Two-time mayoral candidate Enrique Torres officially jumped into the race for mayor on Thursday filing candidate committee paperwork with the Town Clerk’s Office. The lone Republican on the City Council says his experience on the budget and legislative body has provided insight he can now take to a campaign for mayor.
Torres statement:
I filed papers to run for mayor of my beloved city. Unlike my previous efforts, this time I’m sure our city can be restored to its once great reputation. My 18 months on the City Council have exposed the egregious levels of mismanagement and wasteful spending that exists in Bridgeport.
I hope that my neighbors will give me an opportunity to lead our hometown. I’m sure that we can lower taxes and begin to restore economic development.
Joe Ganim seeking to reclaim his old job has cast an X factor into the race in both the primary and general election. It’s just a matter of time before the Democratic primary becomes a noisy affair with Ganim, Mayor Bill Finch and Mary-Jane Foster in the race. School board member Howard Gardner and former mayoral candidate Charlie Coviello are also candidates.
Torres is hoping the nastiness of a primary will spill over into the general election where he’s seen as a viable option among disaffected Democrats and unaffiliated voters. Also, depending on the primary outcome, could Finch, Ganim and Foster, or some combination of that also face off in the general election? That scenario would lead to some Democratic splitting.
Torres won a seat on the seat City Council in 2013. A few months ago he lost a special election for the State House to fill the seat of Auden Grogins, now on the state bench. He was the Republican candidate for mayor in 2003 and 2011.
Best wishes to Enrique Torres. Conviction is always worth another try. But don’t be surprised if he has another contender for the GOP nod in Bridgeport–politics attracts a crowd.
This guy is amazing! If there is an election he’ll run for it. If I lost as many times as he has I would think of another occupation.
To your point, and I use this example because I can find only national elections data–learn, retool and run again if one is truly committed and believes they have the heart and experience to be a dedicated public servant.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Politics-Voices/2014/0915/Losing-101-Most-presidents-in-the-last-50-years-lost-an-important-election
Hey Jennifer, how about this: Jasper McLevy was Mayor of Bridgeport from 1933-1957. From 1902 through 1931 he ran 21 unsuccessful campaigns for local, city, state and federal offices including nine tries at mayor.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_McLevy
Thanks, John! You are the best.
John from BR–very informative and interesting. Thank you.
The Republican Party should thank Enrique for stepping up to carry the party banner despite the number odds in Bridgeport. Enrique is a good man with a passionate heart; and let’s not forget he’s smart!
Liza Parziale, I agree Mr. Torres is a smart, good man with a passionate heart but he’s not a team player and doesn’t know how to bring Democrats along with him if he has a good idea. Rick is for Rick but he can do better and I’m a person who doesn’t support Torres.
Ron, I would offer the city council votes denying long-term tax abatements to developers as an example of Rick bringing the Democrats on board with a good idea. For years these abatements were automatically approved with no discussion or investigating the effect on our development and grand list. Whew, at least one. Getting the Democrats to vote for him, different issue.
Watch the next vote from the Council. I hear Finch is resubmitting the request for the tax abatement, and he’s been meeting with individual council members to get them to reconsider. I know the ones who wouldn’t go for that, but I can’t tell you how many times, over the years, I’ve watched them flip-flop. I hope I’m wrong!
Jennifer, I wish your comment had a like button.
Anyone who is legally allowed to run for office and wants to run, should run.
I disagree with Rick’s position on quite a few issues, however he has done some good work as well.
Ultimately voters make the decision.
Good luck to you, Rick Torres.
Really Rick,
I thought your time on the council has been wasted, uneventful, fruitless.
Why not run for the council again and try accomplishing some things there before deciding to run for mayor again.
Afraid you might lose?
Really Bobby,
Just when I thought you were holding your special role as Mary-Jane’s light bearer, and therefore above a cheap shot that gains you little imo, you talk about “losers” or “losing.” Rick carries a message whenever he runs and since he runs with his heart fully out there, when people get to see it many are impressed.
