If you need extra time to digest the bird, or risk a little extra indigestion wondering how many times they will violate the City Charter and Connecticut Constitution, the newly elected City Council, school board and city sheriffs will receive the oath of office on Sunday, 5 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 45 Lyon Terrace. Mayor Bill Finch will deliver remarks with musical selections from the Roosevelt School Choir.
Actually, it’s always a fun experience for the office holders as well as for their friends and family. In case you’re wondering, here’s the official oath of office:
DO YOU, ________________ HAVING BEEN ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF ________________ OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF SAID OFFICE ACCORDING TO THE LAW, AND TO THE BEST OF YOUR SKILL, WISDOM, JUDGMENT AND ABILITY; AND FURTHER, THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT SO LONG AS YOU CONTINUE IN SAID OFFICE, SO HELP YOU GOD?
School Board:
Andre Baker, Dave Hennessey, Howard Gardner, Sauda Baraka, Joe Larcheveque
City Sheriffs:
Dennis Scinto, Willie Murphy, Mitch Robles, David Goodman, Michael Moretti, Michael Garrett.
City Council:
130 District, Rick Torres, Sue Brannelly
131 District, Denese Taylor-Moye, Jack Banta
132 District, Bob Halstead, Trish Swain
133 District, Tom McCarthy, Howard Austin
134 District, Michelle Lyons, AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia
135 District, Mary McBride-Lee, Richard Salter
136 District, Richard DeJesus, Alfredo Castillo
137 District, Lydia Martinez, Milta Feliciano
138 District, Mike Marella, Richard Paoletto
139 District, James Holloway, Eneida Martinez-Walker
How many of these good folks, averred residents of certain addresses within the City of Bridgeport, have read the State Constitution? Election is not a test of that, for certain.
The better question for those on the Council would be how many have read the City Charter? And understand the limited responsibilities specified?
Most will likely take the very natural course of, “What did the Board do last year?” and if that seems logical to them, will go no further. If our Council has degenerated into a “rubber stamp” machine, so be it. It has been going that way relative to care for City finances for many years, including all of the Finch years. Numbers and comments are kept close to the vest. Discussions are held in Hartford on important matters, not in the City with taxpayers who care and pay both types of taxes to keep Bridgeport from totally sinking.
At least the oath references “skill, wisdom, judgment and ability.” Even if the 20 give all of this they have, they will require the assistance of an informed electorate to reverse the slide by accessing OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT process. Time will tell.
JML, a link to the City Charter in case they are so inclined.
library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=16075
The link is also under the OIB Government heading.
Let’s set the record straight, Lennie. When I took the oath of office, I raised my right hand. There was no way I could cross my fingers on my left hand and you know why.