WICC’s Melissa Sheketoff moderated a debate on the eve of the new Democratic mayoral primary between Mayor Joe Ganim and John Gomes.
A few takeaways:
This is the first time voters have had an opportunity to watch or listen to the two candidates engage head-to-head.
Ganim, a seasoned debater, filleted the ill-prepared Gomes throughout the forum, remaining composed during the hour focusing on his record while on a couple of occasions Gomes lost his cool interrupting the mayor several times with the moderator reeling him in to respect the mayor’s space.
If Gomes, who has a reputation as a hot head, is so easily irritated in a debate forum how will he respond to push back if he becomes mayor?
Gomes focused heavily on an addition-by-subtraction narrative with little substance where he would take the city.
Ganim deftly turned the tables from the reason for the new primary to what has occurred with the Gomes camp in the final week particularly The Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State filing a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission to investigate 22 Gomes operatives distribution of absentee ballot applications against state law.
Sheketoff asked both candidates about the baggage of various campaign operatives. She queried Gomes about his chief absentee ballot harvester, City Councilwoman Maria Pereira, calling Police Chief Roderick Porter “The Pig” and the entire department his “piglets.” Gomes ducked the subject. She pressed him on it and his reply was a sheepish disagreement in terms.
Will any of this matter to voters? Perhaps, some who aren’t sure on the day before the vote. Even if it moves the needle a little, it could make a difference.
Time for a change!
Joe Gotta Go, Back To City Hall.
It’s gonna take DOLLAR$ not “change” to try and reverse this primary results. Last night, Steven Auerbach told me to tell everyone not to worry, “I got this Joel.” RIP Steven Auerbach.
Just listened to a replay of the WICC one hour contribution to voters looking for information to base their vote upon.
Voting is precious and registered voters should take every opportunity to express their informed voice in favor of their best choice of a leader to represent their interests. Sometimes that leads to voting for the candidate who will do the least damage in the period ahead, in your informed view.
Ganim and Gomes did not raise the issue of failed Boards and Commissions from lack of mayoral appointments that totally killed Fair Rent and Fair Housing and slowed other Boards down. Ganim2 took credit today for the new Fair Rent Commission brought to life by City Council recognition that people needed a place at City Hall and the Charter made such a citizen group a City policy. Is that accurate? Has the Fair Rent Commission met yet?
Both candidates discussed Fair Housing in the City without acknowledging that this Commission is still dead, with no one in support of its resurfacing. Why is that allowed to go unnoticed? Yet conversations about multiple issues like Success Coop units with folks suffering management issues, potential evictions, and heat sufficiency in cold weather.
Where are “tenant associations” made up from only residents in each set of rental units not a democratic solution to increase the voice towards getting attention? Why are they not encouraged for and by residents? When addressing renters of units in the City, Ganim refers to them as “populations” rather than “people”. Lots more to be said about other subjects especially the labor relations process in too many Departments that fail to train supervisors to hold and then see that they are accountable for annual meetings with those they supervise, record the subject matter, and point to better outcomes from them to provide employee advancement..
Isn’t it ironic that when the Hearst papers requested FOI for John Gomes’ exit from Ganim administration, the file showed no documentation of organized employee evaluation, a standard on which to reward or terminate? Power to fire, but no evidence to evaluate? Grounds for grievances.
Tomorrow, please get out to vote. Can we hope that this time around we show increased interest and a potential mandate of size for the winner, who earns the right to be the Democrat listed first on February 27. Time will tell.
Don’t tell me you’re still voting for Gomes after reading all the facts and his concealment of his tenure as Treasurer for Friends Andre’s Ayala and Ayala for Senate.
Time and I have told you and pointed you on the path of the documented facts. You still haven’t turned in your assignment from last year JML.
You got a F– and you are no longer allowed in my class. Do let the door, your time telling clock, and your Red Boots hit you on the way out.
Did John just say his campaign has done nothing wrong?
John you have the “BOSS LADY” former Bridgeport Police Acting Chief committing possible voter fraud. It’s mind boggling that John continues to say his campaign has done nothing wrong. Even after the wheels have appeared to fall off and the campaign bus has crashed with all the negative recent headlines.
As I stated before the JOHN GOMES FOR MAYOR CAMPAIGN IS OVER!! STICK A FORK IN THEM!
If John can’t take responsibility for his campaign workers actions how can or why should he be mayor? John has always had an issue taking any responsibility for his actions. It is also clear he won’t and refuses to take any responsibility for his campaign’s actions.
