Democratic mayoral challengers to party-endorsed Bill Finch hit the streets, neighborhoods and homes over the weekend, and even in one case supporters of Joe Ganim, a swimming pool to secure signatures to qualify for the September 16 primary.
School board candidate Maria Pereira, supporting Joe Ganim, campaigned in her Upper East Side neighborhood Saturday with City Council candidate Nessah Smith when she heard a couple yelling “are you with Joe Ganim?” Pereira wrote on Ganim’s Facebook page, “We were looking at the doors and windows before we finally realized they were in the pool. Great fun couple.”
The couple signed the petition sheets. Citywide challenge candidates must secure roughly 1900 certified signatures from registered Dems to make the primary ballot. Council candidates need signatures from five percent of registered Dems in the district. Aug. 12 is the deadline to submit petition sheets to elections officials.
While Finch has the endorsement and an automatic ballot spot, the mayor attended a number of events over the weekend leveraging the power of incumbency to greet voters.
Finch’s 2011 primary opponent Mary-Jane Foster and supporters knocked on doors and attended events searching for signatures as well.
School board member Howard Gardner and multiple mayoral challenger Charlie Coviello are also trying to qualify for the ballot.
I live in the 134th. Mary-Jane Foster stopped by to introduce herself. Other than that, absolutely none of the petitioning candidates have knocked on my door–nor rung my doorbell–seeking my signature. I guess in the grand scheme of things, they think my vote doesn’t count. Iell that to the mayor (Hugh Curran?) who won an election by nine votes.
lisawhite,
Every vote does count and don’t feel bad, neighbor. Mayor Finch and many supporters were out meeting and greeting here in the North End. The support was extremely strong, Lisa White.
I honestly do not know where these candidates get their energy. Mayor Finch was everywhere yesterday from the Hollow to the East End and the North End. The 134th specifically. The response was exactly what you would expect. Faces beaming when the Mayor surprised residents. People having parties invited the Mayor in and the rest of us kept on moving along.
The packed crowd and Puglio Park are all Finch supporters enjoying the playground and Soccer field and the Hollow was ecstatic with the huge improvements to the area. The kids love Mayor Finch and all the parents were thrilled with the new Soccer fields, basketball courts and Water Parks. A very well attended event. Mayor Finch even invited Charlie Coviello, collecting signatures to be part of the event and photo. It was a fun day.
I am happy to be leaving Bridgeport for a day in Manhattan where politics is off limits. 🙂
Get out the vote. And while you’re at it, get out the swimming pool, get out the youthful enthusiasm and get out the burgers at Beardsley Park. You can’t tell what Howard Gardner and Charlie Coviello might do, so keep an eye on them, too. But here’s the prize all candidates seek:
www .usa.com/bridgeport-ct.htm
The FP reunion was held on Saturday. Joe attended and was greeted warmly and enthusiastically. In fact, just as Mayor Finch was arriving the DJ turned off the music and announced Joe Ganim as the next Mayor of Bridgeport. The crowd cheered and clapped enthusiastically. Mayor Finch looked uncomfortable.
The Cape Verdean Association had a block party yesterday. Mayor Finch was announced and received a tepid response. When Joe Ganim was announced the crowd cheered and clapped enthusiastically.
A few minutes later Mayor Finch was seen leaving the event with his head down as if he were embarrassed.
I’m not surprised. Bill Finch blames Joe Ganim for everything and the latter is received quite warmly by more than a few people in the Bridgeport community.
Maria, you think the DJ was a class act? Maybe just another felon showing solidarity? Let’s see how many of these enthusiastic supporters vote. The next six weeks should be fascinating to anyone paying attention.
Steve, are you implying the DJ was a convicted felon because he announced Joe Ganim as the next Mayor of Bridgeport? If so, you are being ridiculous.
Steve, I can tell you Thomas Hooker is definitely coming out in force to vote for Joe Ganim. I have been walking for weeks and not one voter has told me they are voting for Finch. I only had one couple refuse to sign Joe’s petition.