UPDATE: Candidates also appeared at Mount Aery Baptist Church Thursday night for an “accountability assembly.”
Eight mayoral candidates, five of whom are running solely in the November general election, debated issues Thursday morning at a sparsely attended forum at Housatonic Community College hosted by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. Video of the forum is attached provided by CT-N.
Bill Finch, Joe Ganim and Mary-Jane Foster, running in the Wednesday Democratic primary, were joined by petitioning candidates Chris Taylor, David Daniels, Charlie Coviello and Tony Barr and Republican Enrique Torres.
In opening statements Foster declared “Never make a promise you cannot keep and never tell a lie.”
Ganim spoke of bringing Housatonic Community College Downtown while Lowell Weicker was governor. Ganim emphasized taxes, crime, jobs and schools as the key issues.
Finch touted development initiatives with a “new skyline full of hope, prosperity and jobs.”
Torres said pay-to-play is still part of the city’s political process.
Although the five general election candidates spread out the focus of the forum, Finch, Foster and Ganim had several sharp moments on a variety of topics. Check out the forum video.
This letter appeared on the Connecticut Post’s website:
“On Sept. 16, those of us who are registered Democrats in Bridgeport have three choices for mayor: The Honorable Mayor Bill Finch, the Honorable Joseph P. Ganim, former mayor; and our future mayor, Mary-Jane Foster. Every day I come home to a mailbox filled with campaign literature, most of which is filled with one candidate saying nasty things about another. I have nothing nasty to say about Bill or Joe. I’ve known them both for years. I’ve seen how each of them is dedicated to family, for example. My decision to not vote for either of them is based on policy and principle, not personal feelings.
“During the 16 years I served as an elected member of Bridgeport’s Board of Education I got a chance to work with both Joe and Bill. While mayor, Joe had a very special hiring system, which was never publicized until we on the Board of Education exposed it. At our behest, the then head of civil service for the city testified publicly that Joe would not authorize the filling of a position–even if it had been requested by the school system and there was money to pay for it–no matter how urgent the need–until he got the green light from Democratic Chairman Mario Testa.
“That testimony meant that if you wanted a job as a school custodian, cafeteria worker or security guard, no matter how qualified you may have been Joe would not allow you to be hired unless Mario first said ‘yes.’ We will never know how many decent families were denied a solid job with good pay and benefits just because they were not connected to the political establishment. What a tragedy.
“Is that the way you want our city to run? Aren’t you tired of ‘insiders’ greedily hoarding all the opportunities based on who they know, not what they know? Isn’t it time to blow Bridgeport’s political system and government wide open and give people a chance based on how hard they’ll work instead of how many absentee ballots they can generate?
“During my Finch years on the board, education was short-changed every single year. Each budget cycle would bring a new scheme by which to give the kids less–especially the so-called ‘in-kind services’ game. Have you ever tried going to Cumberland Farms and telling the cashier that you’ll provide him with in-kind services in exchange for a gallon of milk? No, only cash will do. After I left the board–he would not have tried it if I were still there–Bill, working with others, conspired to have the board declare itself ‘dysfunctional’ so that it could be disbanded in favor of a state-appointed board.
“That scheme was found to be illegal by the Connecticut Supreme Court. Not one to give up on a bad idea, Bill then had the city endure an expensive referendum to deny us the right to elect an independent board. That also failed miserably. With those actions Bill exposed our city to shame and humiliation.
“These events happened in two different centuries under two very different mayors but they stem, I believe, from the same problem that has been holding Bridgeport back for too many years: many–not all–Bridgeport politicians care more about consolidating power for themselves and their friends than they do about making Bridgeport a great city. Because most Bridgeporters are understandably busy working their jobs, raising their children, enjoying their families, these politicians get away with this nonsense. That’s how we end up throwing away several hundred thousand taxpayer dollars to pave someone’s driveway in Stratford. When these things happen people in the region say, ‘Same old Bridgeport …’
“Remember, if you vote for one of the guys, you are voting for SOB, Same Old Bridgeport.
“Maximino Medina, Jr.”
Don’t think things have changed! It’s still the same! They first give the opportunity to their friends or political acquaintances. More so with this administration than with any other.
