Ernie Newton tells OIB he’s gearing up to reclaim next year the State Senate seat he had occupied until derailed by corruption charges in 2005. His former seat is currently occupied by Ed Gomes who’s recovering from heart surgery. Newton had spent nearly 20 years in the Connecticut Legislature first in the State House before winning the special election to the fill the State Senate seat following the passing of Alvin Penn in 2003. Since his return from prison in the summer of 2010 Newton has been visible throughout the city attending public meetings and reconnecting with constituents. He also works as a counselor in support of substance abusers.
Newton, who had often traveled to the State Capitol with Bill Finch when both served in the Connecticut Legislature, supported Finch’s Democratic primary opponent for mayor Mary-Jane Foster. Newton says he recently met with Finch “to clear the air. I respect the will of the people.” Newton says he supported Foster because of her emphasis on job creation and jobs, he points out, will be the centerpiece of his candidacy. He says the state must implement a jobs bill for the poor aided by a Bridgeporter who knows his way around Hartford. “Bridgeport must not be the tail wagging the dog, we need to be the big dog.”
He says his years in the Connecticut Legislature led to millions of dollars for the city including money to remove Mount Trashmore, a 30-foot-high pile of demolition debris, $1.9 million for St. Mark’s Day Care Center on Newfield Avenue and $2.2 million for the Innovation Center on Connecticut Avenue.
Connecticut’s 23rd Senate District covers Bridgeport’s East Side, East End, South End, a portion of the North End and a small piece of Stratford. Newton is not counting on an endorsement from the Democratic Town Committee. Either way, he says, he expects a primary in a field that could be larger than him and Gomes. Newton and one of his closest friends East End District Leader Ralph Ford were on opposite sides in the mayoral primary. That will not be the case for Newton’s State Senate run.
Both Newton and Gomes supported Foster in the primary. Assuming his full recovery from heart surgery Gomes will not go away quietly. Even at 75 years of age Gomes has a lot of fight in him and has built up his own constituency as a six-year member of the State Senate. Will party leaders such as Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa recruit a candidate outside of Gomes and Newton? Assuming an August primary, the candidates can expect ballot company. A potential primary for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by a retiring Joe Lieberman includes Congressman Chris Murphy, former Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, State Rep. William Tong and national drug-reform advocate Sylvester Salcedo, a former Bridgeport resident.
Newton says he’ll make a formal declaration after the holidays. Meanwhile he says he continues to reach out to former constituents about their concerns and his desire to once again represent them. As he often says, “All saints have a past, all sinners a future.”
Saw Ayala Jr stumping at Luis Marin for Finch. He will run.
Juan, is this your real name or are you a fan of Welcome Back Kotter?
My father was a fan, and he has a sense of humor.
OFF TOPIC:
IT IS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SADNESS I ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF ANN MIGLIORE.
Ann passed away Wednesday night at St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Ann was my second mother and I will miss her greatly. Ann was a person who always found good in people. As the district leader here in the 138th she helped everyone who came to her for help and never asked for anything in return.
Ann worked tirelessly for the party and especially for the district. She was 86 years old at the time of her passing. I spent many a day at the polls with Ann. I remember when Ann was in her early 80s, we spent 14 hours at the polls and she never complained, in fact being at the polls was a labor of love for Ann.
ANN I WILL MISS YOU GREATLY AND I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU AND ALL THE GOOD YOU DID FOR OTHERS.
Ann & John were always the first to arrive at a wake to offer their condolences. She deserves a big Bridgeport sendoff! It was most fitting at the Democratic nominating convention in July, Ann and John were honored for celebrating their 60th(?) wedding anniversary.
St. Patrick’s Day in Bridgeport will never be the same.
Ann could be in a room and not say a word and still be the strongest presence in that room. She will truly be missed.
*** Great Lady & concerned citizen. My best to her family & friends, she will be missed! *** RIP ***
RIP Ann and my deepest sympathies to your family. You provided wise counsel and support to me when I was very new to the Bpt political scene. Thank you Ann. I will miss you.
My best to Ann’s family and her friends. Ann loved being the district leader and she was great at it. I really enjoyed talking with her and listening to how wise she was when I asked her questions. The Bridgeport political scene could use more Ann Migliores.
R.I.P. Ann! Now that we’re discussing the subjects of death and Big Dogs, I myself wouldn’t want to be looked at as a dog–they don’t live long enough whether they’re big or small. On many occasions, Lennie has raised the issue of the dead casting their ballots. The flip side of this would be the living, voting for the dead. The living, voting for the dead by absentee ballot is an interesting thought. I know what some of you are thinking: Why would the living vote for the dead, when they should know when the candidate is dead? I don’t know the answer to the question, but I suspect there isn’t a right or a wrong answer:
www .ctpost.com/news/article/More-votes-cast-for-deceased-mayor-in-Michigan-2260056.php
Pardon my inability to comprehend your post, but exactly what the hell are you talking about? The article, from Michigan no less, is from 2003, and I don’t get your point.
