UPDATE: In addition to Joe Ganim and Mary-Jane Foster, five other candidates trying to petition onto the general election ballot for mayor in November submitted signatures from registered voters to the Town Clerk’s Office by 4 p.m. Wednesday. About 120 certified signatures are required to appear on the November ballot.
The other petitioning candidates for mayor who submitted filings with the Town Clerk’s Office: retired police officer David Daniels, Charlie Coviello running on the New Movement Party, Tony Barr, Christopher Taylor and 76-year-old Black Rock property owner Richard DeParle running on the Job Creation Party.
School board member Howard Gardner did not not meet the 4 p.m. deadline submission. The Town Clerk’s Office will now review the respective petition sheets and send them to the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s Office for official certification.
Ganim, Foster, Gardner and Coviello are also trying to qualify for the September 16 Democratic primary where the signature process requires a labor-intensive approximate 1,900 signatures. Mayor Bill Finch, as the endorsed candidate, has locked up a ballot spot for the primary.
Qualifying for the general election provides a backup plan if not victorious in the primary.
Is DeParle a placeholder for the mayor? State law allows a candidate to replace another on a party designation. You cannot replace person to person, but replacing an individual representing a party designation is allowable.
Mayor Bill Finch issued this statement:
“I am working tirelessly to win the Democratic primary. And I can honestly say that there has never been an election that puts our city–and its future–at more of a crossroads than voters face this year.”
More from Brian Lockhart, CT Post:
And two of Finch’s chief rivals in the primary who also handed in petitions Wednesday — ex-Mayor Joseph Ganim and businesswoman Mary-Jane Foster — alleged that DeParle is a ballot placeholder for Hizzoner should Finch lose on Sept. 16.
The theory is Finch’s team does not want voters to think he could lose the primary. Enter DeParle.
Full story here
Statement from Foster:
“After eight long years of Mayor Finch and his cronies’ congenital lying to our people, he is now engaging in what is, effectively, fraud in the electorate. This is a mayor who lied about a $600 tax rebate, who continued to double dip in salary, who failed at a stealth conspiracy to takeover our schools, who tried to cover up an obstruction of crime information and statistics, and now puts up a straw man in the general election.
“Today we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Why should we support someone who tried to take away our right to vote with his two-time failure at gaining control of the Board of Education?
“This is a man who is dishonest and desperate. Bridgeport deserves an honest choice for change.”
Bill Finch “locked up” a spot on the ballot by bribing the DTC members who also work for the city Of Bridgeport, offering raises, promotions, maybe a few free cocktails.
And Joe Ganim got 41 votes by promising jobs he will never be able to deliver on. What else is new, Kid? Kid, do you mind if I respond to you in the future by using your real name with the prefix “little” in front of it? I feel it would level the playing field for me and I’d appreciate using your real name.
Stevie, just remember this. It’s the second mouse that gets the cheese!
Jim Fox, what does that have to do with the price of eggs in China?
This is Bridgeport. The guy with the better mousetrap wins the cheese.
Steve, Joe did not promise anyone on the DTC. Certainly not jobs. Just about all Finch’s DTC votes are already employees or their relatives have jobs.
Maria, Maria, Maria,
How lucky is Joe Ganim to have such a hard-working and totally naive individual working tirelessly. Joe Ganim, former Mayor for 10 years, would never make promises to anyone from the DTC. Never! That would not be ethical. Maria, focus. Forty-one people do not believe Ganim deserves to be Mayor. Between Joe and Mario deals were made. Nature of the beast! Politics. It is what it is as it has always been. “Politics make strange bedfellows!”
Maria, in the 10 years when Ganim and Testa were Mayor, are you so naive to believe Ganim was not “negotiating” with DTC members? Focus!
No Steven, you may not use my real name.
Have any of the underticket candidates filed petitions?
There are sill a few nominations left for the Tupperware Party, the Pot Party, Art Linkletter’s House Party, …
The Pity Party.
