Gomes-Driven Layoffs Impact About 20 City Employees Including Tax Assessor, Health Director

In a financially bloody Friday about 20 city employees, some of them high profile, received layoff notices declaring they’re being let go as a result of government restructuring, including Tax Assessor Elaine Carvalho who just days ago signed the grand list of taxable property and the certified revaluation that will kick in for the budget year starting July 1. Health Director Kristin duBay Horton was also among the casualties. Layoff notices were sent and signed by Director of Labor Relations Janene Hawkins.

In recent weeks city officials particularly Chief Administrative Officer John Gomes have been identifying layoff positions in finance, health, Public Facilities and other departments. Several City Hall sources say Gomes is the driving force behind the latest list of layoffs. Still, Mayor Joe Ganim is the ultimate decision maker.

Ganim has been touting his administration as “the most transparent” in city history, but the city did not release an official list of layoffs as word leaked out Friday afternoon. Ganim’s Communications Director Av Harris said the layoffs are part of a restructuring in the midst of trying to close a budget deficit.

“We are going through a government restructuring which we have been strategizing for some time and we’re facing a fiscal reality which we have been pretty public about and we’re looking at the best way to streamline government to capture efficiency and eliminate duplication and waste,” said Harris. “Those positions that were deemed unnecessary are being eliminated.”

But some positions such as tax assessor are clearly defined and necessary by the City Charter. It’s unclear who will replace Carvhalho as head of the department. The position reports to Finance Director Ken Flatto. A few weeks ago Flatto asked Carvalho to participate in a news conference briefing reporters about the revaluation process. Carvhalho is president of the Fairfield County Tax Assessor’s Association.

The layoff of Carvalho, who has a real estate background, is curious given her support for Ganim during his public corruption trial in 2003. She had worked in the office as an appraiser during JG1, advanced during the John Fabrizi mayoral years then was named Tax Assessor by Bill Finch in 2008. Although she donated to Finch’s reelection as many city employees did, she kept a low profile during last September’s mayoral primary when Ganim defeated Finch, but then contributed financially to Ganim in the general election.

A couple of long-time Public Facilities employees Bobby Kennedy and John Cottell are also on the layoff list. Judy Marella, wife of former City Councilman Mike Marella who issued a strident rebuke of Ganim in favor of Bill Finch at last summer’s Democratic Town Committee endorsement, was also let go. She’s the aunt of City Councilman Anthony Paoletto, a Ganim supporter. Also let go was State Rep. Kim Rose of Milford, a 14-year city employee veteran who recently worked in the building and anti-blight department. She said she felt betrayed by Ganim after supporting him, charging that Ganim is “top-heavy with advisers and assistant advisers.”

Rose is the second State House member pinked slipped by Ganim among the more than 50 layoffs since Ganim took office December 1. The other is Bridgeport resident Chris Rosario, now working for Mayor Mark Lauretti in Shelton.

Some city employees have bumping rights while others not so, depending on their position and union affiliation. If employment discrimination is taking place, an employment lawyer can help.

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95 comments

  1. The City is required by both state law and the City Charter to have a Tax Assessor. I can’t wait to hear the administration’s explanation for this layoff.

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    1. 2008 Revaluation on most people’s property taxes were jacked up by the Finch administration.
      Except for Finch’s friends who received a substantial tax break for eight years.
      Check and see who had access to the Tax Department’s database.
      This has cost the City Millions of dollars in taxes over the last eight years, how can an entire street received a tax break?

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    2. The heading of this issue is called Gomes-driven, that’s absurd, John Gomes is an employee of the administration and therefore takes his orders from his boss. This is not in defense of John Gomes, he’s doing what is decided by the brain trust; don’t kill the messenger. Having observed many transitions throughout the years, the Tax Assessor being fired/laid off is confusing even to me, and I’ve been around longer than most contributors to OIB. From what I know Elaine has performed and exercised her responsibilities with no criticism or complaints. She was an absolute supporter of Joe’s from back in the day; she had no choice but to transit as administrations changed, and she returned her support to Joe as soon as he won. Beats me! I’m starting to think the Mayor wants to rid himself of anyone from his past. His inner circle is a mix of new faces with no reminders of a time best tucked away. I’m an observer as are so many of you, let’s see who else gets hacked because they were around during a time that brings memories that still haunt.

