In what was largely a love fest Tuesday night, the Democratic Town Committee endorsed all incumbents for State House, as well as Patricia Howard for another term as Registrar of Voters and long-time Judge of Probate Paul Ganim.
The looming question of the evening was whether the controversial Mark Bradley would enter his name into the probate judge nomination for the entire 90-member body to vote. With miniscule party support Bradley didn’t bother.
If Bradley wants to wage an August primary against Ganim, he must take to the streets to secure verified petition signatures from five percent of Democratic electors in the city, a process that can begin Wednesday.
Investigators with the State Elections Enforcement Commission have launched a probe of Bradley who has voted flagrantly in multiple city elections since 2018 while also simultaneously casting ballots in the state of Massachusetts as a registered Republican, according to records provided by respective election officials..
Court records also show that Bradley has established a clear residency in Massachusetts under his own signature while also enrolled in the state of Massachusetts healthcare program. His children also attend school in Massachusetts.
The state watchdog agency has civil authority over Connecticut elections, but in the course of a review may refer potential criminal findings to state and federal law enforcement agencies.
While voting in Bridgeport multiple times the past decade, the start of which was on behalf of his brother, former State Senator Dennis Bradley, Mark Bradley also did not register a motor vehicle in Bridgeport until it coincided recently with his formal candidacy for judge of probate, avoiding car taxes paid to the city.
Dennis Bradley, awaiting sentencing, was recently convicted by a federal jury in New Haven on six counts of wire fraud connected to his 2018 run for the state legislature. The charges cost him his senate seat in a 2022 primary loss to Herron Gaston.
Democrats endorsed on Tuesday:
Judge of Probate, Paul Ganim
Registrar of Voters, Patricia Howard
State House District incumbents:
124: Andre Baker
126: Fred Gee
127: Marcus Brown
128: Chris Rosario
129: Steve Stafstrom
130: Antonio Felipe