The Slumber Party, the Dinner Party, the Rent Party …
Happy to report Tyisha Toms and I have supplied petitions with enough qualified endorsers from the 130th previous to the 4PM deadline at the Town Clerk’s office today. We have secured enough signatures to meet the Primary requirement also, but by knocking on doors, listening to the folks who answer those doors, and responding directly and honestly with a statement of credentials and commitments, we know the potential voters better and they have a direct chance of weighing us as genuine alternatives to candidates supported by the Town Committee. We offer ourselves as City watchdogs to monitor and review what we do, how we do it, and the expense of the process. If the current governance process were OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT, there would be no need for us to run and be useful. If those registered to vote exercise that privilege in the primary and on election day, we shall pursue changes that put us in step with the Charter and Ordinances, too long ignored and neglected. Time will tell.
You are walking Sominex John. If anyone on the City Council is suffering from insomnia, you will cure it with your endless OATS … go buy some Cheerios.
Way to go, JML!
Curious to know why it only takes 120 for general but 1,900 for Primary.
If the current administration were Open, Accountable and Transparent there would be no need for placeholders, would there?
Job Creation Party my bum. Jobs for whom? More Woods, Nunns and Felipes? Yeah, that’s what we need; more people who treat the electorate like indentured servants shoved down our throats.
Worried a petition would make them look weak, Finch’s Campaign chose the route of the coward once again. We all knew there would be a petition. The question was under whom? Now you look even weaker.
Wicca, no offense. Why would Mayor Finch petition for the general election? He will win the primary by huge margins. He will win the general. Foster and Ganim will not be able to raise money and even if they did, Steelpointe, Downtown, endorsements, pride, are only a few reasons why Finch will win.
Today was an exceptional day at Newfield Park in the East End. I spoke to so many people who really have pride in the neighborhood and enthusiastically support Mayor Finch and appreciate the Water Park. I thought Auntie’s Chicken waffle place had good food but happily discovered a really great little place on Jefferson street on Newfield Park. Great menu for breakfast and dinner. Field House Chicken Waffles and things!
Left Newfield Park and stopped to chat with Ted Meekins on Stratford Avenue Outreach. He is very involved with trying to get neighborhood residents prepared for job applications and Bass Pro.
No matter whom you talk to, everybody knows Mr. Meekins and respects him. Even those he arrested. Those on the East End who were hopeful and supported Bill Finch, they were also disappointed how the DTC have notoriously endorsed candidates who kept their neighborhood from enjoying prosperity. There are so many lovely homes in the area and they have the same hopes and dreams as any other neighborhood in Bridgeport. It was a great day. Not so much for Joe Ganim.
Steve, many individuals in the black community do not support Ted Meekins. A number of black leaders have described him as a “sell-out.” I know a well-respected individual who tried to help with an issue in the East End. The individual resigned from the effort and although he pleaded with them not to resign in front of me and others, this well-respected individual refused.
Maria, I did not mention a word regarding the black community. I had a great day in the East End and I have respected Ted Meekins for over 30 years. Like David Daniels. they have touched thousands. Just for the record, I am not black. I do not speak for the black community and I did not feel like the only white person at Newfield Park. I have been there a few times already. Thank you for telling me Ted Meekins is not popular with black people. I have never met anyone who didn’t respect his community involvement. How many thousands of kids he sent to Bluefish games. Maria, honestly, where do you get off even commenting on an icon of Bridgeport? He may not live here but his heart and soul is living in the East End.
Steve, he did. He should have, too. Just under his own name. You have no reason to check things out. The folks who did the checking do. This man is a 76-year-old Republican car salesman Finch supporter. You can fantasize all you want. This happened.
Wicca, I cannot follow your post at all. Not sure what you are responding to or what you are saying and what is my fantasy? Please be clearer.
Wicca, what happened? What does it have to do with my post? Where do people get off on character assassinations? I am not interested in any one instance in an individual’s life. I do know the many accomplishments and that is good enough for me, Wicca.
What are you talking about? DePerla is a petition proxy for Finch. That is, what you are fantasizing is not true and that is precisely and only what I addressed. No one’s character was assassinated. Nothing else. Just the proxy placeholder. Finch did petition and he petitioned under a party so he can step in and appear to be the replacement candidate for DePerla as endorsed by the Job Creation Party. The folks involved with Finch’s campaign are not stupid. They are just not smarter than everyone else. They needed to have a back up plan and now they do. There are too many people in their bread line for them not to have petitioned.
Wicca,
It’s not worth arguing with Steve Auerbach. He is so deluded with the thought Bill Finch will win the primary, the general election and the next Soap Box Derby.
Seven days without God makes one Weak!