Very exciting, yawn … anyone watch Channel 12 news? Looks like a great piece on waterfront development as well as a story about the Grocery store the East End residents need. The grocery store is developing but it is a good idea to support the residential housing planned for the site. Sad, Ganim did nothing for the East End when he was Mayor, though the Town Committee members of that area have tried their best to make residents believe the jobs on Steelpointe are worthless and the East End was booming under Ganim. People can just not be that stupid and they are not. The East End needs new leadership for sure. I think Mayor Finch has addressed the youth and adults with the gorgeous Newfield Park, which is a park that has seen amazing activity this summer with waterparks. Not to mention the new park by Tisdale School and paved roads. Steelpointe local jobs is great. Too many East End residents commute to Westport to work in a Stop & Shop. Steelpointe is just beginning. Pleasure Beach is no big deal??? Finch deserves the vote of all the voters on the East Side. The Clergy supporting Joe Ganim as well as Joe Ganim as well as the town committee of the East Side have let the voters down. The 12 years of Ganim, nothing, absolutely nothing! People are attracted to water and Green spaces. Mayor Finch gets an A-plus. Ganim may try to take credit for Steelpoint but that was part of the birth of his scandalous past in the city of Bridgeport. How much further along would jobs and development have been if Ganim did not destroy Bridgeport’s hope during the most prosperous era in our history. HCC was great, but get real!
Yeah! Your boy was a no-show! It’s sad when the Mayor can’t speak unless someone can text him the answers!
News 12 debate show will be Finch’s Waterloo!
Steve, you said, “I think Mayor Finch has addressed the youth and adults with the gorgeous Newfield Park, which is a park that has seen amazing activity this summer with waterparks. Not to mention the new park by Tisdale School and paved roads. Steelpointe local jobs is great.”
So the voters of the East End should be happy and vote for Mayor Finch but none of these things will increase their paycheck or reduce their taxes or put food on their table, BFD.
Ron, when Ganim was Mayor for 11 years the East End was a total War zone and Steelpointe was involved in corruption lawsuits the city is still paying for. Really??? Mary-Jane Foster has the BlueFish, that created the jobs that put food on the table, reduced taxes etc. Sorry Ron, it is just too sad to even comment further. Ganim made it clear on News 12, she doesn’t have the experience to run for Mayor and he is a convicted felon and still … Mayor Finch will easily have four more years.
Steve, that was then and this is now and what has the current mayor Bill Finch done in his seven years as mayor for the East End?
Ron Mackey,
Get out much? There is more activity happening in the East End than any other section of the city. The beautiful new apartments on Stratford Avenue, Newfield Park, waterpads and ball fields, Bass Pro, cineplex, Hampton Inn, Starbucks, Chipotle, Pleasure Beach, water taxis.
Ron, I understand that is no big deal to you living in Seaside Village and loving that Marina Village is coming down (thank you Bill Finch), but for the people living on the East End there is great improvement. Paved roads, job opportunities and hope. Mayor Finch cannot turn a job that pays $10.00 an hour into a $30 an hour job, no more than can he demand a grocery store and pull it out of your ass. Those jobs take skills and education is always the ticket! I think Mayor Finch has moved mountains compared to four years ago. The reason why this campaign is a sleeper other than the Mary McBride show, Ganim does not have a chance and Foster just lost the fire, why why why why why she is running is way beyond my comprehension. I totally understand why Ganim wants to run, but the voters will just not feel sorry enough for Joe being picked on. His past has dictated his future. Maybe he has a future at the Ball Park or the Arena. For everyone who attacks me, keep one little point in mind. I am not running for Mayor. Ganim is. “Mistakes” were made? I think Joe is a nice guy. Not for a second round at the biggest prize in town.
People know Bridgeport is at a critical juncture. Attacking Steve Auerbach certainly isn’t helping your candidate. It’s all just background noise.
Btw, odd story. There was a gentleman wearing a Ganim tee-shirt who bolted in front of my car on Monday at approximately 2:15 in front of the courthouse on City Hall. Thank G-d as I almost hit him and he apologized. He was registering voters in front of the courthouse. It was so weird, as though they are going to vote next Wednesday!
Steve, what educational debate, there was none. Funding for schools, how to improve student test scores, nothing. In fact Mayor Finch was talking about water pads and that’s what you call a good debate.
Ron Mackey, Mayor Finch was there. It was Mary-Jane Foster who needed face time. She missed out. Finch need not show up for any debate for me. He already has my vote.
