Stallworth: Ganim’s ‘The Buzz Thing In Bridgeport’

The Hartford Courant’s Ed Mahony profiles former Mayor Joe Ganim’s possible run for his old job.

Local Democrats are ducking for cover, trying to appear neutral should the glib Ganim challenge Bill Finch, the policy-driven, two-term incumbent, who, an aide said Friday, is pressing the state legislature to broaden anti-corruption laws and bar felons such as Ganim from returning to elected office.

“Right now,” said Mario Testa, the influential Democratic city chairman, “I don’t have no idea what’s going on. Let me just say this: We will support whoever the nominee will be.”

“Please,” said State Rep. Charlie Stallworth, an East End Democrat. “Don’t ask. I have really tried to stay out of it because it is such a hot button issue right now. It is the buzz thing in Bridgeport. People are asking whether he is going to run or not.”

Full story here.

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56 comments

  1. And there you have it, folks. It doesn’t get any sadder than that. Mario’s comment is silly and reverends should not be in politics. Hot issue, where? Buzz, where?

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    1. Maria, I’m implying the buzz is as faint as Tom Bucci running again. The thing Maria is talking on this blog does not translate to the voters who despise the character. And the youthful voters, they have no idea who Joe Ganim is, I am certain they would not be too thrilled when they start reading about Bridgeport’s sad sad sad dark moment when our beloved Mayor was convicted on 16 felony counts. That was a day all his supporters are conveniently forgetting. Unless Maria, you are talking about the leadership at a few East End churches. I think it will be helpful when Ernie Newton endorses him. I can understand, truly liking Joe Ganim. He very likeable. Most sociopaths are. It is his history against Finch’s that has me perplexed. How his supporters rationalize it is very humorous to me. This city really is funny but then again there used to be a saying in politics. There were only two things that could destroy a political campaign for a man. Being caught in bed with another man or a dead woman. If that’s the case and apparently it is, DeJesus and Joe should go with it. I can’t wait to see the contributors to Joe’s campaign. Drum roll please!

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      1. Steve, I really disagree with you on this. I have heard quite a few people discussing Ganim. I overheard a group of people talking about it at a diner last week. Obviously it is even relevant in Hartford or the Courant wouldn’t be writing about it. CT Post has posted three stories about it on their blogs, editorial and news sections. I have had quite a few people contact me about Ganim and every single one said they would support Ganim except two. I would say it is 90% in Ganim’s corner and 10% are not so far.

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        1. Maria really, and what do these people you are talking to give as their reason??? Just out of curiosity, they would support a convicted felon over FINCH. Do you despise Finch that much you could rationalize voting for that other guy? Honestly, shocked. But not concerned.

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          1. Steve, Martha Stewart is a convicted felon. If she were running for Mayor would you be completely opposed to her too? There are a variety of reasons that include education, disrespect and it is clear many leaders in the minority communities are quite angry with him.

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          2. Maria, I would not vote for Martha Stewart and “that’s a good thing,” she was just a celebrity who got caught with her panties down. Joseph on the other hand was an elected official, betrayed the public trust, stole a shitload of money and was convicted on 16 counts and never showed remorse. Maria, just give it up, your support is sad at best and I think we have beaten this horse to death. Can we elect a registered sex offender as long as he or she is registered? Why or why not? Just stop already, the bottom line is with such a large city we are scrapping the bottom of the barrel for a candidate. That is pretty much the saddest state of affairs. Joe has hubris for sure. I do not think he will allow himself to loose by a landslide. Better he spend the next few years doing community work, asking forgiveness and run against Mary-Jane and Caruso in the next election after Finch goes for the gold by running for Malloy’s spot and reminding Joe what his original career path was.

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      2. Steven Auerbach, you’ve got this wrong big time about the buzz. How much time do you spend in the black and Hispanic community, their churches, their barber shops, local bars, their businesses and their community meetings?