I thought Tom McCarthy stated Mayor Finch was definitely going to win the primary. In fact, DePara is holding a place for Bill Finch in the November election just in case it proves it was all bravado and rhetoric.
Steve, Tax Bill promised the charter people more charters.
Tax Bill promised developers more tax breaks.
Tax promised RCI Marine more time and more land.
For all of these promises and more, Tax Bill raised $500,000.
Tax Bill needs to deliver or he is done so of course he has a Plan B. He has to.
I support Charter schools and tax breaks for developers. Can you see why I support Bill Finch?
Yes, Steven. We can see why you support Finch. We can also see you don’t care about failing schools, high taxes and a broken economy.
Did anyone read that statement from Tax Bill? It is asinine. It says everything but an answer or the truth. Tax Bill, let me rephrase the question. If you lose the primary are you promising not to run in the general election? YES or NO.
Bob, could you spend a little more time promoting Mary-Jane Foster before her very essence fades to black? I get it, you despise Finch and it bothers you I support him. I get it. Get over it.
Steve, did you read that gobbledygook? Please translate it for me. Please show me and others where he answers the question.
He is so pious and so pompous, he believes he does not owe his constituents in Bridgeport an honest answer or he believes the people of Bridgeport are so dumb they think he answered the question. Steve, I get it; you don’t.
Bob, the people must be dumb. They are supporting Ganim over Foster 2 to 1.
Bob Walsh rocks!
John from Black Rock,
Please weigh in on this last statement from Tax Bill. Is this the type of honesty and integrity you signed on with? Please, you know this man as well as I do. He is constitutionally incapable of telling the truth. I know this is not the type of politician you support.
Bubba, I’m as shocked as you that John Soltis is going so far out to support this administration. As I’ve said in a previous post, John is decent and smart, while he’s been around politics for decades he’s never been involved to the extent he has the savvy needed. I like him, and I just know he’s going to be taken.
Bob and Lisa, at the risk of demonstrating my lack of political savvy, let me say this: The only person running who will beat Joe Ganim is Bill Finch and I am going to continue to work as hard as I can to ensure that happens. Finch is better for Bridgeport than Ganim and that is my sole concern.
And that is what you should do, John. You’re a stand-up guy and a man of your word, and like all of us you’re entitled to your choice. I just can’t see you in that camp. They hurt good people!
Mary-Jane is the only decent candidate running but I can see John’s point. If it is between Finch and Ganim and Torres … you have one guy who is unethical (Finch), another one who is completely nuts (Torres) and a convicted criminal with no scruples (Ganim.) John makes a good point.
Lisa and Bob, I said earlier I was truly surprised John is supporting Finch but I’m also surprised Jeff Kohut is supporting Joe and on their concerns about the City and their support is their decision, but I’m truly surprised.
He works for the city, what else needs to be said?
Andy, your remark is totally off base. Being a city employee has never been a factor in whom I support. In fact, more often than not I support candidates who are running against the incumbent. You’re a good guy Andy, but I’ve got to tell you I resent your implication I’m supporting Finch because I’m either afraid of Finch or looking for something from him.
Is Rich DeParle still running the Board of Assessment Appeals, or “tax under-assessment service for the politically connected,” as it is known in some circles?
Has he moved to Bridgeport yet, or does he still just own commercial property he claims as a residential address? (I would bet his property is over-assessed.)
How many furlongs is this race, anyway?
OMG, I can’t believe Rich DeParle would be a beard for Finch. If this is true, what the hell is wrong with you, Rich. I’ve known you for over 40 years, my impression of you for decades is you’re an honest, hardworking man with just enough curiosity to stay in touch with local issues. I hope you’re not losing it at this point in your life. Enjoy the winter of your years, you’re too old to be used.
Every multi-family home Rich DeParle owns in Bridgeport received a 12 to 14% tax break from the 2008 revaluations! No conflict here!
Many of Bill Finch’s friends would like to thank DeParle as well, it’s nice to have the keys to the tax database!
Jeff,
The race is being measured in cubits …
Inch by inch the Feds will get DeParle and Finch!
Mary-Jane Foster,
It is disappointing trying to make news regarding Finch, DeParle and voter fraud. The $600 rebate? Really? Joe Ganim is loving you.