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  2. Here is a perfect example of why municipalities, city, state, and the federal governments are going bankrupt. NOT ONE OF THOSE IN CHARGE HAVE PERSONAL FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY LIKE IN A PRIVATE BUSINESS.
    When they make a fiscal mistake they raise taxes. When that fails they “let go” lower ranking employees.
    NOT ONE OF THOSE IN CHARGE TAKE A PAY CUT LIKE A BUSINESSMAN WOULD DO TO SAVE HIS/HER COMPANY.

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  3. It has been mentioned on OIB many times the City can save a lot of money by eliminating the three deputy chief positions in the police department and the three deputy chief positions in the fire department. All those positions can be filled by lower-ranking officers or by civilians.

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  4. Calling all City taxpayers!
    Cutting employees at different levels is a visible way to communicate you are directing attention to budget reduction. But it requires integrity and explanation (plus a BIG ‘Before’ and ‘After’ chart to show what has been done and to verify the bottom line. Has anyone seen such a chart? Maybe “pictures at 11:00 PM” will need to be remembered when we are asked to trust.

    Reports are another Bridgeport employment phenomenon has been “shelved,” for want of another word. Evidently for reasons I have not seen in any PR release from the City, it was common for certain Bridgeport employees to receive more pay than their job category called for. How can that be, you inquire, reasonably.
    Well if that person is given additional duties, they should get more pay, or so the reasoning went, I suppose. But if such duties and the people who bore them were not openly discussed and identified, and if the duties, such as they might be, were not publicized, they were likely not monitored or subject to accountability either. What about transparency? Well we were out of luck there too, because if you cannot see it, or see through it, it is opaque and does not fit.
    My own question is where the funding for the other duties was recorded in the operating budget, at budget time. Did CC know about this practice? Did McCarthy or Holloway or others in similar position in the past benefit from such arrangements? Apologies to each of them for the question, and it is not an accusation. Unless they were not aware of such from where they have sat, and preened and postured for years. The City Council is responsible in this taxpayer’s eyes for being part of the monitoring in the City just by walking around, listening and connecting what they hear, don’t you? So, how much money in pay will be clawed back in this fashion? Time will tell.

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    1. Has anyone seen the Grand List? Elaine Carvalho certified the list on Monday, and it is usually posted the next day in the Conn. Post. Did the List go up? Down? Isn’t this how the Mil Rate is determined? Is the List the reason Carvalho was let go?

      Time will tell!

      JML, I would be interested in meeting with you regarding your budget knowledge.

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    2. The City Council has NEVER NEVER NEVER developed the legislative powers we imagine they may have. The City Council is a toothless tiger. As in the case with most local governments, the Mayor (or however-titled Chief Executive Officer) truly holds the reins of power. Assuming the Bridgeport City Council has more real actual power is a fatal mistake.

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    1. Andy,
      Sorry, I must have missed what you meant. Are these people trying out for a new City softball league? Or do they have some reference to pay scales in excess of those posted? Or what? Time will tell.

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  5. A city employee should make it clear from the beginning they would not feel comfortable donating to a mayor’s campaign. That is a crappy position to be put in.

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    1. Phil Smith, yes it’s a violation of their civil rights. People have a constitutional right to support the candidate of their choice and shouldn’t be punished by being removed from their jobs for doing so. That is certainly lack of just cause for termination. But in case anyone hasn’t noticed, Ganim pulls out all the stops to get his way. Indeed it will cost the City big bucks, but why should he care when the already overburdened taxpayers will pay the piper for his revengeful tactics?