Wrong debate, Steve.
Why do you choose to ignore the fact your candidate is attempting to manipulate the AB process to steal a win? Denial doesn’t make it un-happen. It’s happening. It’s real. They are trying to use illegal activity to keep a felon out of office.
It’s blazing in our faces like a comet in the Skyline full of hope.
Wicca, it is clear you cannot help your candidate because you are not honest with her.
The damage you are doing to your candidate makes you almost worth acknowledging. Almost.
The damage? You are kidding, right?
Whatever, Baghdad.
Wicca, I think the Ganim goons have learned how to get votes, pay for votes and utilize the process. Foster doesn’t have a process. Mayor Finch will win without the absentee ballot issue. His supporters are passionate and will vote as well as those who have 12 Ganim signs on their lawn that are not rental units.
Poor Bill. This is so funny, Mayor Finch can’t keep from lying, his comment on 1:45:18 that downtown has the lowest vacancy rate in Fairfield county???
You’re so much in love with him, but he’s a married man! He’s not interested in you!!! Senora Flinck.
What will Ganim supporters do when they lose? Is the money still flowing like champagne? Did you read in today’s paper where developers told Ganim they’d come to Bridgeport with substantial projects if he were mayor? Honestly, is he kidding? No developer for hundreds of miles would contribute to his campaign let alone develop unless they had no need for a bank. Can you say redlining? That will become Bridgeport under a Ganim administration. The only supporters of Ganim are former employees and disgruntled city employees who do not live here.
The typical Ganim supporter, take a ride to Peet Street. He lives next door to the tax assessor. A Ganim billboard, six signs and two signs in the upstairs window. I am sure the neighborhood is appalled. He may as well have garbage all over his lawn. Sign pollution and disrespect for your neighbors is what comes to mind. What do you think, Advanced Therapy?
Hope you’re wearing knee pads when you “service” Hizzoner the mayor.
Bridgeport Kid, I hope you will be wearing knee pads when you are servicing me, you lowlife idiot!
Whatever, Baghdad.
I attended today’s debate with my wife. This was a well-documented plan to cover Finch’s ass. Paul Timpanelli protected Finch by having all eight mayoral candidates at a debate where the three candidates who are on the ballot Sept 17 did not have to answer many questions. Figure it out, eight candidates, two minutes per question equals 16 minutes so candidates were asked approx. 6 questions apiece. Why did we have to listen to the other five who are not on the ballot next week?
The one disturbing thing was Ganim trying to bait Finch almost every time he spoke. Ganim would look over at Finch. Twice Finch took the bait and erupted. Many, many times the candidates had to have the question repeated and that was a pain in the ass. I will say this, Hare, Coviello and Taylor do not belong on the ballot as they have nothing to contribute. Daniels is getting experience and one day will be a force to be reckoned with but not now.
Debates with this many candidates are a waste of time. Lousy forum, lousy questions.
That’s why I went to get a nap instead.
when I saw all eight candidates sitting at the table this morning with only one week before the PRIMARY, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was done on purpose.
Why not dilute the impact of the three legitimate Democratic candidates with the other candidates no one can vote for next week? Let’s see, hmmm.
The debate was sponsored by the BRBC.
Paul Timpanelli has stated he is supporting Finch.
Which of the Democratic candidates benefit most with all eight candidates speaking?
I believe that would be Bill Finch.
Just thinking out load.
You are on target on this one. Instead of doing this in such idiotic fashion as described by Bob Walsh, it should have concentrated only on both the Democratic candidates for mayor and the BOE. It’s about our children, but very little attention given to the issue of education. BRILLIANT!
And the issue about the “understaffed Economic Development Department” has been a talking point for the BRBC for as long as I was on the council.
Of course I always felt it was much more of an issue of untalented staff than lack of staff.
Bob, you may be correct in everything you say. However, it was sparsely attended. Joe and Mary-Jane made a huge mistake not attending the standing-room-only education debate. The News 12 debate was ridiculous and Foster had her last chance to knock Ganim out and she did not! So the end of the road will be next Wednesday. Time will tell. Good luck to all the candidates, my candidate doesn’t need luck, this is where you all assault me. Bring it on, bitches!
The event at Cathedral of Faith on Gregory Street was a FORUM, not a debate. Finch came across as a dumbass at that one.
Steve, you are an inoperable hemorrhoid.
