Two weeks from the Democratic mayoral primary redo the media mood has shifted from absentee ballot machinations to swinish insults directed at police.
That’s the thing when a candidate for public office accepts the support of pig-headed recalcitrant City Councilwoman Maria Pereira, it can turn messy quickly. Pereira’s bitter email rant describing Chief Roderick Porter as “The Pig” and entire Police Department “Piglets” because they did not rescue her from allegedly assaulting a 70-year-old woman outside the JFK polling precinct on election day has caused a serious case of campaign trichinosis for primary candidate John Gomes who seemed to have the wind at his back, now knee deep in pig slop.
Trichinosis is a parasitic roundworm infection caused by eating undercooked pork. Get a hit of that and it’s oofah! The little devils bury themselves into muscle tissue spawning all kinds of wretched symptoms. The world of city politics marinates in a set of dietary rules as well.
It ain’t kosher when you make it about you instead of the candidate. So now you have institutions, by human nature, motivated to defend their good profession from a demagogue who makes everything about her, damn the consequences.
Pereira weaponized Mayor Joe Ganim supporters with a gift to carry the message: Gomes chief absentee ballot harvester has called a respected police chief “The Pig” and entire department “piglets.”
These are the kinds of people he has around him.
That’s not all in the world of Team Gomes. The candidate is now the campaign manager. Gomes has gone through two campaign managers, a savvy communications director, vendors stiffed, messaging muffled, social media a regurgitation of yadda, yadda, yadda.
You don’t like Joe Ganim? No beef here. That’s the way of the political world.
But don’t assume the alternative is better, especially after stripping away the onion peels.
From day one, Gomes had no rationale for running other than vengeance, surrounded by a coterie of operatives dripping the same animus. Ganim fired Gomes from his municipal job, says the mayor, because of a litany of dubious decisions. The other spokes in Gomes’ wheelhouse were also fired.
Let’s all get together to form a coup. They were all so original that Gomes even swiped Ganim’s 2015 comeback mantra: something like mayor for all the people.
Gomes, himself, has a nice immigrant story to share, a multi-linguist who settled here, raised his family here and entered public service after a private-sector career.
The candidate and surrogates did a magical job raising money. Never before, in the history of mayoral primaries, had an opponent juiced so much financial support against an incumbent, a storm warning for Ganim. Moolah allows you to do the things you cannot in an underfunded effort: pay staff, consultants, field operation, mailings, social media.
Gomes described his candidacy as a “movement.” It was not.
Gomes caught a break when neither State Senator Marilyn Moore or Lamond Daniels qualified for the primary to split up the anti-incumbent vote. If that had happened we’re not having this conversation: Ganim wins the primary comfortably.
Come primary day Gomes achieved the base anti vote in a one-one-one matchup against Ganim who himself well funded but did just enough to eek out a win which showed huge fault lines in his mayoralty. It was more a referendum on the mayor.
Then the absentee ballot blow up. Both sides did it but when you’re behind you file a lawsuit. The judge sided with Gomes. Another primary was ordered sandwiching a general election that Ganim, again, won tightly, this time no allegations of impropriety.
So, here we are, two weeks out. The piggy Pereira stuff is not going away. The City Council will take action against her next week, causing another round of stories. Doesn’t mean stick a fork in Gomes. It’s a crazy, crazy, crazy business. This thing has gone back and forth.
We are in uncharted seas with heavy winds, a January 23 redo on the horizon with weather a possible factor.
Pop a Dramamine and watch the drama unfold.
Two men who wish to serve the next four years as the City Mayor….that’s the story…..but why are they missing a public opportunity not for the public to take a dramamime or sit in on stories that are old, but to listen to each of them in a LIVE PUBLIC CONVERSATION with brief personal statements at beginning and at finish but let the public ask as many questions of them in a two hour meeting in large centers like the Klein, or the Universities. Basic public education. No tuition. Just a date, time and place and an invitation from both candidates. Efficient, fair, likely to be effective in enhancing the Primary turnout. Why not?
They seem to be discussing such an event with Gomes supporting the idea fully, but Ganim2 wants a video instead. What’s up here? How will the public that is interested and most likely to vote get to be a part of a virtual performance? Kind of like Council Committee meetings. Listen. Like if you wish. If you go away with no satisfaction, tough luck, I suppose. Time will tell.
What’s happening with A Fish Called Wanda?
She is Joe’s International Harvester of Absentee Ballots.
Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder.
Bombay anyone?
Salute!
Stick a fork in him the Gomes for Mayor campaign is DONE. A dysfunctional campaign filled with anti ex Ganim staffers enraged with vengeance was only a matter of time until the wheels fell off.
A low bank account, vendors not paid, Campaign Manager is MIA, just to name a few. John is stuck with nothing but empty dreams and hopes yet again.
I smell GOMES for MAYOR 2027 happening.
If Gomes and his team/supporters, 20000 shades of ballots, Gen Now included, can’t pull out a win, (considering), he’s done. They’ll throw Gomes under the bus just like they did to Moore this go-around. Wanda including, for that second bite, (considering.)
Chris R. would eventually have to run. Depending on the outcome. For G2 Port’s development would have to be substantial to the point that no one would challenge him. Considering the progress the Port has made since Finch’s departure he shouldn’t have any real opposition, from a Port perspective. Old things/ways/die hard, I guess.
The prospect of an MLS team/10000-seat outdoor stadium venue coming to the Port is interesting and falls in the vision of an entertainment destination.