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      1. Ahhh, sounds like Godiva2011 is contradicting self. How many times haven’t you questioned why Mayor Finch hadn’t fired me for expressing my views on this blog?

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        1. Joel–your distasteful comment a few years back about Finch being adopted and not knowing who his father was, was below the belt and crude. One thing to criticize performance, but you took it to a new all-time low. So low in fact, Mary-Jane Foster eliminated you from her slate.

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          1. Godiva2011, if you keep lying about me, I’ll be suing your bastard ass. I had dropped out of the ticket (City Sheriff) about three days before the bastard scandal happened. This was the only time Finch reacted to an OIB blog post. Despite the fact he didn’t read the OIB blog. Let’s go back in time:
            onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/were-suing-the-bastards/

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  6. Why not take a look at the Barnum Museum? The place has been closed for almost six years now and they’re still paying enormous salaries to the few employees left there. I can see if there intention is to reopen at some point but by the looks of things this is not happening. What a waste of the taxpayers’ dollars.

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      1. Yes, but the city pays their benefits, salaries and building maintenance not to mention their utilities. Take a ride down there and you won’t see anyone working. Sadly, the building will never be open to the public again.

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        1. Black shamrock, the city has made one fixed annual allocation to the Barnum Museum for the past two decades. It has not increased. Most of the money operating the museum comes in the form of grants and private fundraising. Executive Director Kathy Maher continues to promote events, discussions, forums at the museum where the building is open to the public.

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          1. Lennie,
            At the moment I cannot access the City contributions for recent years made to the Barnum Museum. However, I found notes I made last December that in the final month of the Finch term a check for $132,000 was provided to the Barnum Museum. Is that amount what you have in mind?
            If the Museum itself is in disrepair, who in the City is in charge of the project and what does the timeline and funding look like if that is available anywhere? Time will tell.

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      2. But what are City monies paid to or for Barnum Museum in recent years doing? Are they for salaries for the non-profit, for design towards reconstruction, or what? How open has the City been other than to leave many of us thinking the City may face a $20 Million price tag and wonder how risk management left us with such a self-insured catastrophe, if that is what it turns out to be, since we do pay plenty of insurance premiums for other things? Time will tell.

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        1. John Marshall Lee, you are correct. They get $132k quarterly to pay salaries. There is no revenue coming into the museum to pay the salaries of the employees. There is one room open to the public at this time, two days a week, hardly a benefit to the city taxpayers.

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    1. Joel G–I quote you on 8/7/11 at 9:42 pm: “Lennie, are you trying to say that Bill Finch is getting sued? He is the only bastard involved here. As far as I know, everyone else involved can account for their real parents.” Several bloggers responded unfavorably to your comment, as did Lennie. It appears you were still a candidate on Mary-Jane’s slate at the time you composed and posted that distasteful comment for everyone to see. There is no redemption for that comment, so just put your big-girl panties on and own up to it. You were very fortunate you were not terminated. This will be the last time I ever respond to you, so don’t go away mad. just go away.

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  7. So for all the staunch Ganim supporters who likened his return as if it were the Second Coming, have you, your family, friends or neighbors been a victim of his tactics yet? Hold tight, it can still happen. In all fairness, how is it he can lay off good workers, especially civil servants with years of tenure and claim it’s due to budget constraints, yet he can hire people who are unqualified and pay them upwards of $75 grand? Something is drastically wrong with this picture. There will be an overwhelming amount of lawsuits, and the payouts will be astronomical.

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    1. Godiva, reorganizations happen every day. The benefits from this sweep can benefit the City by saving lots of bucks in salaries, vacation days, SUTA, FUTA, FICA and so forth. It’s also is a chance for a new blood transfusion, and to streamline tasks, combine, and cut out fat. There is plenty of fat to cut. It may seem vengeful, but it’s actually not personal, it’s business.

