other urban center. That’s why the checks & balances have to come from the primary process.

    MJF was a great candidate. She was tough, aggressive and pretty smart. She has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Same is true with most of her supporters.

    Here’s the message I would give her supporters–I have never understood why so many of the extremley vocal naysayers particularly as well as the well-intentioned do not get involved with the district town committee.

    If you want change, get a couple of people who think the same way and primary for the district seats. Even if you can’t get the whole slate on board, you’ll make progress and ultimately the City is the better for it.

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    1. There’s enough of a GOP presence in Bridgeport to change the composition of the City Council. Members of that body are elected from a much smaller pool of voters. A few hundred ballots is all it takes. Walking around a voting district burns up less shoe leather. I’m backing John Slater for the 130th.

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  18. OMG!
    Bridgeporteur–There’s no hope … You’d be better off if you got a one-way ticket on the Port Jeff ferry and in mid-sound jumped off.

    Get a grip.

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  19. Last time the people of Bridgeport lost in the primary, Chris Caruso approached Keith Cougar Rodgerson to have Rodgerson relinquish his Independent slot to Caruso so he could run again in the General Election. Had Rodgerson agreed, there is absolutely no doubt Caruso would have won the General Election by mandate.

    After a few days of contemplation, I think MJF should give close consideration to approaching Kohut. Like Caruso, she would certainly win the General Election.

    It had become abundantly clear Mario Testa cannot lose a primary. So why bother? MJF certainly has all of the credentials to be a successful mayor. This is not criticism, I just wonder why skilled candidates don’t simply bypass the primary and run as an independent.

    My last question is if MJF were so inclined could she still file as an Independent and run in November?

    Finally, I’m proud of MJF and the many dedicated people who worked so hard to rid us of the Testa-controlled government.

    Big lesson learned. Next time, Mario, we will hear you coming and I promise you we will be ready. Enjoy the next four. It’s all you get. Try not to drive us any further into the shithole you have forced us to live in.

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  20. Bpt Kid & Bridgeporteur,
    In politics just as in business, success comes from hitting a lot of singles and doubles. An occasional home run is great but not a strategy for the long run.

    You guys keep whining about how terrible things are per your list of woes stated earlier … So stipulated. But unless you get a voice in the process, you will not be able to influence change.

    Pinning all your hopes on MJF or Rick Torres or having Kohut step down or whatever is the Bridgeport political equivalent of a minor leaguer making it to the World Series and hitting a home run to win the title … Great plot for a movie but it rarely happens!

    My earlier point that keeps eluding you two … Get involved with town committees, start running for council, build up a base within the Democratic party. That’s how change happens but that requires a long-term view and a mature approach to accomplishing a task. Accordingly it would be others, not you guys.

    Quit whining about the machine … It exists as such because reasonable people who want change (not you two) have not gotten involved.

    Singles & doubles are what you guys keep overlooking.

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    1. Once again FBD, Class, Class, Class! Good Form. Finch is lucky to have someone like you on his side. I agree with the singles and doubles idea but right now, a home run is the only salvation. Moving forward, yes, we should worry about advancing the runners one base at a time. Now about the DTC. It’s kind of rough to rage against the machine with Mario, the machine conductor’s ever-present influence. He has ways of making things happen the little folks can’t fight. And we are all little folks to Mario. It’s just sickening he does not even live here, truly nauseating.

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    2. I hear what you’re saying. I’ve stepped up my efforts to hold the mayor’s office and City Council more accountable. That is a change that is not going to happen overnight, and I’m not going to struggle alone. There is a core of MJF supporters who will be demanding openness, transparency and accountability of the elected officials in Bridgeport. It is something of an uphill battle. Bill Finch is loathe to tell anyone what he is doing. City Attorney Mark Anastasi doesn’t like to honor FOI requests unless forced to. And several will be coming. Bridgeport’s finances are a clusterfuck that has been devolving for about twenty years. Joseph Ganim tried to fix part of it by selling bonds to cover the city’s pension fund obligations. It worked in the short term but the debt obligation on the bonds created more problems. John Fabrizi presented several of what he called balanced budgets, budgets that relied on one-time revenues. This sort of voodoo accounting makes for pleasant State of the City speeches at the Holiday Inn but does nothing to address the long-term problems. More input from the public should be encouraged but that won’t happen. Bill Finch doesn’t think democracy works in Bridgeport because so many of us are illegal immigrants or criminals.

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    3. You’re a little off base here. None of us whine. This blog provides a forum. Bridgeport’s citizens are effectively shut out of the political process. Ever attend the public-speaking segment of a City Council meeting? Most of the time less than half of the Council is present. That’s how much they care about what people think. Sad, really. There are many people who care deeply about the city of Bridgeport, many of whom post here on a regular basis. And a majority of the members of the City Council can’t be bothered to listen.