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        1. Ron Mackey, I’d pose the same question to you. You are giving a sad hyperbolic response and the impression guys hanging out in minority barbershops all over the city many right here dotting main street, these youthful voters even know Joe Ganim. They have no idea who he is so we will all have to relive the days of $4000 suits, $800,000 pay to play for development, $500 bottles of wine and of course the City paying $42,000 a year for multimillion dollar insurance policies. Mackey, the buzz about Ganim is what??? We are stupid and we want him back? Did you imagine Bridgeport will not be dragged through the mud? Really? Mackey honestly, you really do shock me. You and I cannot even discuss this. Ganim has embarrassed this city and there are just some things that are not forgivable. I cannot imagine Ron how you’d promote Joe or raise the money but I am certain Finch has people who will know how to handle this. Me, I am hoping this is not a circus and slows the development momentum and I am certain most voters will agree. Running the City is more than a personality contest. If it were we would all be in trouble.

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          1. Steve Auerbach, you picked out one thing, the barber shop and nothing else. I’m telling you if you want to hear and feel the buzz then you would attend seven or eight black churches, you go into the black and Hispanic community. Too many people are aware how much Finch’s lies and never say he sorry or wrong about anything. Lennie gave a list of jobs Finch had that Joe Ganim got for Finch, he has no skills to get a job on his own.

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          2. Ron, you may be right about certain things. I will reiterate, number one I just do not believe the black community is going to support Joe. Sorry. I do know Finch has a strong black following. Whether Finch has failed at all of his past jobs or if Ganim helped get him a job is not relevant. Respect is relevant. You may not respect Finch, most voters do not respect Ganim and again, you seem to be speaking for the black community and by assuming they are supporting Ganim is just outrageous and an insult to their ethics and integrity. I am also concerned for Joe Ganim and his family. Do we really need to bring up his sordid past? The wind is at Finch’s back. My only concern is will he be tempted like Ganim. Become full of his own celebrity should Steelepointe actually start the housing, hotel and corporate headquarters.

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          3. Steven Auerbach, I speak only for Ronald Mackey. You might not like or even believe there is a buzz about Joe Ganim. Steve, why is it no Democrat besides Finch is saying nothing about Ganim running. The voters of Bridgeport have seen Finch act like a dictator when he took the rights of voters away for them to vote for who they wanted to serve on the Bridgeport Board of Education because he knew better even though he had a 6 to 3 voting margin for any vote but that wasn’t good enough. Well, that was overturned. Steve, you need to spend some time in these communities to see for yourself and not someone from Black Rock.

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          4. Ron, the only reason no Democrats are talking about Joe except for Finch is one, because nobody cares and two, they are thinking about the audacity of even contemplating. I do not live in Black Rock. I live in the North End. I live in a very integrated neighborhood so I live amongst many black people. I guess I think differently here than they do in the East End. Here they were pretty equally divided between Finch and Foster. I don’t have to tell you Finch has and continues to do well in minority communities. Personally, I am not the beneficiary of good will from either candidate.

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  2. Finch is a nervous wreck. Dollars to donuts, if Ganim gets endorsed (and that’s a huge if), how long will it take Tom McCarthy to abandon Finch and start kissing Joe’s rear end? I’d say overnight, lol.

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  3. I know Finch’s push for not allowing felons to serve in office is patently political. But there really should be a law in place for those felons who were once elected officials who violated their oath of office to be prevented from ever serving in an elected position in the future.
    Some things are not forgivable.

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    1. Bob, if I were 25 years old and accepted a thousand dollar bribe as a young city council member, do you believe I should be banned from serving as a public official for the rest of my life? If I stole $500 from a retailer, should I be banned from shopping in any other retailer for life? If I were convicted of driving without a drivers license, do you believe I should never be able to obtain a license?

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      1. Oh Maria! If you were going to get a $500,000 contribution from handing Steelepointe to a developer I think that would be only one of a dozen reasons Ganim should not consider running. Again, a cashier is $10 short three times, she is fired. Should she be fired? Not eligible for rehire? Ganim’s $500 bottles of wine? His commercials featuring his family to help promote his gubernatorial bid while promoting Bridgeport? His non apology? Maria, I am absolutely shocked. I agree with Bob and further, I agree with Finch. People need to be protected from themselves. Felons should never again be in a position of power. That would be a positive step in the right direction for Bridgeport, Bob is correct and most educated voters would agree.