To Lennie Grimaldi and all you ‘nosy’ OIB readers: “Measure the distance if you are concerned, and don’t be an ass.”
Read more: www .ctpost.com/news/article/Ohio-poll-worker-jailed-in-voter-nose-bite-claim-2260582.php
Okay, well meanwhile on the maybe more positive side, there is an event starting today in Bridgeport: the Arts Trail, in the newly renovated Arcade, the kickoff event is the following and expect to attend:
AWARD PRESENTATIONS TODAY – The City of Bridgeport, Office of Mayor Bill Finch, is pleased to announce the recipients of the “Fall 2011 Mayor’s Neighborhood Arts & Heritage Grant Program.”
The recipients of the Fall 2011 Mayor’s Neighborhood Arts & Heritage Grants will be honored by Mayor Bill Finch on Thursday, November 10, 4:00pm, at an award ceremony at the Bridgeport Arts + Cultural Council’s Arcade gallery. All are invited to attend.
The grant program, funded by the City of Bridgeport Mayor’s Office and administered by the Bridgeport Arts + Cultural Council (BACC), “celebrates Bridgeport’s dynamic artistic and cultural environment by supporting the creative pursuits of its artists and cultural institutions,” shares Marianne Brunson Frisch, BACC Executive Director.
ON TOPIC. Good Luck, Ernie.
ON TOPIC. Get Well, Ed.
ditto.
I find it quite distasteful Ernie is trying to steal the Senate seat from his old friend Ed Gomes while the latter is recuperating from major heart surgery. Sorry Ernie, but that’s just wrong.
Ernie’s behavior is beyond distasteful, it’s disrespectful and disgraceful. Just outright shameless. I wish Sen. Gomes a speedy recovery.
LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. I SPOKE TO SEN. GOMES DURING THE MARY-JANE FOSTER CAMPAIGN BEFORE I CHOSE TO ENDORSE HER AND INFORMED SEN. GOMES I WOULD BE RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE. ONE THING ABOUT ME, I DON’T THROW A ROCK AND HIDE MY HAND.
BEFORE I ENDORSED MJF I CALLED MAYOR FINCH, MARIO TESTA AND ADAM WOOD AND INFORMED THEM WHY I WAS SUPPORTING HER.
I WISH SEN. GOMES A SPEED RECOVERY!
I WAS SADDENED TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF ANN MIGLIORE. SHE WAS TRULY A GOOD FRIEND AND SHE WILL BE MISSED. OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. (R.I.P.)
Ernie, is it in the city’s best interest to have a convicted felon working in Hartford in the same position that put you jail in the first place? Wouldn’t there be temptation there again?
Hey burman, give it up. zzzzzzzzz, a**hole.
Ronin, stop crying. The results are in, you were a loser.
You are a total a**hole.
Mr. Newton is doing nothing wrong. He aspires to return to his old Senate seat and has put plans in place to do that. It’s America. He can do those things. The fact Ed Gomes is presently recuperating from serious heart surgery is irrelevant to Newton’s plans.
Newton wants to run and it is unfortunate his announcement occurred while the incumbent is infirmed.
I don’t think Newton is taking advantage of Gomes’ health condition.
Without commenting directly on Ernie Newton’s crimes and subsequent punishment, I would ask the bloggers here the following:
Do you trust a thief?
Do you want a convicted thief representing you?
Do you want someone who violated the public trust telling you how to lead your life?
It doesn’t matter that Ernie Newton paid his debt to society. He doesn’t qualify on a moral and ethical level to be in government.
There ARE a lot better people out there to represent Bridgeport as a state senator. Andres Ayala, Ed Gomes and Marilyn Moore to name three.
BOB, LET’S LET THE PEOPLE IN THE 23rd Senate District decide who they want, not the bloggers. WE tried that in the FINCH ELECTION. IT DIDN’T WORK.
Oh, Marilyn is in the 22nd SENATE DIST.
I’M GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE AN EXPERT ON MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DEBATE ON THE ISSUES FACING BRIDGEPORT!
You are absolutely right Ernie … I was just pointing out why neither you nor Joe Ganim deserve the right to represent anyone in the public venue. It’s a moral and ethical reason, but if you are elected I hope you don’t revert and repeat your crimes against society and your constituents.
If all the people, like me, who think Newton is unworthy of returning to public office would actually go to the polls and vote, Newton would be amazed at how overwhelmingly he would lose.