      Leaving the DTC alone for now, when will Mr. Finch make good on his campaign promise of more transparency in city governance? When will members of the City Council actually ask questions about the budgets submitted for their approval? If a bad budget is passed it is not the mayor’s responsibility alone. The City Council has to approve it. And why is the City Attorney allowed so much input into Council matters?

      The Democratic Town Committee is a closed shop. They do not want change, so why bother getting involved? I’m not just being rhetorical. Give me a compelling answer, FBD. The GOP Town Committee is an ineffective organization. The Republican Party more or less disappeared from Bridgeport in the ’90s. There are approximately 43,000 registered Democrats in Bridgeport, only 7,000 registered Republicans. So joining a party committee is a waste of time. It is a better idea to form a coalition of concerned citizens, raise the necessary funds and force the city government to be transparent.

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    4. Mr. Frustrated Democrat. Feel welcome to take any of those topics I mentioned and get to work yourself. I mention specifics and you go for the rhetoric. Roll up your sleeves buddy, let’s go!

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    5. I agree, you are correct! Stop complaining, people. There is NO corruption in this city. Do you have FACTS???
      Stop blaming the current administration for what happened in the past. This is a new day. Get over it! If you are not going to get out there and do something about it, then stop putting people down for trying!

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      1. HAHA2,
        Facts about finances, Bridgeport 101 have been available daily for months now. Are you a new student here, or repeating the Class with a new name?
        The current administration has plenty of blame for what it has done in the past three years. It is deserved blame. And when you say “get out there and do something about it,” just what did you have in mind? Municipal finances are a daily thing. Taxes are paid twice a year, salaries more frequently, primaries far less regularly. There is no place to do in between elections, have you noticed? Can’t participate in money meetings? Can’t gain access to important information without FOI requests frequently? Can’t count on respectful listening from many Council members on topics other than what they want in their District? So what is your set of facts? Let’s see if there is something we can agree upon, please. Then I can understand your opinions maybe.
        By the way, is “getting over it” like forgetting the lessons of history or lived experience?

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        1. BEACON2, As you stated, facts about the city’s financials are available. We are able to attend council meetings and ask questions. Do other cities share the information you are referring to? Why is this Bridgeport Administration always wrong or doing something illegal? If they were, don’t you think they would have been caught by now? The CT Post writes enough articles about it!
          Take a look at what other cities’ budgets are, how they are handled. Are we all in the same boat?
          I understand your frustrations, Finch was handed a lot of this mess when he took office. He did not create it.
          My comment about “getting over it” referred to the actions of the previous administration. We cannot continue to have the “corruption attitude” with this or any new administration. It’s just not fair.
          Like it or not, Finch won. The voters have spoken. Give him and his administration a chance to do the jobs they were elected to do. Negativity and Jealousy will get our city nowhere …

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          1. HAHA2,
            Not so quickly. There is no right to attend Council Meetings and ask questions (unless you are talking about the 30-minute sessions with five-minute limits where many Council members are absent?) And the questions receive no answers. Personally I have walked through pastures where the grazing creatures were more interested in my silent passage by them, than when I addressed the assembled members recently in Council Chambers!

            The current administration has ignored the Charter and ordinance language calling for “internal audit staff.” That is a responsibility of a “person” or persons skilled and experienced to protect the public from a variety of risks and wrongdoings. The Finch administration eliminated such personnel while maintaining the present fiction in their budget presentations and audit materials. Is that illegal? Don’t know. I am not an attorney. Is it dishonest or deceitful. I would guess YES.
            If Bill doesn’t like the rules and regulations, get a group, reform that which is out of date.
            There is a lot more to it. Read the archives and what I have written. Challenge the specifics I post today if you can. I am happy for the dialogue. But stop telling people to forget the lessons they have learned this year. Maturity and wisdom come from lived experiences, not from being herded by a HAHA!

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  21. A headline in the electronic CT POST said it best … voter apathy, antipathy and ignorance. I guess we get what we deserve and deserve what we get. Been down so long it looks like up to me.

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  22. I agree with Mojo. Those who believe the DTC should operate under the ‘no two-position rule’ should put challenge slates together for the winter Town Committee elections–for both parties. No two-position rule: if you get elected to the TC you will not work for the city or board of Ed; you will not run for an elected office; and you will not serve on a board or commission. You will perform your one and only statutorily mandated function: nominate the best and brightest, culturally and geographically diverse candidates for the elected and appointed positions in the city and state. There must be 100 Democrats who can be found out of 40k+ registered Dems who meet that standard. Mojo, that is where the reform energy can really make a difference given what happened yesterday. Wake up Bridgeport. As BEACON2 keeps writing and the Sunday’s CT Post article further described, the finances of this city are abysmal. Who in their right mind would invest in Bridgeport when the City doesn’t fully disclose its true financial position? Reform is essential.