Mary-Jane, you and Joe have not shared any vision on how you can improve this city. Steelpointe, Downtown. Personally, when you have a school system in the toilet and have a Mayor making bold moves to take over a failing board, you’ve got to give him credit. After all, the voting public doesn’t even know who is running. Paul Vallas, his only misfortune was to be politically connected.
You continually fail by going after Finch with redundant failed comments and continue to make Ganim the only choice to beat Finch.
I have to believe in my heart although I do not understand it, this has been your game plan all along.
With four weeks left to go you have yet to address the candidate who has all the anti-Finch votes. And when you lose the election, you will be a bad Democrat and ask your supporters to vote for Torres?
The woman I worked so tirelessly for four years ago is not the woman running today. I am extremely disappointed you have in effect helped Joe Ganim end your political career. This city has never been so positioned for greatness as it is now and in a parallel universe our homegrown convicted felon would have the keys to the kingdom. Mary-Jane, honestly, you missed the boat. Joe Ganim will lose the election 2 to 1 but will still make front-page news and he will have a story to tell. I fear you will not and that will be very sad. I wish I could figure out your strategy, but whatever it is, it guarantees your loss. Calling Finch desperate, really? Over DeParle?
Steve,
I hear Finch is setting up a press conference to announce the long-anticipated Red Roof Inn and MARITIME Conference Center for Steal Point.
I am so excited I am afraid I might wet myself.
Andy, Depends or that other brand “Oops I crapped my pants,” may help you.
Red Roof Inn? Bob, Steelpointe already has a number of tenants with more announcements most likely timed within three weeks.
I am not sure what you are telling potential voters but at this point I do not think anyone is listening. I still believe this is a sleeper of an election. If I were Mayor Finch, I would just let Ganim and Foster debate. The only people in the room will be Ganim and Foster supporters. Maybe they can tell voters why they would be better than each other over Finch. If I were the Mayor, I would take the family out to the movies and dinner.
Bob, I apologize. Sometimes I confuse you with Fardy as I do Ron Mackey and Donald Day.
Steal Point. A maniacally hyped, no-living-wage-jobs, no-tax, waste-of-precious-waterfront STRIP MALL. (Oh, forgot to mention expensive “photo-op-place” for the Blumenthal-Murphy-Himes-Malloy-Jepson Gold Coast Gang of Five.)
When did they say the Motel 6 and truck depot/feeder barge port would be built at Steal Point? (I’m sure not until after the Seaview Avenue Porkway Connector is finished.)
If Finch, as he recently said, is “working tirelessly” to get re-elected, is he following MJF’s lead in taking an unpaid leave of absence in order to work tirelessly in her campaign?
He doesn’t have to. He has three headquarters and a city that wants to move forward. I suppose weekends and evenings is the best he can do. Mary-Jane Foster really didn’t need to take a leave for the results she is having and Ganim is unemployed. Finch is at work running the largest city in the state.
So Jeff, have you asked Joe about that economic engine called Bob’s Discount Furniture? Is this the economic development we can expect under the new Joe Ganim? Tear down a hotel and replace it with a discount furniture store?
I MADE SOME MISTAKES.
That building had the bones to turn it into an office building, a residential long-stay hotel, but Ganim gave us a discount furniture store for good-paying jobs.
I MADE SOME MISTAKES.
Downtown north razed based on a promise of a new courthouse that never happened. Is that the economic engine Joe is so proud of?
I MADE SOME MISTAKES.
And this goes on.
Jeff, Joe don’t know from real economic development and all you will see is what we have had with Tax Bill.
Bob, that was an excellent post.
The Ganim campaign will share a powerful, original development approach, along with many other initiatives that will breathe hope and life back into the soul of this city. The taxpaying public will feel the winds of relief blowing through the city before September 16.
There are well-researched, original plans that will leave the other campaigns looking pathetic and ineffectual as they try to comprehend and attack the plans. Of course, they won’t be able to get beyond “Joe Ganim is a criminal” in their criticism, which will win Joe even more support with the voters–as the other candidates offer no real solutions to Bridgeport’s problems.
Are you or the Ganim campaign going to tell us what this powerful, original development approach is or will it be a surprise for after the election?
Reading this makes me homesick. Our city election in Tucson is rather dull. So far only one candidate for Mayor (Mayor Rothschild) and we only have three council seats elected at large up for election.
BOE SPY: You will hear about it before the election, of course.