From the Foster campaign:
The Connecticut Citizen Action Group Endorses Mary-Jane Foster for Mayor of Bridgeport
CCAG cites Bill Finch’s undemocratic behavior regarding the dissolution of the Bridgeport Board of Education and his troubling ties to People for Excellence in Government PAC.
Democratic candidate for mayor of Bridgeport Mary-Jane Foster received the endorsement of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) today. CCAG released the following statement:
The Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) endorses Mary-Jane Foster for Mayor because it is time to restore honesty, integrity and transparency to Bridgeport’s municipal government.
After initially deciding to not become involved in Bridgeport’s 2011 Mayoral contest, the CCAG Board unanimously decided to endorse Mary-Jane Foster in response to Bill Finch’s role in the dissolution of the Bridgeport Board of Education in July and revelations about Finch’s relationship with the People for Excellence in Government PAC.
“CCAG is endorsing Mary-Jane Foster for Mayor because Bill Finch finds democracy inconvenient,” said Max Medina, Jr., CCAG Board member and former President of the Bridgeport Board of Education. “The Finch Administration participated in a carefully executed plan to deny Bridgeport residents the opportunity to vote for the four seats on the Board of Education which were up for re-election this year,” added Medina, a Bridgeport resident.
After conspiring with others to eliminate the duly elected Bridgeport Board of Education–without any opportunity for community involvement or comment–Bill Finch then added insult to injury by testifying before the Connecticut Board of Education:
“I don’t see it as a great loss, for a few years, to lose the electoral process.”
“I just do want to remind you that there is (sic) many of my parents who either because of them not being citizens or having done things in their previous life cannot participate in the Democratic process.”
“Democracy doesn’t work. It doesn’t work in all cases.”
State board of Education meeting, July 6, 2011
(blog.ctnews.com/politics/2011/07/15/radio-ad-bashes-mayor-finchs-election-stand/)
“Mary-Jane Foster and CCAG believe democracy always works–it is the American way and for that reason we endorse Foster for Mayor,” added CCAG Board Chair Bill Bloss. Bloss said that the CCAG board was particularly concerned about the lack of public involvement in the process leading up to the vote to dissolve. “In towns all over Connecticut, Boards seek and value public input. It is inconceivable that the most drastic decision that a Board of Education could make–to disenfranchise a City’s voters–would be made with the short notice and lack of public discussion as happened here.”
He also cited the serious questions which have been raised about Finch’s ties to the People for Excellence in Government PAC. Bloss continued, “CCAG fought long and hard to pass the Clean Elections system in Connecticut. We now have a system that has taken big money and lobbyist contributions away from elections for state office. But municipal elections are not as well regulated as state elections.”
“Bill Beccaro works for the Senate Democrats where he worked with Finch. Finch hires Beccaro to do consulting work for the City of Bridgeport. Finch hires Adam Wood as his chief of staff. Finch sends his candidate committee surplus to Beccaro’s PAC. Finch, Wood and their spouses in turn benefit from Beccaro’s PAC. In my opinion, it doesn’t pass the smell test and it’s just plain wrong,” added Medina.
“The people of Bridgeport deserve a mayor who embraces democracy and transparency. Mary-Jane Foster is that candidate and that is why CCAG supports her candidacy for Mayor,” said Bloss.
CCAG is a statewide organization with over 20,000 member families committed to fighting for social, economic, environmental and racial justice for 40 years.
“I just do want to remind you that there is (sic) many of my parents who either because of them not being citizens or having done things in their previous life cannot participate in the Democratic process.”
“Democracy doesn’t work. It doesn’t work in all cases.”
~Bill Finch at a State board of Education meeting, July 6, 2011
“Bill Beccaro works for the Senate Democrats where he worked with Finch. Finch hires Beccaro to do consulting work for the City of Bridgeport. Finch hires Adam Wood as his chief of staff. Finch sends his candidate committee surplus to Beccaro’s PAC. Finch, Wood and their spouses in turn benefit from Beccaro’s PAC. In my opinion, it doesn’t pass the smell test and it’s just plain wrong.”
~Max Medina
Robert F. Kennedy’s greatest contribution to the U.S. criminal justice system was to empanel a grand jury, tear a suspect’s life apart and see what shakes loose. It worked on organized crime, it worked on corrupt politicians. It would be a shocking surprise to learn the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut was not taking a keen interest in the current political events unfolding in Bridgeport, what with the SEEC complaints, allegations of ballot tampering, etc. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Attorney’s Office have had Mario Testa in their collective sights for quite some time. Maybe, just maybe they’ll get him this time.
Bill Finch’s litmus test reminds me of an old Cheech and Chong skit where two guys walking down the street come upon a pile in the street and check it out. One guy bends over and look at it and says looks like shit, the other guy smells it and says smells like shit. Then the guy sticks his finger in the shit, tastes it and says it is shit. His buddy says good thing we didn’t step in it. That’s how Finch figures he is in deep shit.
It is disgusting 17 of 20 City Council members endorsed Finch for a second term. Are the perks so important, is staying in Mario Testa’s good graces so necessary? They ought to be ashamed of themselves. Bill Finch has done absolutely nothing positive for the people of the city of Bridgeport. He’s run the city further into debt by using a Léger-de-main accounting method that pushes back pension fund contributions and other payments and allows Hizzoner the dubious distinction of bragging about a “surplus” of $110,000 or so. The city is in the hole to the tune of about $1.4 BILLION, Mr. Finch. Go back to night school; you need a remedial math class.
At least one City Council member changed parties when she couldn’t win a seat as a Republican. Must be nice to be so desperate to win at any cost …
The City Council, 20 Bridgeport citizens, many with City jobs which at this time of this year means they are concerned about their jobs, and concerned about saying, thinking, or doing anything that would be perceived as disloyal to Hizzoner Bill Finch (or his violation reporters from Command Center).
Well, the Council are our representatives. They provide the public with 30 Minutes, time for six five-minute talks to them previous to their meeting. You know my primary objective has been to unwrap the City fiscal information over the past two years. Not an easy assignment. Part of the reason is the Council, who are supposed to be a knowledgeable check and balance on administrative action, cannot handle that job. But no one says that to them. Maybe some of us ought to address this deficiency in City communication??? See you on Monday evening …