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    1. countdown: Yours is a naive pollyanna look at the TC. Who is going to change the rules? The existing TC? I think not. The people of Bridgeport spoke yesterday by staying home. Do you really think they are going to come out for a town committee primary? Please, get real.
      When the bills that have not been paid such as pension plan A come due and the tax bill arrives, the people of Bridgeport will realize they made a mistake staying home on their dead asses.

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  23. yahooy, don’t rewrite history. Caruso was turned down by the Bridgeport First party for the endorsement and rightfully so as he had already promised the public he wouldn’t run in the general and was working closely with Parziale and other “problematic” individuals. Had he become Mayor he probably would have taken a Malloy patronage job to pad his state pension and left anyway. Kohut has no line to give away. This election is Republican vs. Democrat vs. Kohut personally, period.

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    1. You mean Rodgerson denied Caruso the Bridgeport First slot. Keith was observed at Murphy’s Law yukking it up with Finch and all the other Calamarians while the General Election Votes were announced and then he took a chump-change “consulting” gig with the city. Who is rewriting history? Enjoy the next four. It’s all you get.

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  24. Folks,
    Yesterday, INDIVIDUALS won office. The CITY and the POPULACE lost.

    Regroup, form new opposition, and I say we give them hell in the winter committee primaries. After yesterday’s performance, I am considering running for a town committee spot.

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  25. Look, if you folks really want change it isn’t out of the question for November. Get behind one of the other candidates and push for their election.

    43,000 Dems, usually 20,000 vote in big elections
    17,000 independents
    4500 Republicans

    Do the math. get out on the street and convince people to vote Republican or independent.

    independents+Republicans+Dems for change = a big change.

    Blogging and bitching isn’t going to get it done.

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      1. I spoke with Rick Torres today. I also reached out to John Slater, a GOP City Council candidate for the 130th. I have question as to whether or not Rick Torres or any GOP candidate can win a citywide election. The Common Council is a different matter. The districts are smaller; a few hundred votes is all it takes to get elected or nominated. It makes a lot of sense to have at least a few Republicans on the Council. As it is completely made up of DTC candidates that merely rubber stamp Finch’s budgets nothing really moves forward. We need a few elephants to go with the jackasses …

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    1. The mayor’s office is owned by Bill Finch. Back in ’07 he promised openness and transparency in city government. He has delivered neither transparency nor openness. He has been able to pass budgets that don’t really pass the smell test because none of the members of the Common Council has the inclination to question the mayor. If they show up for Council meetings and committee hearings at all, that is. With the notable exception of Bob “Don’t call me no troll” Walsh none of the aldermen is able to comprehend complex budgetary issues.

      Finch’s re-election is more or less assured. The most prudent course of action is to support other candidates for City Council. There are a few Republicans running in November. The GOP has a tradition of fiscal conservatism. Some of that would go a long way toward fixing the city’s budgetary woes.

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  26. There seems to be only three ways to win an election in BPT.
    1. Be Mario’s boy. Then Mario really won and you are only a figurehead
    2. Legally change your name to ‘Line 1A.’ It seemed many of the people voting could not pick their candidate out of the a photo lineup. They just know to vote Line 1A.
    3. Campaign for the other guy. Many of the voters did not come to vote to see their candidate win. They voted so their guy does not lose. If you let out polls that proclaim ‘Finch will win by a landslide,’ many of the Finch voters would stay home and let everyone else take care of the voting. This would also serve to keep the ‘dragon’ sleeping. Mario would not bother starting the machine if he were convinced the election was in the bag. Why risk cheating if you do not have to? Let the new OIB battlecry be ‘Vote them in, Republican.’ Hit the streets and get people to vote. Just do it quietly. When you are asked, say Finch. When you vote, vote Torres. The secret seems to be–keep it secret. Do not wake the bear. Just sneak up on him.

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  27. I posted this formula over a month ago in relationship to winning elections.
    D= is Dissatisfaction with the current situation (WHY is this change necessary?)
    V= is Vision of what is possible in the future (WHERE are we going?)
    F= is First Steps that are achievable towards the vision (HOW do we get there?)
    R= is Resistance to change

    The combination of D, V, and F must be greater than R.

