Democratic-endorsed Marcus Brown has submitted his public grant application to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which if approved will provide him more than $100,000 in his quest to unseat State Senator Marilyn Moore in an August 11 primary.
Brown, a city councilman representing the West Side, must be verified for 300 in-district contributions from residents of Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe for an aggregate total of $16,000 raised. The maximum personal contribution is $270, but it’s the low $5 dollar contributions that become key to reach the 300-donor threshold.
If Brown’s grant application is approved he will receive $91,725 in public funds to spend on his primary campaign on top of the $16,000 raised to trigger the grant threshold. Brown says his campaign raised over $17,400 from more than 400 contributors, 325 of them from Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe. Campaigns generally raise extra money as a buffer against disqualified donations.
Last month Brown overwhelmingly received the party endorsement over Moore setting up an August primary in the city-suburban 22nd State Senate District. Moore received enough delegate support from Trumbull Democrats to qualify for the ballot.
This is familiar territory for Moore who’s unpopular with establishment politicians. Moore gave Mayor Joe Ganim a primary scare last September before losing the general election as a write-in candidate. She is also trying to qualify for public campaign money. The final application deadline for a primary grant is by 5 p.m. on July 17.
Moore surged into office in 2014 defeating incumbent Anthony Musto in a primary. Musto is serving as Brown’s campaign treasurer.
Isn’t that wonderful, Marcus. Overwhelming support? Or absence of knowing who you are, based on City Council activity or presence? Personally found that Marilyn Moore supporters were not looking for a change as they stopped by my home this weekend to make a contribution, complete the Moore For Senate in 2020 form, and wonder at the display of flowers in the garden as COVID walkers and bikers took the opportunity to be out of doors.
Marcus, tell us about the need for education funding that you will fight for and what those funds will do in terms of measurable results in Bridgeport schools, please. Any data for us to digest?
My goodness, who are those “wealthy” not paying their fair share? Haven’t they left the State already? How will you get more taxes raised? Or fees like tolls? At the end of the day Ganim2’s last property tax raise lowered market value for many homes in Bridgeport owned by average income owners, not wealthy. By the way, what in your mind is a fair share to cough up and contribute for the benefit of all from sales tax, income tax, use taxes, etc.? Talk to the fairness issue so that we may know it is something you have thought about and understand, plweas. About small businesses, whether for profit or not for profit, what do you know from experience about businesses that can provide a necessary community service, pay its employees well and remain sustainable?? Let us know when you will be speaking to these points, please.
To those who would rather that I answer questions, rather than ask them, I am sorry to say that Marcus Brown is the only one who can answer the questions he raises in his challenge to the incumbent, if they have specific answers. Time will tell.
I understand why Marilyn Moore supporters are not looking for a change. They like things just the way they are. The status quo is fine.
Throw buckets of water on those who say she’s unpopular with establishment politicians. Only a handful of DTC mainstays were needed to deny her the nod. She’s enjoyed popular support at many events.
The best way to become popular is to chair the Bond Commission which oversees our $81B debt.
In that regard, I disapprove of the way she occupies the political landscape because she’s produced costs that exceed their value by using the most expensive capital on the planet!
It gets worse: I’m prepared to use time, speed and money to prove it!
Local,
This is not the first time you have weighed in against government debt. However, it has been linked to Marilyn Moore in many cases, someone I have supported. Perhaps you are favoring a change from the status quo to another candidate. Perhaps there is one more candidate beyond the incumbent and the DTC endorsed. You have not yet said. Are you looking for a claim from a candidate that they will not support State bonding of anything? Or perhaps you can do an expose of “the most expensive capital on the planet” at a time with historically low rates of borrowing? Please use your “time, speed and money” as you so generously offer to provide evidence or proof. Time will tell.
Connecticut’s debt has destabilized and demoralized our economy. It’s a roadblock to prosperity and creates a permanent deficit. The last GA session was a disaster. It left intact a cost that exceeds its value. (this blog needs a Bridgeport-specific productivity index)
Marilyn Moore thinks every problem can be solved by another bond offering. She’s a spend-a-holic who cares little about debt. In that regard she’s just like President Trump.
Time, speed and money are fantastic success metrics–any insurance broker should know that!
Local…..do the work, use your personal time, speed and money to show every reader of OIB, nay, every reader in Bridgeportdom how borrowing in general is bad, how borrowing in the way CT or Bridgeport does it is bad. You are not making your point. Like the police consultant just explained to us, you have to BUILD TRUST. Make your case against the State or the City. Advance the common knowledge. For many people tomorrow is soon enough to figure out payments when we can advance the enjoyment of the service or the product today. And no one is there in oversight to indicate that we did not find the way, and that we have to pay this year for pension benefits promised in the last century for a group of people many of whom have died and therefore are providing no material service to us today. Ganim1 planning through 2029!! Make your point please. Are you against Marilyn Moore as co-Chair of the State bonding commission or against all government borrowing?? If you are a Trumbull resident as I am told, you have a stake in the issue of state borrowing, but you have reported nothing about the DTC sponsored candidate and his borrowing principles. One may look to his Council votes on Bridgeport bond activity including restructuring of current loans that increases the present value expense to taxpayers over the life of the debt. Has that been shared with the voting public yet? Time will tell.
Borrowing money always means spending tomorrow’s earnings today. It is possible to borrow so much that society has an inability to pay it back. That’s called national insolvency.
We’re approaching that point.
This posting by you is not using your time and money, as offered above, to make a case for your opinion. Instead it provides restatements of your unproven allegation about bonding and borrowing.
Originally, you use words like destabilization, demoralization, and roadblock to prosperity with no factual support or, frankly, alternatives to follow.
Now you are talking about “national insolvency” which you fail to define, but to you it is out there, at a point and amount but you also fail to be specific. Perhaps you believe that your rhetoric is trusted and believed. Do the math….Share the results….that is the way to earn trust, confidence and public support. You may be correct or wrong in either case you are human. Time will tell.
I hate to see public monies used for Campaigning, always have always will. Maybe using that money to pay child support to children who’s non custodial parent is incarcerated would be a better use?