That being said, If this happens what should be the name of the team? I say Port Piglets. 🙂
Sure some may find it offensive, but is it any different than, Let’s Lion, Tigers, Bears, and Fishes, oh my.
An animal is an animal. PETA gets on this injustice. The Pigs only crime is that it is delicious 😂
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10156030915645973
I challenge you to walk into the John Gomes HQ on East Main Street and walk out and tell me that the Gomes Movement and Campaign is DONE. I dare you .
You will walk out ready to campaign for John. I am a nobody. You go ahead and check it out for yourself. Lennie has skin in this game and he’s doubled down on painting this picture for his readers. I’m asking you to be more than a reader, but rather a doer. Check it out for yourself.
Lennie, I will always give your your flowers and thank you for creating a platform that is shared by many.
That said, you have made many assumptions for your readers. The GOMES campaign is fine. You should stop in and phone bank for a day. Remember we are here at this this moment because of the failures of the Ganim campaign and his administration. So much so, that Ganim finally took responsibility for the campaign debacle on his “Listening Tour” to try and win votes in 2 weeks. Enough about that. I respect Joe enough. I don’t need to bad mouth him. He has made his bed these last 8 years, it’s been messy and the general public is ready to move on.
As for John Gomes., a packed house on Jan 6th for a fundraiser in the SNOW, is telling.. It does not look like a campaign that is struggling, in fact it looks diverse, authentic, thriving, and ready for the challenge.
Here is proof: https://www.facebook.com/johngomesformayor/posts/pfbid02frQ6pBhnqveP7BEm98w8PjGFxEAtiJu9HeaVAnLx1TsUn8Ld1HY6srNqvaXeVQihl
Here’s some truth. Ganim celebrated Ricci on his way to “RETIREMENT”. He was NEVER fired. Hell, Even Aidee Nieves and Maria P. agreed this was a huge lost for the city at the time. Here’s the proof for your readers.
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/John-Ricci-resigns-as-Bridgeport-Mayor-Ganim-s-14893928.php
Finally, key people from the campaign had vacations and travel plans for this season well before we knew a primary redo would be necessary due to AB Ballot Fraud. Not, that many people read OIB anymore, but it’s worth a morning chuckle to me, to read your conspiracy theories. Here’s to uniting the democratic party under John Gomes and moving the city to a different chapter.
I encourage everyone to vote Tues, Jan 23rd, 2024 preferably at a polling location.
Perhaps, but you know in Port politics you are more than the average political nobody. From a Port political standpoint, Lennie has skin in the political game since his webzine is dedicated to Port politics. Thought he leans towards the current administration. He will not close the shop after a JG’s tenure.
As you have the skin in the political game, not only in business in teh Port but the wagers you place each election cycle, Moore 2019, Gomes 2023. Let’s not forget that Gomes was your political enemy before he was your political friend/candidate four years ago.
No one is more appreciative of Lennie’s OIB the me, the best ESL class ever, perhaps the Port, but why were Gomes and Ricci with G2 four years ago when you were with Moore? I assume because of G2 failures but perhaps it was the best/only bet?
BTW Gomese’s funding was always telling, he rivaled, the incumbent, G2. Which is generally unheard of. Even a feat Moore didn’t over come, four years ago. Ricci, John’s banker/backer was a major factor in that funding effort.
I am assuming perhaps Aidee and MP thought Ricci’s departure was a huge loss to the Por,t but not even close to the loss the Port and its taxpayers saw under his management/political skills, considering the $500K annual deficit the airport had when he managed it for the Port. Don’t want into the poiitcal side bets like the scrap metal and driveway wagers. 😀
I guess, place your bets, people.
Finally, while vacations tend to last a week or so, it is a chuckle at times to read IOB but why the assumption that many people don’t read OIB? Who doesn’t like a good morning chuckle with their Joe?
Maybe even some bacon. What’s not to like about conspiracy, assumption, and questions, John, BAM 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT5qrngSWhA
Maybe even some bacon, or perhaps something stronger the a fresh brew cup of Juan Valdez coffee. A past mayor comes to mind, name Fa —- Fuhgeddaboudit 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Od5-Fmf60
This is how the Phone Banking for the Gomes Campaign, with help from Lennie G.
The phone rings
LG: Hi this is Lennie, is Miss Smith there?
MS: Yes, This is Miss Smith.
LG: I am calling you from the Ganim Campaign, how are you today Miss Smith?
MS: Hi, Lennie I can hardly hear you. why are you whispering ?
LG:I have a little Laryngitis form taking on the phone this week.
MS: Sorry to hear that, what can I do for you Lennie?
LG: Joe Ganim would like to Know if you received your Absentee Ballot this week?
MS: Yes I did received my Ballot from that lovely girl named Maria.
LG: No, No! As his whisper gets lower into the phone , she works for the Gomes campaign and she’s going around calling people names like Pig and Piglets!
MS: Lennie did you ever hear that saying, sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me ?
LG: Miss Smith would you like me to pick up your Ballot so Joe can exchange it for you?
MS: Lennie, Joe Ganim’s is a (Convicted Felon) and his band of city council Felons keep giving him what ever he want’s at the Taxpayers expense ,and try as they may, to change my ballot before the 23rd I think it’s time for a change , lets open the books at city hall and see what Joe Ganim is really holding, the line on Taxes or his flucking pickle , this time I’m voting for John Gomes!
Weak, try again Slim Jim. 🙂
You better than that. 🤣
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV17XYCzkWU