All kinds of people crammed the banquet hall of the German Club, tucked into a corner of Horace Street on the East Side, for former Mayor Joe Ganim’s official coming-out party Thursday night to reclaim his old job: black, white, brown; family, friends, former political foes; city police officers, clergy members; Democratic district leaders; even the FBI agent, now a PI, who investigated Ganim was on hand to make a contribution too. East End District Leader Ralph Ford, among others, took the stage to explain support for Ganim.
Ralph, in some political circles known as the Ford dealership for his deal-making navigation, shared a confession from the stage with the more than 300 supporters in the room. Ford knows all about confessions as a practicing psychologist, a job that comes in handy in the schizoid world of city politics. When Ganim was mayor, Ford expressed, he was not a Ganim guy, but he’s now on board with Ganim for a number of factors including the need to embrace redemption. He also said he’s had enough of pols coming to his neighborhood promising this and that with little to show for it in the area of jobs for his people. He said people are despondent and angry. A guy like Ganim, who fell hard and is trying to rise up, may be best able to feel their pain to get something done.
Perhaps a part of Ford is also saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Ford and Mayor Bill Finch had a political falling-out a few years ago.
A whole bunch of city police officers showed up to write checks too. Ganim was a good mayor, they say, he did his time, he’s even with the house. It’s a new day. If law enforcement officials are okay with Joe, they argue, why shouldn’t others give him a second chance? It was announced that Chuck Paris, president of the Police Union, is planning a fundraiser for Ganim. As for Ed Adams, the retired agent, he says it was his job to investigate Ganim, now it’s a new slate for Joe who reached out to him about his views for a potential public integrity office. Yes, an OIB moment.
Bridgeport, formed as a town in 1821 and as a city in 1836, has never seen an election like this one. Ganim clearly has support, how he galvanizes that support into an organized campaign structure with a hopeful message for the future will be his greatest challenge. Having support is one thing, organizing it is another. He’s challenging an incumbent who will spend $500,000 of campaign funds for the September primary complemented by power of incumbency to promote development initiatives, new parks, paved streets, a reopened Pleasure Beach.
Ganim’s gotten off to a mighty fundraising start as well. What does he need to compete? About $200K should be enough to make his case to voters.
Is there room for another candidate to position as a viable alternative to Finch and Ganim? Mary-Jane Foster, Finch’s 2011 primary opponent, hopes to make that case. Lesser-known Howard Gardner and Charlie Coviello are in it too. Difficult to break through the static without money and organizational firepower.
Sometimes you get into these races on a leap of faith, right time, right moment, and hope to snatch voter glory.
Two-time Republican mayoral candidate Enrique Torres says he’s getting in the battle too on that leap of faith the campaign stars are aligned for him in the general election in November.
This campaign cycle is likely to take a number of schizoid twists and turns: momentum one day, skids the next, maybe back up again.
Maybe Dr. Ford will keep his couch warm for the candidates.
I have to say, out of all the speakers that night, Dr. Ford was far-and-away the best.
When Mr. Ford’s daughter came to my house supporting Marilyn we must have spoken for over an hour, Cassie was talking about what a great job Mayor Finch was doing. I was surprised and impressed by her poise and eloquence. Mr. Ford, your daughter is very insightful. You may want to listen to her.
Lennie, you really seem to be promoting Ganim. Do Foster and Gardner get some P.R.? I think Ganim is going to be losing a lot of steam in a few weeks.
Steve, when Foster and Gardner do and say something I will be happy to write about it. I have received no statements, news releases, position papers. I am looking forward to them.
Lennie, of course I know you’d give equal time. I just figured I would comment to wake them up. If you are running for Mayor at least share a vision and get out some press releases. Waiting for Finch to mess up is not going to get you votes.