What an incredible, two-man circus pseudo-debate! A Prime-Time-TV-series-worthy performance by the reincarnation of Crazy Gugenheim (John “I can speak seven languages at the same time” Gomes) playing antagonist to one of the world’s greatest magician-illusionist propagandists of all time, Joe “David Copperfield-Joseph Goebbels” Ganim . Now, the Producer-Ringmaster of this latest inception of PT Barnum’s Bridgeport Circus side-show, Governor Ned “Big Top” Lamont [who recently pronounced politically-corrupt, crime-ridden, poverty-stricken Bridgeport as the Sun’s chosen target (because of a contraindicated paper-project, non-taxable-housing-development announcement — as well as the city’s ability to rescue gubernatorial bids with magically-produced, multiple bags of thousands of ballots of questionable origin…)] has, several times, of late, unofficially endorsed The Illusionist — through not-so-subtle election-time praise, state-grant announcements, and his deafening silence on the recent, national-news election scandal perpetrated by the Illusionist’s campaign… Truly; it is the silence of Governor “Big Top” that has allowed this election-cycle to progress to the present point — a la the lack of the indicated call for the resignation of The Illusionist. It is HE — Big Top — that has granted life and resurrected the electoral abortion, that was the original Bridgeport Democratic Mayoral Primary 2023, for another go-round (in a different year!!)…
Yes, Bridgeport, we are in the midst of an eerie, winter Mayoral Election season. And just as the weather is harsh and dreary, so are Bridgeport’s prospects…
UNLESS!? …. Unless LAMOND doesn’t see his shadow on January 24 and decides to emerge from hibernation and make a real run for Bridgeport City Halls 1 and 2 on February 27….
LAMOND!!! WAKE UP, LAMOND!! THE SUN IS SHINING ON BRIDGEPORT — by gubernatorial proclamation (IN ANTICIPATION OF AN LD ADMINISTRATION…)!!!
LET’S GO, LAMOND!
Didn’t you hear the most troublesome language John Gomes has been speaking all along–the Language of Deceit?
If the Ganim administration had an accurate up to date file on John Gomes it would most likely indicate that he should have been fired much sooner. Gomes projects himself as an angry thug,he could not control himself and let the mayor finish without trying to bulldoze him. Gomes does not respect police, Ganim had the incident report to prove it. Gomes didn’t want to look at the report and tossed it back at the mayor like an angry thug. The person that does the most damage to Gomes is Gomes.
Joe McLaine, can you ask my expelled student JML this:
Why didn’t Brian Lockhart FOI John Gomes employee files when Andre’s Ayala and Bill Finch fired him?
Joe,
Isn’t the point you attempt to make, not about John Gomes, but about the failure of the Mayors ignoring a responsibility to review, direct, instruct, each employee, supervisor, or manager in the City of Bridgeport on a regular, likely annual schedule, regarding their emplyee accomplishments or weaknesses???
This is one of the reasons that Ganim2 fails in my opinion to improve his caring about City resources. Not only are employees ignored on a large scale , but grievances against the City flow to City Clerk, and dollars can be required to remedy. But taxpayers are not provided with this set of real facts.
Voices all over Bridgeport are ready to “talk” about their genuine aspirations and City barriers to prospects they encounter. A chance to VOTE is a chance to use your VOICE, in an informed manner, to the best of your ability. In a two person race, even an INFORMED VOTER can become discouraged when the choice is not clear. Don’t duck the vote in this situation. Select the least worse. Make your mark. And wait for the count. Time will tell.
I don’t know about you, Milissa’s kinda cute, makes you want to wake up in the early morning. 🙂
Full Disclosure: I used to wake up at 6 am to watch Morning Joe until it went off to the left rail, and Joe and Mika started yelling at Willie Geist about Trump. 🤣
“I don’t know about you, Milissa’s kinda cute, makes you want to wake up in the early morning. 🙂”
Does this mean you cut-off Maria Pereira’s daughter for Melissa Sheketoff?
Shit, cut, off? I don’t think I’ll get the time of day from either. I have issues, Speedy. 🙂
Though I like to think there’s always a chance. 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWreKSjaR8k
Kinda saddish, in some ways. Thank God Bradley F-up. He eats all you Port pols like meatloaf. 🤣
https://www.tiktok.com/@summerstarco/video/7204943113142504747?lang=en
I would say the Prophet but the space might be tight. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuVx7mhw5w
Perhaps the Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuVx7mhw5wI
Sorry Joel,it would do no good for me to ask. It seems he has not yet followed my suggestion to remove his head from his ass and take a bite of reality. If so maybe he would change his style of writing to something that doesn’t make you feel like you are pulling your own teeth while you read it.
John do you have a reading comprehension problem? I wrote Gomes and I meant Gomes! Please don’t try to tell me what I mean to say. I SAID IT! By the way I don’t take direction from someone that I feel has their head up their ass. Or did you think I was trying to say something else when I made that comment. I meant what I wrote!