Mary-Jane Foster has raised more than $50,000 as she prepares a formal declaration to seek the Democratic nomination for mayor. Look for an official announcement next week.
For Foster to be successful she must do so outside the traditional Democratic party structure, most of which is supporting the reelection of Mayor Bill Finch. She must stitch together neighborhood coalitions, disaffected pols and activists unhappy with the direction of the city while striking a nerve with voters why she’ll govern better. Foster (with her husband Jack McGregor) was the driving private-sector force behind development of the ballpark and arena at Harbor Yard. Foster and McGregor co-founded the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball team.
Foster, an executive at the University of Bridgeport, formed an exploratory committee in January and has largely spent time raising money, building a campaign infrastructure and developing a message for an anticipated September primary run. Money she raised from an exploratory committee, limited to $375 maximum personal contributions, will be rolled into a recently formed candidate committee where the maximum personal contribution is $1,000.
Finch will not be easy to take out. He will be well financed for his reelection with roughly $300K already raised. Ain’t the power of incumbency great? In 2007, he outspent Chris Caruso by two to one winning the Democratic primary by just 270 votes. Finch spent roughly $300K to Caruso’s $150K. Foster will likely raise more than Caruso, but she is also not as well known as the two-time mayoral contender. She’ll need to spend early money introducing herself to voters while Finch has the luxury to sit back as the incumbent and load up in the final few months of an expected primary.
OIB polling shows taxes and jobs as major issues with voters uneasy about the direction of the city. It’s been decades since Bridgeport had a mayoral candidate focused on job creation. City finances, bankruptcy, crime, corruption and city services have dominated past mayoral elections. No doubt some of these issues will become key components of the campaign. Candidates must focus on strengths and Foster can leverage her role in the development of the sports entertainment complex as a jump point for where she’d like to take the city. It’s a lot easier to craft a jobs message when you can point to an accomplishment.
The only other mayoral opposition that has formed a candidate committee beyond Foster is John Gomes, Finch’s former deputy chief administrative officer. Charlie Coviello, former mayoral candidate, has formed an exploratory committee.
Former Mayor Joe Ganim is acting like a candidate. But will he actually get in?
Well, Mayor Finch would like to keep his job. After all, his paycheck is more than twice what it was as a state legislator. And he probably enjoys not having to show up for work until he feels like it. (For all his shortcomings, John M. Fabrizi was in the office at 7:30 or 8:00.) But he has some facts working against him. Governor Malloy is not happy with either Finch or Mario Testa or the DTC for supporting Ned Lamont. Malloy is not the vindictive sort, knowing full well vengeance is a dish best served cold. So any political support Finch may be expecting from the DSC might be somewhat lacking.
*** MJF has a lot of work to do playing catch-up in the minority communities in general, bringing the Bluefish & business savvy is not enough if you’re out of touch with many voters, no? She rubs elbows with the same crew that’s been in power for quite some time but seems to keep a tight lip on political comments. Please inform me what minority functions or support she’s been at besides UB’s out-of-town student activities & what districts. CHANGE IS NEEDED BUT LET’S NOT BELIEVE ALL THE HYPE OUT OF FRUSTRATION JUST YET! *** PROCEED WITH CAUTION ***
I guess you haven’t read some of what she has written about when they appeared here on the blog. She has met with district leaders even though she is not going after the DTC endorsement. She was at Mt. Airy this past Sunday. Show me a candidate including Gomes who in the past has not spoken to or gone to events where the people in power are. I think her employment record at the Bluefish complex will speak for itself.
I am sure there are other minority events she has been at but I can’t say which ones. Mojo I encourage you to contact Mary-Jane directly, she will be glad to speak to you and discuss where she is coming from.
town committee // Apr 8, 2011 at 12:37 pm
to your posting
tc,
In Bridgeport, you are most correct, there are many occasions that find us all together, but I’m sure both candidates you mention understand that. What is more impressive tc is your urging someone to contact your candidate directly.
You know I agree with you as I have been urging people to do the same with John Gomes … contact him directly. These are two, new, first-time candidates who want the opportunity to tell you directly how important it is to replace the current administration with a new administration which shall always be in contact with the sense of morality to guide its policies and practices and a new administration which shall always be in contact with the public it serves … all 144 thousand …
The key here is NOT a supressed vote, as has been the practice … but a wide-open vote.
The voters who discover before September 13, 2011 that an historical political opportunity awaits their vote.
Agree?
We can’t get registered voters to come out and vote. What makes you think Gomes will succeed in getting these people to reach out to him directly?
History is on the side of reform-minded politicians. A “fusion” ticket makes the most sense. The soft money from the state (and maybe the national) Democratic Committees could go to support an opposition to the status quo here in Bridgeport.