Is Musto Spineless? Reform-minded Constituents Wonder About His Backbone In Pursuit Of Judgeship

Is State Senator Anthony Musto afraid? Does he have a backbone? Is he a puppet of Bridgeport’s political profiteers? OIB has received numerous copies of letters from constituents of Musto urging him to support the government reform bill sponsored by his Democratic peers in the State House Jack Hennessy and Auden Grogins that would prohibit city employees from serving on the City Council approving their own wages and benefits. So far Musto’s knees have buckled to the beat of party profiteers instead of voters who control his election future. A number of OIB political sources say Musto’s interested in a state judgeship and fears alienating local political support. OIB has sent Musto six emails requesting comment on the government reform bill. No response from Musto. The letter below from a Musto Bridgeport constituent who did not want her name revealed is representative of the letters Musto has received, yet publicly ignores. Such courage. Musto is up for reelection in 2014.

Dear Senator Musto,

This is a personal letter because it reflects my ethical principles, which are absolutely central to all my voting choices.

Directly to the point: Why have you not come out in favor of HB-5724? Why have you not even said anything of clarity that explains your position? Is there something not clear to you about the absence of ethics when Bridgeport city employees can sit on the City Council and vote on issues that affect their jobs and even determine their salaries?

Did you know that the council president, who is a salaried member of the current administration, just voted on a budget this week that approved many things including a $15,000 increase in his salary?? I am certain you are aware that six of the City Council members are employees of the City of Bridgeport. Not one of them recused themselves from the deliberations nor abstained from voting! Do you on any level find this to be ethical?? Do you consider this to be a way a government should be run?

I believe you already know that this can occur because State Statute Chapter 113, 7-421 has a loophole that allows it. I believe you already know that in order for this conflict of interest to be prohibited, an amendment to the statute contained in HB5724 must be adopted. Auden Grogins supports it. Jack Hennessy supports it. They recognize both the harm to their constituents and the lack of ethics implicit in the current practice. They are government representatives of whom we can be proud. SPEAKER SHARKEY WILL NOT BRING THIS STATE-WIDE SUPPORTED BILL TO A VOTE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. SO … YOU ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT HERE! CAN YOU … WILL YOU … STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT??

To be honest, I have voted for you previously because I am a life-long Democrat and (more to the point) because Auden Grogins encouraged me to do so. If you cannot show some maturity and courage here, you have lost my support. Also, I will work incredibly hard for whoever chooses to run against you in a primary and, if necessary, in an election. As it turns out, aside from friends here in Bridgeport, I have numerous friends and colleagues in both Trumbull and Monroe. When I spoke recently with only two of them so far about your silence, they were shocked and added that they would join me in encouraging others to vote differently if you do not come out in support of this simple and ethical bill.

Those six City Council members, I would imagine, did not abstain from voting because something (or someone) was meeting their needs. What are your needs? How about truly being both courageous and representing your constituents in an ethical and moral manner? Many of us are waiting for that side of you. The best moments in any person’s life are when they can be honestly proud of themselves. Please don’t disappoint us. Give us a Senator of whom both you and we can be proud!