If they need to be SHAKEN awake …
People seem to forget the rate of recidivism among felons. Just look at ex-Governor John Rowland. He was released from prison February 10, 2006 and was convicted again by September 19, 2014 of more corruption charges. Immediately following his 2006 release, he explained what lead to his initial fall:
On July 1, 2006, Rowland spoke to an association of scholar athletes in Kingston, Rhode Island, about the lessons he learned. A “sense of entitlement” and the “arrogance of power” were two of the biggest things that ended his political career, The Hartford Courant quoted him as saying:
“Arrogance is very easy when you’re put on a pedestal, and you “start to believe your own press releases. … It [becomes] all about me. You start to block out what else is around you.”
The Courant quoted Rowland as saying “when you start to find yourself only concerned with yourself” that’s the point when you need to find a “grounding force.” That should be faith, ideally, he said, or at least “something within yourself”–not just other people.”
Unfortunately, Rowland didn’t follow his own advice. Will Ganim ???
Yes, I believe he will!
Sorry Lisa, can’t buy that.
Joe Ganim was willing to appear before a friendly church in the East End to “confess” and seek forgiveness but would not testify under oath about what he had done wrong in order to get his right to practice law restored.
What was he afraid of? More perjury charges?
Sorry Lisa, I think you are blinded by years of friendship. I think you are a good person and I think Joe Ganim is a good person. I do not believe his redemption should be humiliating others running for office who have not betrayed the public trust. I agree with the commentary of PavlikInTheNorthend, a leopard never changes their spots.
I speak to business owners and neighborhood activists who have all gone through the system in one way or another for everything from youthful indiscretions to murder, all now functioning members of their community, some even LEADERS in theirs. I read books written by renowned authors who have overcome those same hurdles, people line up to buy books written about/by people who have GROWN into the powers they where MEANT to be and have become. We can talk about the WORLD RENOWNED if I were to mention, someone would object to me comparing my friend (Joe Ganim) to. The point is THIS CITY HAS BEEN ON A DOWNWARD SPIRAL SINCE JOE LEFT OFFICE AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT BY BRINGING HIM BACK. Mary-Jane (who, along with Dave Daniels were the frontrunners for my support) has compromised her candidacy when she supported Rep.Stafstrom, had she supported any of the other candidates, many of us would still be supporting her. Dave made it easy for me by supporting Bob K. Who are we to judge ANYONE!
Hector, come on man, one letter for Steve Stafstrom and drop your possible support for Mary-Jane Foster? I blame you and the others who allowed Stafstrom to win.
RON, THIS GAME IS BUILT ON CONSISTENCY, THE FACT SHE SUPPORTED THE MOST “CONFLICTED” OF THE CANDIDATES WHILE PUSHING FOR A CONFLICT BILL IN HARTFORD, TELLS ME SHE TOO IS POLITICS AS USUAL, WHILE SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO SUPPORT ME SHE SHOULD HAVE (I WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE BALLFIELD AND ARENA BUILT IN MY DISTRICT).
Hector, Mary-Jane Foster was in step with voters in her district because they voted into office Steve Stafstrom. I didn’t agree with President Obama’s war policy but I still voted for him.
RON, HER BEING IN STEP WITH ANYONE BRANDS HER A FOLLOWER, FOR MAYOR WE NEED A LEADER. I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO STUDY HER HUSBAND’S POLITICAL VIEWS AS HE HAS A RECORD OF VOTES FROM WHEN HE WAS A SENATOR IN PA. BEING SHE’S NEVER HELD POLITICAL OFFICE, IF YOU BELIEVE HIS CONCERNS ARE NOT HERS, I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER, THE CONCERNS SHOULD BASICALLY BE THE SAME WHAT CHANGES IS THE ROAD TO GET TO THEM.
Garth: Jack McGregor, The Most Attractive Candidate I Ever …
onlyinbridgeport.com/…/garth-jack-mcgregor-the-most-attractive-candidate- …
Dec 16, 2014 … But “the most attractive candidate” he ever handled was Bridgeport resident Jack McGregor, co-founder of the Bridgeport Bluefish, who served …
Hector, I’ve been blessed to have known a whole bunch of people in my 56 years on this planet. Jack McGregor and your dad are right at the top. McGregor is amazing.