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    1. Jim Fox, you are correct. Ernie Newton won and will be sentenced again in February. Leopards never change their spots. I can just see the DTC endorsing Joe. I think that could definitely be the end of Mario and the machine. Finch would be wise to know Mario is supporting Ganim. They are friends for crying out loud. So I suppose all the Testa haters will fall in love again.

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      1. Joe has always been good to his friends on the DTC, and Joe has always been fair.
        Finch has always been good to Finch.
        Stevie, you’re backing a one-way street in Finch, Finch could care less about the taxpayers, you, and anyone on the town committee, just ask all the people he’s flucked over the years, he’ll be kissing a lot of ass from now on.
        And you know he needs Mario more than ever, but Mario Knows Finch and he knows Joe Ganim.
        Joe’s word is his bond with Mario, and … Finch’s word is worth … dog shit!
        Now the ball’s back in Mario’s hands and he holds the air pump!
        August can’t come fast enough!

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  4. If memory serves me, didn’t Finch recently recommend an individual who worked at Dunbar School and was discovered to be a sex offender? If there wasn’t an outcry surrounding this recommendation, this sex offender would be a member of our Ethics Commission.

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    1. LISA PARZIALE, the real question you need to ask is, Did Finch know this character was a sex offender? If yes then obviously there is a problem. The question is who did the vetting? The school board?

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      1. Steve, the sex offender actually was appointed and served on the Ethics Commission at the pleasure of Mayor Finch. He also had repeated felony convictions for drug dealing. The BBOE was not responsible for background checks for those employed by FUSE. Both the fake Dr. Sharpe and Mayor Finch’s recent $90,000 hire were fully aware they had a convicted sex offender working at Dunbar School and did absolutely nothing about it.

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        1. Maria, OMG. Now that is unbelievable but that is not Finch. Ganim and a whole slew of his pals were convicted so there you go. A little Windex can wipe the slate clean. Windex is an amazing item.

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    1. Jennifer, excellent post. This is how you know his supporters do not love this city as much as they enjoy playing politics. Paul Timpanelli was quoted in the Wall Street journal regarding this while discussing Steelepointe. Bridgeport’s momentum would halt.

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      1. So let’s see what has Timpanelli done for Bridgeport, other than cashing his paycheck!

        What momentum?
        The taxes in Bridgeport have shot up over 30% under Timpanelli and Finch!

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  5. Bill Finch is the new George Wallace of Bridgeport. He’s always trying to take the RIGHT of felon’s to VOTE and participate in the process. People who live in GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES! Steve, you know nothing about what the judge will do! You may think FINCH is GOD but he’s not!

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    1. Hey Ernie Newton, Finch is not my G-d but honestly, comparing Finch to Wallace is just shameful. Nothing like another race-baiting comment. Does it get any more pathetic than this??? Ain’t nothing like fighting for a felon’s right to vote and run for office. Then add to that assuming the black community stands by this mentality is worse. I wonder how many in the black community went to see Selma and after 50 years they are taking a stand to support Joe Ganim. Yeah Black Pride: Ganim 2015 … Because We Can’t Get Enough!!!

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  6. Steve, you know nothing about the black community; if you did you would know we are the most forgiving people in this world. Steve, always remember this as you and Bill Finch judge others so you and Bill will be JUDGED!

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    1. Oh Ernie, I am not Finch’s number-one fan, I just have a problem with Ganim running. Ernie btw: you have been blowing smoke up Joeys ass for awhile yet I have heard no words of support for you. Btw also Ernie, I am not happy with your current situation. I do hope the judge is lenient with you and Ernie, this is not personal, convicted felons have no place in office. This is an opportunity to explore other avenues.