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        1. No. I am saying reorganization is not illegal. No matter how much folks want to gripe, its just not illegal to lay people off. Business organizations have to evolve with the economic and cultural climates. They cannot be handcuffed to employees until the end of time. Spin it any way you want, but sometimes reason, free from passion, is the only way to save a business. This City is a business.

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          1. Laying people off is one thing but eliminating jobs is another thing. Bobby Kennedy had well over 20 years with the city, Ray Dimezia had 30-plus, Andy Volare over 30 years and their jobs were all eliminated. They could have bumped to a lower-paying job but all chose to retire. I know all these guys and all worked above and beyond what they were required to. It’s funny, all these guys at one time or another worked for Carroll and made him look good. I guess he is hiding under his desk and said screw those who helped me.

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      1. Zena Lu, what has happened in the last ONE week goes way beyond the scenario you painted. This past week is called BAD GOVERNANCE. IT IS WRONG.

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      2. Zena Lu–I’m told it is personal. People who opted to support another candidate besides Ganim are the ones he is removing from their positions. Now I understand the necessity of streamlining and cutting out the fat, but that doesn’t entail eliminating a civil servant who hypothetically makes $50 grand after working in a position for 15-20 years, and replacing them with an appointee who is getting paid double that and has no experience. What I don’t understand is all these “deputies and assistants to department heads” who are being rewarded for their political support and being paid double that. That in my opinion not only proves these moves are politically motivated, but squanders the taxpayers’ money.

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  8. Classy comment by Ms. Carvalho!

    “It was a pleasure to serve the city,” Carvalho, an 18-year veteran of City Hall and the just-elected president of the Fairfield County Assessor’s Association, said when reached by phone Friday.

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  9. Where does John Gomes’ managerial skill come from? Making a ham and cheese sandwich? It seems most of the people he laid off were employees with a lot of time on the job, people who have worked for the city for decades. What bullshit. We still have city hall favorite Tiago on the payroll for $91,000 to inspect pot holes. Why?
    Lo and behold Ganim is no better than the rest of the politicians, this will be a long four years. The city of Bpt just hired the wife of the former mayor of West Haven as a management consultant. Why? How did she get her training? Two guesses. I guess we can now lay off Gomes.

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    1. Kristen Dubay-Horton is a strong-willed African American woman with brains. Just like Roz Hamilton was during JG1. Ganim could not stand her and tried getting rid of her. Guess he’s gotten better with some of his skills.

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  10. To echo Andy’s point, how in hell does Joe Tiago manage to keep his $90,000-plus job checking potholes? The job itself was something Finch made up to give his longtime friend/drinking buddy. Hate to see anyone lose their job, but Tiago’s has to go.

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    1. Harvey, I have thought about this and here is what I think. Those cheap bastards at city hall don’t like to pay for their own drinks so they keep Tiago around for the free booze and all it costs the taxpayers is $91,000 per year.

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          1. Well now, that certainly explains why he isn’t being eliminated. Being a relative speaks volumes. What a waste of the Bridgeport taxpayers’ money, nepotism at its finest. Again, I stress my point about civil servants who are getting laid off in order to fund a bogus position such as this one.

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  11. Phil Smith,
    Getting back to you on something you posted the other day regarding “acting” versus “provisional” chief. Look at the Civil Service regs and you will never see the word acting. That’s the difference. Civil Service only envisions a provisional appointment. By calling them acting the city totally bypassed all the rules and regulations concerning temporarily replacing a chief. And among the most important is length of time a provisional can serve in both short and long term.

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    1. There are two civil service positions the Charter describes as Acting and to which the 120-day rule does not apply. They are the Police and Fire Chiefs and the distinction is intentional.

      That’s different than say the Personnel Director who is a provisional (sort of) called acting.

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  12. Phil,
    Not sure if the Fabulous one was the first mayor to do this but I remember uncovering this sidestep when Fabrizi wanted to appoint a replacement for the Chief with someone with a tattered past. So instead of moving forward and following regs he named him acting so he could stay in the job indefinitely.
    Ain’t that true, Phantom.

