Does Superior Court Judge William Clark have the authority to delay the general election?
That’s a query a number of lawyers are pondering as the judge balances John Gomes’s challenge of the mayoral primary results against the Nov. 7 general election timeline.
Facing more than 10,000 documents and potentially analyzing vast footage of absentee ballot drop-box surveillance, Clark and lawyers for the parties look like they are planning for a long legal game.
Gomes’s lawyer William Bloss told the judge in court earlier this week “We think it is substantially more important to get it right than to get it done quickly.”
That may be a signal the judge doubts his authority to delay the general election with the backdrop of all the evidentiary materials at hand that could take months.
Example, per statute, printed absentee ballots for the general election become available to electors on Oct. 6. That’s only part of the logistical process election officials must gear up for the general election, according to the election calendar.
So it’s possible the judge may issue an order for the general election to go forward while the court challenge plays out for months.
Mayor Joe Ganim won the primary by 251 votes, something Gomes is challenging because of questions arising about absentee ballot skullduggery.
If the judge moves in this direction Ganim will have two ballot lines for the general election as the Democratic standard bearer and endorsement by the New Movement Party. Gomes has a line on the Bridgeport Independent Party. Lamond Daniels will appear as a petitioning candidate. David Fers is the Republican candidate.
Now under this scenario, if Gomes wins the general the primary challenge is now moot. He’s the mayor.
If Ganim or Daniels takes it, the court contest still plays out. What if the judge orders a primary redo? Then Ganim and Gomes go at it again. If Gomes wins the redo, then another general election?
Strange times, indeed. But, it’s why we call it OIB.
Here’s the fast version —
Joe Ganim as salesman of the year.
At one point Tony Barr had ill feelings toward the mayor.
However, the persuasive powers of the mayor produced a thought reversal.
Mr. Barr offered his New Movement Party endorsement as a sureshot way to give his new political party citywide recognition and more publicity — a ballot spot! In the spirit of reconcilliation, the Mayor accepted his party’s nod and the two seem to have a cordial friendship.
In the process he’s blocked Marilyn Moore’s prospects and left this blogger with a puzzled expression.
That’s the magic of sales.
“…If the judge moves in this direction Ganim will have two ballot lines for the general election as the Democratic standard bearer and endorsement by the New Movement Party. Gomes has a line on the Bridgeport Independent Party. Lamond Daniels will appear as a petitioning candidate. David Fers is the Republican candidate.
“Now under this scenario, if Gomes wins the general the primary challenge is now moot. He’s the mayor.
“If Ganim or Daniels takes it, the court contest still plays out. What if the judge orders a primary redo? Then Ganim and Gomes go at it again. If Gomes wins the redo, then another general election?
“Strange times, indeed. But, it’s why we call it OIB.”
LAMOND!!! Did you get that?! You’re still in! Even after your hard-hitting, details-plagued PRESS CONFERENCE, you’re still in!!! Don’t let those other guys take you off the market! You can “outsell” them! Remind the people to check the tires and open the trunks of the two used cars racing against you (don’t worry about the bicycle…) — even if they want to disregard the billows of white smoke coming out of the broken mufflers… Five dollars-worth of gas will get you over the finish line ahead of the other two jalopies that will surely be stuck in the break-down lane!…
Hold another PRESS CONFERENCE, get a five-dollar donation, and get back in the race!
(Hope that everyone enjoyed the metaphor-omelet served with the LE sales-salad!)