Andy, I cannot wait to see you congratulate Maria Pereira!
Inoperable hemorrhoid?
You sir, are a wart on the nose of humanity!
I can’t wait for Finch to concede on Wednesday September 16th. Finch should start looking for another job. He was ineffective as a State Senator and Mayor. Fired from all his jobs. Maybe you can put a good word for him at Home Depot.
Dios mio, eres individuo enfermo. Ir a tomar su medicacion!
Si, es verdad.
Steve, tell the truth. You wore out your lips kissing Finch’s ass and you needed BOTOX injections.
Andy, you do know the difference between Botox and Collagen injections???
Andy, how dare you insult all hemorrhoids like that?
This debate was a gift from Timpanelli to Finch, having a debate with dumb questions, a weak moderator and five others who should not have been invited.
Not like that strong Appleby debate on 12, how exciting to watch Foster and Ganim lull us to sleep and to think it will be replayed all weekend. How extremely exciting!!!
Finch the no-show Mayor, LOL!
It was even better watching Finch lose his temper at least twice when Ganim baited him. What was even better was Ganims’ phone ringing during the debate, dumbass.
Amen!
A lot of things did get done this year, a ELECTION YEAR. If Finch wins we can look forward to a lot of things getting done in four years with NOTHING in between.
Except of course 20 years of Steelpointe, Downtown housing, 336 units of housing, supermarket and a Charter School, Harding High School, a new train station and a revitalized East End and East Main Street corridor just to name a few itty bitty forgettable little projects!
Steelpointe is in the East Side, not the East End. Hopefully those new apartments attracted an upwardly mobile clientele.
I think they are affordable housing. Desperately needed in the city, no?
Affordable housing, what will these units cost that are affordable housing? I’m sure those making $10 an hour will not be able to live there.
Gee Ron, I don’t know, I see people in this city, single mothers with four kids renting a three-bedroom apt in very nice neighborhoods, they pay $300 and the section 8 pays $1200. I am sure these apts on Stratford Avenue are affordable.
All the candidates made some good points in this morning’s debate.
Bill, Joe, Mary-Jane, and Rick all did a credible job at this morning’s debates, as well as at the forum at Mount Aery this evening.
Mary-Jane was quite good at Mount Aery, but too little, too late, and clouded by the distracting outburst about Joe’s phone. This was a candidates’ forum–a “Mayoral Candidate’s Accountability Assembly”–not a “debate”, per se, so the “phone distress” didn’t play well in that context.
But what I think really took shape today was the tone and narrative for the November election between Joe Ganim and Rick Torres.
Things will be very interesting on Wednesday, but the show will not be over by any means. Rick Torres has been doing his homework and doing some out-of-the-box analysis and planning, with respect to identifying and addressing the gamut of Bridgeport’s needs.
Joe will have to stay on his toes after September 16 to stave off the momentum of the emerging Torres candidacy.
The Ganim Campaign will need to stay in movement and formation and will have to get the celebrating done a little early Wednesday night so the campaign can get back in motion on Thursday morning!
Steve: Bridgeport has more than enough housing stock for Bridgeporters (current population). There are many, many, vacant properties in foreclosure in Bridgeport. Bridgeport has the highest mortgage foreclosure rate in Connecticut and one of the highest in the Northeast, as you know.
And, as you also know, those foreclosures are the result of our insanely high rate of taxation, our ridiculous WPCA bills (we continue to subsidize Trumbull’s use of our infrastructure as they continue the theft of our tax base), and our ridiculously high utility costs, all on a backdrop of a dearth of living-wage jobs (Bridgeport’s real unemployment rate has been estimated to be as high as 25%!).
The “$300” these “single mothers” pay for rent on “Stratford Avenue” isn’t “affordable” if they are not working, or are working for the minimum wage, especially after they pay their taxes.
There is nothing affordable about living in Bridgeport unless you are a spoiled brat going to Scared Heart University and partying yourself blind three nights a week with seven or eight spoiled-brat roommates and 100 friends.
The vast majority of real Bridgeport residents don’t have “affordable” housing available to them, not at their salaries and mortgage/tax/rent levels.
We don’t need more housing stock in Bridgeport. We need living-wage jobs and taxpaying development/tax relief. (Only Stamford needs more housing stock in Bridgeport, in anticipation of the need for more affordable workers for more Stamford grand-list growth.)