    If you want to beat an incumbent in an urban city you must convince low-informational voters to fire the current office holder, well Bridgeport proved change is extremely difficult. So now what are the Foster supporters going to do about it? The “machine” wins because they have some very smart people working on the nuts and bolts of their campaign operation.Who did you all have to counter that advantage? Fieldwork is knowing the lay of the land and finding targets of opportunity for your candidate. MJF registering UB students was smart, but where else were you getting your voters? Your coalition of disgruntled, dissatisfied, and plain pissed off wasn’t enough to beat an incumbent so there had to be other targets, again what happened? The field game for the Finch campaign was better, bottom line. Look at the numbers, in the last three primaries no candidate received over 4600 votes, yesterday Finch had 5400. Out work, out hustle, and outlast your opponent and you will win or come damn close. I hope the MJF campaign does a postmortem on the good and bad of their operation and uses that info to build for the future. Congratulations to the Finch campaign and to the MJF supporters, keep involved. Blogging won’t change anything but actively participating in city life will.
    Senator Gomes, get well soon!

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    1. yellowdog–your formula is a sound idea for a ‘functional’ political system, but this is Bridgeport. I would liken the city to a kid who could vote for his parents. At one time he had functional parents. Then someone came around and said ‘vote for me and I will give you candy.’ The next guy promised more candy, the next, nothing but candy and so on. Now the kid is desperately ill but happy. Enough of the voters do not see the ramifications of their choice. Bridgeport is the biggest landlord in Bridgeport. Many of the people are not affected by tax increases. Of the voters who are affected by taxes, those who could, moved. The voters who could not move are stuck. The political system is also stuck. It cannot change and alienate its voters and it cannot sustain the way it is currently going.

      “A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.”

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      1. Corey Booker and Adrian Fenty proved the formula works. Newark NJ and DC are minority majority cities with entrenched political machines yet both of those men made a difference to the usual apathetic and uninterested electorate in their cities. It will happen one day in Bridgeport, MJF was not that candidate yesterday. No disrespect to her but she was not the right change agent this time.

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  28. Whoever this fairytaler ‘Downtowner’ is, he really needs a reality check. If Caruso became mayor last time, we would not have had to endure Mario Testa as mayor. You catchin’ my drift?

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    1. SOME of the voters have spoken. SOME of them have spoken. We are awake, WIDE awake and aware we have to put up with this administration forcing itself upon us again. It’s not about HA HA HA when you get your way, but we who fought hard deserve to be happy in our city too, not just those who supported FINCH. So say what you want, gloat if you think it’s cute, but we pay taxes and should have a choice. Grow up and move on, and be the class act Finch and Testa are trying to make people think they are.

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        1. Thanks Beacon. 🙂 Although I sometimes do get ruffled about some of the derelict posts on this page, I am a firm believer in keeping things respectable. I do believe, wholeheartedly in the mantra: “Let the last asinine thing that is said be someone else’s words.” If folks could get by their need to be right, and focus on working with the resources they still do have available, many productive, diverse, and innovative strategies for change can come from this blog. I really believe that. Peace!

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  29. All this morning-after quarterbacking serves no purpose. There are plenty of elements to consider. There’s enough blame to go around or no one is to blame, depending on your perspective. It wasn’t meant to be. I’m not happy with the outcome but it hasn’t ruined my day. I’m going to move forward by working to form a bipartisan coalition of concerned citizens. The objective is to hold the Finch administration accountable to public records laws particularly in regard to financial disclosure. Drafted an outline, going out to talk to people tomorrow.

    BEACON2, I asked around about the management report from Blum Shapiro. Tom Sherwood has said he can’t get it all together until October. Fair enough. Let’s wait until then.

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    1. Kid,
      Let’s see, Tom Sherwood has several years of management reports from the outside auditors. Why don’t you ask him for the ones for 2008, 2009 and 2010. After all he got these early in each of the following years. So what is there to get together? Just a question. Not mocking what you are saying for sure.
      After all we did not get into this financial condition overnight. Night follows day, and year after year, decisions were made to cut certain people, add to others, keep certain budget line items, cut others. Keep people ignorant. Public and workers. Don’t encourage continuing education within departments or their leadership. After all people who feel ‘out of the know’ are less likely to speak up.
      Last week I spoke to one responsible City employee about a requirement posted in Charter/ordinances. I showed what I was seeking and was told no one has asked about that in the last eight years or since it was posted.
      Heck TBK, we are not even curious. Concerned citizens we should be. Observing the public opera staged for our benefit by the City Council in most of their meetings. And maybe asking some questions in the next six weeks of our Council candidates where there is competition as to whether they will allow more public comment as well as listening if they are elected. Knowing people are listening and willing to speak up is a better check and balance to a broken structure than a primary every 12 to 20 years. Time will tell.

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