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    1. I was still there when Fabs pretty much handpicked Norwood as Chief as a payback to his dad. Daddy Norwood mentored Fabs in the BOE. Testing was a joke. He replaced Armeno. He too was picked by Fabs as an actor but had some issues in his past the Post kept running on the front page. Not sure that forced Fabs’ hand, assuming that’s what you’re asking.

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  13. Refresh my memory, someone. Didn’t Finch give the Health Director a new contract when he was sucking up to the minority community? Is this just another lawsuit waiting to happen?
    Maybe the city should just rent office space to Bucci in the annex. Make it easier on everyone.
    City gets a new revenue stream since they have so much empty space in the building. Easy for ex-employees to find him. And maybe Joe can work out a side deal for all the business he is sending Tom’s way.

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  14. Does anyone have any info on the rumor about the dressing down Gomes gave Ms. Dubay-Horton in front of her entire department?
    I figure Joe will be looking to bring someone in to privatize the remaining functions of the Health Department. Privatizing is good for only one thing; campaign fundraising.

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  15. Gomes has a bad history with women and this is not surprising. Real tough guy embarrassing a women or for that matter anyone you just took their job from. Tough guy in a suit. Yeah Lennie I know, no name-calling, sometimes it can’t be helped.

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  16. Many of the postings here have gone into more detail about various situations but my reaction to these firings and “so-called” government streamlining is it is ALL WRONG. This is another example of Ganim Bad Governance. After the recent Gaudett Fiasco, when 13 City Council Members (AKA PUPPETS) went along with Ganim and the Bridgeport Police Union, this gave GANIM a HUGE GREEN LIGHT to move forward with his political purge. I don’t believe for one single second this is about government streamlining. The Tax Assessor, whoever it is, should not be politicized. The Head of the Health Department should not be politicized. Other position as well. The Bridgeport Police Department no longer exists. Destroyed in the Gaudett fiasco (don’t forget the DiNardo firing), the Bridgeport Police Union is in charge. AJ Perez along with Chuck Paris are Union first, people of Bridgeport LAST. It just gets worse and worse and worse. People were talking about Maria Pereira and the DTC. I’ve said this couple of days ago. Forget the DTC. People need to start getting together and do something outside the DTC. Forget the Bridgeport Republican Party; it no longer exists. We need to be ready to go after the City Council puppets in 2017. Cut Ganim off at the knees in 2017. THIS WILL TAKE TIME but we need to start.

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  17. Congrats to Mayor Ganim and his administration. They’re cleaning house. Please don’t stop here. Many more need to go and/or be replaced.

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  18. This administration eliminated positions and fired or laid off individuals who should have been and it should not stop here. They can bring in people at a lower pay scale, less vacation, sick and personal time, and who will have to contribute more towards their medical. That’s how it’s done. Mr. Fardy, you have true issues and truly need to see a psychiatrist or maybe get laid and that hopefully will solve your problem!

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  19. Tactics. Opening ways for newer bribes and position filling, by a tactical Mayor, for those who can help him on future campaigns and elections. I’ll wash your back if you wash mine.

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  20. Hey Mr. Mayor, here’s a idea for a layoff to free some perfectly good taxpayers’ money for better use, drive your own car and lay off your personal chauffeur. Let’s get real here, and stop being a Mayor of CONVENIENCE and be a Man of your Word … something you’re NOT!

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  21. TO BE A MAN OF YOUR WORD, IT DOESN’T MATTER how many billboards with your name you can put up. IT DOESN’T MATTER how much money you have. IT DOESN’T MATTER whom you know. IF YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR WORD YOU’RE NOT A MAN OF INTEGRITY, IF YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR WORD ALL THOSE THINGS YOU POSSESS MEAN NOTHING!!! A MAN ISN’T A MAN WITHOUT HIS WORD. I TOLD YOU IN YOUR INAUGURATION I WAS HOLDING YOU TO YOUR WORD, AS I TOLD YOU IN MANY OTHER SITUATIONS YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN. YOU HAVE NO VALUE ONCE YOU CAN’T HOLD YOURSELF TO YOUR WORD.

