Where Finch Failed, Ganim Honors University Of Bridgeport

So many items can lead a list of reasons Joe Ganim vanquished Bill Finch in last September’s Democratic primary. Among them was Finch’s fantastical grudge against the University of Bridgeport that had once employed him. Rather than acting mayoral and embracing the university’s brain power, economic impact, expansion and cultural contributions, Finch selfishly made it all about himself condemning school leadership, ignoring student achievement and boycotting events. He even directed business away from the school in favor of Fairfield University and Sacred Heart.

The self-induced damage of Finch’s myopia was making an enemy of Mary-Jane Foster, vice president of University Relations. Foster supported Finch for State Senate, she supported him for mayor in 2007 over Chris Caruso and opened up her house for fundraisers. When she joined UB shortly after Finch’s election, instead of acting gracious Finch turned around and kicked her in the teeth, mocking her for the acceptance of the job and continuing his public assault on the university.

Okay buddy, you want to play that game, Foster replied, I’ll challenge you in a 2011 Democratic primary. Largely unknown throughout the city except for her base of support in Black Rock, Foster entered the race in the spring of 2011 and managed to crack 40 percent of the vote having been outspent two to one by Finch. An analysis of city precincts showed Finch was vulnerable particularly in the African American-rich East End where Foster, supported by former State Senator Ernie Newton and City Councilman Andre Baker, ran nearly even with the incumbent. Finch had trouble connecting with voters there. Many black voters made it clear, Finch’s word was no good.

Although winning another four-year term, Finch continued his pettiness toward Foster and the university irrespective of mayoral staff, business community and City Council President Tom McCarthy urging him to embrace the school. Foster, strategically, did not take advantage of her first run. In politics, when trying to build a base of support, you cannot disappear for a few years, reemerge, and expect the same folks to be there for you. At the start of 2015, political activists opposed to Finch urged Foster to get in. She waited. Joe Ganim, a relentless retail politician, began poaching Foster supporters. Some prior Foster supporters opposed to Ganim’s return gravitated toward Finch.

Where did my people go? Foster’s inaction let them go. With equal enmity toward Finch and Ganim, Foster entered the primary race late, had trouble raising money, ponied up about $100K of her own loot and finished a distant third. The prevailing operative attitude was Foster’s presence on the primary ballot took votes from Finch. She received about 1,200 votes. Ganim defeated Finch by about 400 votes. The result could have been different.

But Foster (Ganim as well) was smart enough to do something Finch did not: in anticipation of a close primary, she had secured the voter signatures to run as a petitioning candidate in the general election. Meanwhile, rather than Finch petitioning his name for November as well, Finch operatives surreptitiously recruited a used-car salesman from Black Rock Rich DeParle to serve as a straw man for a concocted party line. It was the worst-kept secret of the political season.

Following her poor primary performance, Foster was ready to pack it in for the general election, but then she learned campaign operatives for Finch had botched the paperwork that would allow Finch to replace DeParle on the ballot for November. Finch had no ballot spot. Foster did.

Nauseated that he had lost to Ganim, Finch supported Foster in the general election fearing a political legacy losing to Ganim. In the general election both Ganim and Foster added about 5,000 votes to their primary totals. But Ganim, as the Democratic nominee, had started from a much higher base of support. He cruised to a general election win.

Tuesday night at the City Council meeting, Ganim who graduated from the University of Bridgeport School of Law, will issue mayoral proclamations honoring members of the UB women’s soccer and volleyball teams for outstanding accomplishments.

Bill Finch, trying to find work, will not be there to honor them. Bill Finch would not have been there to honor them even if he were reelected mayor.

Full City Council agenda here.