Isn’t it true two Republicans in the past 25 years have been elected Mayor when the Democrats were divided? Has any mayoral election been this potentially divided in the Democratic camp as this one promises to be?
But the wonder of it all is we may have some new ideas floated about what has come to be “off topic.” Does anyone talk about taxpayer funds and what they are spent on and whether we are getting value? Rick has. And others should and probably will, but the two big horses in the race at this moment with all the dollars to spend, what is holding them back from talking about City Fund Balance, Bonding, Pension Plan A, Net Taxable Grand List, etc. (in addition to Airport roads, City Council charitable donations, school funding, and how School Building Committee is monitored and by whom.) The time Rick has been on the Council have probably been good to him by showing how low things have gotten on that body in terms of understanding their role, creating some research and staffing capacity, and the need for more good information to circulate in Bridgeport that would truly indicate the truth or falseness of the statement too often made about “things getting better every day in Bridgeport.” Does Rick look like someone who is risk averse? Are you? Time will tell.
Anyone who reads your OIB posts and is familiar with your 16 years on the council could only conclude all those years were “wasted, uneventful, fruitless.” When are you going to run for mayor? Afraid you might get beaten by Rick Torres?
Not at all, Joel. Without counting I am sure I had far more resolutions, ordinances and amendments approved than you ever did.
Bob Walsh, although I’m not a Rick Torres fan, his history has been running and losing but he finally got elected to the council. I believe he needs to continue this, to get elected to the council and build on that and try to find common ground with the Democrats because this is a Democratic city. He is a Republican who will get nowhere running and supporting their issues.
Always liked your spunk on the council, Bob. You really were good entertainment and had the right intentions. But as for accomplishment, I remember a night when you pointed out Dan Roach and others were expired in their post as police commissioners and no one else seemed to even care! So, two things. Did you manage to get their little papers stamped with current dates, or was the show just good television?
“Unlike my previous efforts this time I’m sure our city can be restored to its once great reputation.”
So when Rick ran before he did so even though he didn’t think the city’s reputation could be restored? My question, then why did you run even though you thought you couldn’t make the changes necessary to restore the reputation of Bridgeport? Things that make you go hmmm.
You dumb duck, because he knew very few if any Republicans were going to win. Even if five Republicans won seats with Rick, it would have still not been enough to restore the city’s reputation. Go call Miss Daisy and ask her to help you rephrase your question.
Joel, I honestly chuckled while reading this post.
Of course you did Maria, and I honestly chuckled when you refused to answer Ron Mackey about your relationship with one of your past supporters. Humor can be found in the craziest of places. Joel, you seem to be pointing Maria in the wrong direction, oops my bad.
Bob Walsh and Donald Day are great reasons why former political authorities make lousy bloggers. BW is “Rick-averse” and DD is too confused to ask so many questions.
Go Enrique Torres, Go! Do not listen to Bob Walsh … cheap shots. Resolutions? Big deal, Bob. What good does a resolution do or even an ordinance, when these items just sit on the books?????????
If he wins, who will make my almond croissants? 🙁
Now I’m just wondering so I’m asking this question- is it possible/permissible for Mr. Torres to run for mayor and councilman at the same time? If I had to guess, it appears to me his odds of winning his council seat are far better than him being elected mayor. Does anyone have the answer?
He is not running for both offices, only mayor.
If Bridgeport were hell, then, what would the running be for? To get out, or, for cool washcloths and popsicles for all. An addicting place to be, like in any dis-functional relationship. Bridgeport really sucks. It is way out of balance, way overtaxed, the police are bullies, the ruling class is inbred and the people are lemmings at the cliffs edge. Rick Torres is a decent man who thinks he knows it all, his achilles heel. Though still yards better than all the leeches at the party.
I can see why you think he is a know-it-all, he is a man of strong conviction based on his investigation of issues, and his passion in presenting his case does give that appearance.
Ah, no, Jennifer, he will flatly tell you he is right and you are wrong from tea to the Tetons. And I like him and find him a clean candidate, but it is a reason he loses support.