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  22. Maybe your eyes are deceiving you, my allegations have nothing to do with our constitutional right of freedom of speech, it has to do with making promises you can’t keep, and I traded my wings for rockets mounted on my back. I’m a man of my word unlike our Mayor and I say it like it is, and as far as the finger, it’s old already think of something better for ammunition, we have Corruption in today’s politics where taxpayers’ money is being misused, political favors, fraud and so on and you’re going to use a finger as a way to retaliate. You know what Mr. Eyes, go get a stronger prescription for your eyes because you’re sitting on a sideline chanting kumbaya without knowing what you’re talking about. I’m about the saying don’t talk about it be about it. Words are cheap and I’m speaking about our Mayor who’s a talker. To come in my community and feed us FALSE PROMISES AND NOT KEEP HIS WORD, but to use us to obtain votes for his elections, I represent JFK and the same votes he went there to get elected are the same votes that can get him unelected come next elections, see if I am my neighbor’s keeper, I help my community without a position. That’s why I’m here today.

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  23. Mr. Figueroa, I’ve never met you nor do I know whom you are, but I find your words so eloquently expressed the sentiments of many and agree with everything you’ve said. As a man all you have is your word and if your word isn’t any good, well.

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  24. Mr. Day thank you, and it will be my pleasure to shake your hand, my name is Angel Figueroa new member of the Town committee for the 138th district. Thank you sir, and God bless you and yours.

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    1. Donald, I had the pleasure of meeting Angel and he his exactly what his posts reflect. I found him to be a gentleman, a thinker and a facilitator. I wish Angel and the TC slate luck as they begin their term, and hope and pray none of them forget the reason they came together.

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      1. Lisa, don’t be so fooled. Try to question Angel on things he’s posted on the Facebook page he runs for Success Village. Better yet go over the reviews and you will see what kind of gentleman he is. He is definitely a talker. He will threaten you just go for asking for proof of allegations he’s made. He definitely fits the mold of a politician. Lies and empty promises.

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        1. Enudio, I met Angel for the first time and spent some time discussing a technical matter. I left with a good impression of him. I admit that’s my only interaction with him, and apparently you know him better.

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          1. He’s definitely nice initially. I was a supporter, I joined in his fight against the former board of Success Village until I started to question him on some of his accusations then he quickly turned it into a personal matter. Taking questions as attacks. It’s frightening to think this man holds any position with real responsibility. I’m hoping he grows up a little bit or things will be disastrous.

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      1. Phil, you are 100% right but the queen of the voting machine doesn’t like him because of some of his activities while elected to the BOE. She is pissed also that he ran for state office. He is the one she will try to primary. I am voting early for Andre Baker.

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  25. Thank you Lisa, your words are very kind and I appreciate you as well, I respect your professionalism and character, you are a person of stature by far, again I thank you.

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      1. I promise Lisa, I’m a free thinker with a independent mind, who stands for the people, that’s what my number one priority is the people, who in faith and loyalty give the support to politicians who in return give false promises and lies, right MAYOR GANIM?!

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        1. You claim corruption against the mayor and corruption against the former board but never offer proof. Just because you claim it does not make it true. You claimed you’ve helped so many in Success but Success doesn’t even have the money to give the help you claimed. How are you gonna deliver on these promises?

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  26. Here is one for everyone laid off or fired. Does John Gomes really have advance college credentials? Has anyone seen the diplomas for his masters and whatever other degree he claims? The answer is NO.
    Here is one more. Gomes will be around for only a little while longer. As soon as a certain female RB finishes up at her job, Gomes is gone.

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