I agree with you Lennie, and meant no slight on Mr. McGregor. Whom I respect and like.
This is where we need a “LIKE” button. Tight statement, Ron Mackey.
Hector, I agree with your reasoning 100%. This the hypocrisy I regularly refer to, and how it really bothers me.
Just so I understand, Hector: You have no problem with supporting Joe Ganim (not that there is anything wrong with that, redemption is a fine thing) but you won’t support Mary-Jane because she committed the horrendous crime of supporting Steve Stafstrom?
WICCA, I AM SUPPORTING THE PERSON I BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST CHOICE. JOE GANIM! MARY-JANE TOOK HERSELF OUT OF THE GAME, IN MY OPINION.
Everyone has a right to his/her own logic processes. I was just trying to understand yours. Thank you for your candor.
People hear the most “noise” regarding their own candidate? Mary-Jane may be out of the game in your circle, but in mine she’s doing just fine.
Hector A. Diaz–is it safe to assume you are upset Ms. Foster chose to support Stafstrom instead of you? She was free to make a choice just as you are by supporting Ganim. Mr. McGregor, for the record, is a fine upstanding individual, as is his wife.
Hector Diaz, I appreciate your passion for Joe Ganim. Joe Ganim is lucky to have a friend and loyalist like yourself. Joe Ganim had many good years before anyone was aware of his downward spiral. When talking about the city since Ganim left office, you referred to us going in a downward spiral. Hector, you cannot delude yourself and try to sell this to potential voters. First, Mayor John Fabrizi had to pick up the mess Ganim left. The image of the city was tarnished more so than anytime in our history. Things began to happen with Mayor Fabrizi. Downward spiral? The image of the city today under Mayor Finch has on the surface to all looking at the city improved greatly. Downtown north is happening. Development downtown is moving forward and exciting to those of us who support the efforts and patronize the eateries. The new ballfields all over the city are spectacular. Bridgeport kids will have pride for years to come having baseball fields that are professional and gorgeous as well as improving the image of neighborhoods. Steelpointe is now a reality and Mayor Finch has realized a vision from a great Mayor Leonard Paoletta. The pocket parks including the latest at Nob Hill is a positive for quality of life issues and helps Bridgeport reclaim the title of the Park City. Mayor Finch has put the city on a clear path to a prosperous future. There is more development happening now than anytime in Bridgeport’s history. This Hector, is the Mayor’s legacy over Ganim.
I understand your being a loyalist for Ganim, but your support for Ganim over Foster?
I was a huge supporter of Foster. I was not anti-Finch. I just believed she would have put Steelpoint on the fast track. I thought she was honest and sincere and would represent this city very well. I have a lot of respect for Mary-Jane and her husband Jack McGregor.
I appreciate all the time and effort they put into the city on many levels. If I did not believe Mayor Finch deserved another four years I would support Foster, even though I was not thrilled with many of her associations or supported some of her political initiatives. If I did not believe Mayor Finch was the only choice I would be supporting Foster or Gardner. I would not he looking backwards imagining Ganim could change his past and excite developers to move to Bridgeport. I believe Mary-Jane Foster could do that and I am positive Finch can do that. It is so sad so many of the Foster supporters went to the Ganim camp. It really just shows her supporters were anti-Finch and not so pro-Foster. I just cannot understand why an anti-Finch person would gravitate to Ganim over Foster. I think I am the only Foster supporter who went back to Finch. I totally feel great about that. I am not a follower. I stated I wished Mary-Jane had waited until 2019. Timing is everything. I learned two things in politics a long time ago, you can’t please all of the people all of the time and politics makes strange bedfellows. Hector, I appreciate your candor and I totally understand where you are coming from. I get your sense of betrayal. I just do not believe Ganim is your answer.