Jeff, you wrote, “Bridgeport–we need living-wage jobs and taxpaying development/tax relief.” This statement should have been asked at last night’s event and in the past debates and in any future debates.
Enrique Torres said it best when he said they’re building housing for 331 families and from that housing the city is only getting $35k in tax revenue. You cannot properly serve 331 children (minimum 331, probably more) on $35k.
Something has to be done!
Jeff Kohut, I get the impression you are accepting Ganim’s defeat and ready to move on to the Torres campaign. Good luck with that. Yes, Ganim can endorse Torres and it will have the same effect as when Foster endorsed him four years ago. Look at all the great things that have happened in four years.
I wish I were there, I have no idea what the phone story was and of course you didn’t mention our mayor. Remember him? He is running for mayor!
Steve, please take your meds.
Whatever, Baghdad. You are clearly delusional. Good luck in your future career as in-house rocket polisher for BRBC. Better submit your resume now while Tax Bill still thinks he’s the king of the city.
Steve: I have no doubt Joe Ganim will win the primary on Wednesday and will go on to face Rick Torres. But Rick Torres is not a light-weight and will wage a real fight. Joe will win, but he’ll have to put up a reasonable fight to do so.
Your guy has failed the taxpayers and young people of Bridgeport on the gamut of issues affecting our lives, and the people of Bridgeport want him retired. Maybe the Greenwich and Stamford folks who comprise our federal delegation and state leadership love his mayoralty, but we are on to how they are using Bill to further exploit Bridgeport for the Gold Coast/Suburbs. Your guy barely kept his composure last night in the face of the other participants enumerating all the failures of his Administration. His weak, Steal Point progress and workforce housing for Stamford cannot be used for his redemption. They mean nothing for Bridgeport taxpayers or job seekers. His EcoTechnology Park amounts to nothing but another no-job waste repository for the suburbs in Bridgeport (next to Seaside Park).
The party’s over, Steve. I spoken to many people during the past days and they are furious with Bill’s BS and Stamford-suburbanite cabinet running Bridgeport into the ground for the ‘burbs.
Imagine. A STAMFORD elected official, David Kooris, as Bridgeport’s Economic Development director! The fox in the hen house, invited in by Farmer Bill!! That says it all. Bye bye, Bill. We’ll catch you fishing at Beardsley Park. Good luck to you in your next career.
Good luck to you too, Steve, I hope you are fully recovered from your surgery.
Well Jeff, thanks, now I have nothing to say! LMAO.
Thanks for putting it straight, Mr. Kohut. For weeks I’ve been saying the November election is going to boil down to Ganim and Torres. I’ve also been saying Ganim will win the primary next Wednesday. The machine will not go down without a struggle but voters will see the folly of voting for Finch or Ganim:
“Spare a thought for the stay-at-home voter
Whose eyes gaze at strange beauty shows
And a pair of gray-suited grafters
A choice of cancer or polio …”
Jeff, first, Thank you. I am so excited about the election I am not resting as I should but it all went well. I am now bionic.
A few years ago I may have agreed with you on David Kooris. However I totally believe he has done an outstanding job. Look Jeff, I understand every announcement makes Ganim’s hope of reclaiming city hall diminish. You should be proud your candidate now has the confidence to move on with his life. Coming in second in a three-way race is commendable. You and I both know you didn’t have a conversation with anyone about David Kooris and Stamford. If you were living under a rock you would say there is activity happening all over the city. It is not what you want but it is development, the most in 50 years.
Jeff, I appreciate your support for Joe Ganim. I have many friends who like him and even they admit it’s over. I must admit Jeff, it is nice to see you have fire in your belly for Ganim. Too bad you weren’t this excited when you were running for Mayor.
I believe you will be disappointed on Sept. 16. If you are not, I will be the first to congratulate you, pay off two bets, take one person to Dolphin’s Cove and then kill myself! 🙂 Only kidding.
Steve. All I have to say in reply to your dream-state, 2:08 AM commentary is, “Go Musto!”–Good Yom Tov!
To all–Foster, an intelligent, honest, successful, energetic next Mayor, vs. Ganim, a convicted liar, and Finch, totally unsuccessful in the private sector and then saved from a failed private life and put on the public trough by then-mayor Ganim, a likely born liar. Not even a close call.