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    2. See Ernest, you are on your way to a new career that goes well with Bridgeport politicians. You can become a preacher. Your line was priceless. Finch and myself sitting in judgement, really? Everyone on this anti-Finch blog has judged and condemned Finch so much so they actually believe Joe is the savior. That Ernie, is the saddest commentary. I am not judging you. You know, hate the sin love the sinner. I know you have so much more to contribute and I think you can do it from the sidelines with Joe.
      So far I only know of two candidates. David Daniels and Bill Finch. Everything else is just noise. And even though I am colorblind, if I were a member of the black community I’d work my ass off giving visibility to David Daniels and Howard Gardner. They may not win but at least they have laid the groundwork for future battles. Ganim should just be a spectator for a term.

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      1. Yes Steve, I went to see SELMA with my church. Mt. AERY Baptist Church. Voting rights are important to me. Being a felon should not stop a person from voting or participating in the process. Bill tried it once already with the Board of Education. I wish he would stop trying to turn the clock back on US!

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        1. Come on Ernie, when you talk like that you are attempting to divide us into black and white. Felons come in all colors and nationalities. You can be critical of Finch and I appreciate and respect your loyalty to Ganim, but to accuse or paint Mayor Finch as a racist is just not fair. Honestly Ernie, in the game of politics we do what we do, but to lie and paint Finch as a racist to mobilize less-informed voters would be the equivalent of the black churches painting Mary-Jane FOSTER as a racist closet Republican.

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          1. The truth though, Selma was a very moving motion picture. The actual footage angered me so. I got to tell you, comparing Finch to Wallace is wrong. But the movie was excellent. The acting was superb and I will be going with 7th and 8th graders to see it again. I urge all my students to see the movie. I do not think the movie was a referendum on voting rights of felons. I think the movie shows a dark moment in United States history and the horrible treatment of people who not only helped build this country but also fought in WWII and liberated concentration camps and still could not vote. I do not think Martin Luther King’s message was to fight for the right of convicted felons to run for office.
            Ernie, you and Joe served time. I am not judging. You should be welcomed back into society and allowed to contribute like everyone else. I just do not believe holding public office should be an option, no more than a convicted child molester becoming a nursery school teacher. I do not equate you with the latter, but a betrayal of public trust does have a price. I do not think all voters can make the distinction, that’s why laws are put in place.

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          2. Steven Auerbach, you said, “Finch as a racist to mobilize less-informed voters would be the equivalent of the black churches painting Mary-Jane FOSTER as a racist closet Republican,” well, you are totally wrong about this, in the last election when Mary-Jane Foster ran for mayor against Finch there were certain black ministers who did make that charge and it was a disgrace.

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  7. Back to the original topic. Buzz on Ganim. There is a lot of buzz on Ganim, some of it positive and some of it negative. Let’s let him throw his hat in the ring and let Bridgeport voters decide. I believe in Bridgeport voters (that is, those who are not part of the fraudulent AB crap) and I think this will shake out where it should. And by the way, I’m not naïve, not unaware or even unscathed by the things that happen in Bridgeport. I just give Bridgeport residents, taxpayers and voters more credit than Ganim or Finch do.

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  8. Lennie, get with the program. Is there no snow emergency???

    Bridgeport Schools early dismissal.

    19 inches expected with two- to four-foot drifts.

    Everyone be safe.

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    1. I don’t care, that’s for sure, the WSJ did only because for some reason they like getting a quote from the business community. I do know Paul may be a former selectman for Trumbull but he has been a fixture, albeit not so constructive for the past 30-ish years. Paul unfortunately has to be the number-one asskisser for the Mayor. It’s a crappy job having to gain memberships where members ask daily why????????? Why am I a member? The view from his office is spectacular, he has been a major player in downtown north. And he has a nice singing voice as he has a group that sing songs from the ’50s. And his opinion in the WSJ was spot on. Joe Ganim ruined this city and it has taken developers years to want to do business in this city again.

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  9. 1. During snow storms piranha grow wings and move unfazed through blizzard conditions. Conclusion: beware of flying piranha.
    2. Only in Bridgeport would a sprinkle of voters make so much noise while getting nostalgic over a former mayor with a rap sheet.

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