Now it’s all about dragging out your friends on Tuesday.
The retirement of State Senator Marilyn Moore has created a high-profile Democratic primary to fill her seat between City Councilman Scott Burns, former Mayor Bill Finch, ex councilman Tyler Mack and Quinnipiac Law School Professor Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox.
Geography is a key component to ripping out a vote. All four candidates have their strength areas. Connecticut’s 22nd Senatorial covers about one third of Bridgeport – the North End, West Side and Black Rock – all of Trumbull and southern Monroe.
Finch enjoys the highest name recognition from his eight years as mayor and seven years representing the 22nd Senatorial prior to winning the top job in Bridgeport.
Mack has the support of Moore and a contingent of polls in the Black-rich Wilbur Cross precinct. Moore’s home precinct Central figures to be a battle ground area.
Burns is highly regarded among his Black Rock constituency. As co-chair of the council’s Budget & Appropriations Committee, he has a reputation for an independent streak from the establishment.
He has the key backing of State Rep. Steve Stafstrom whose legislative district runs largely within the 22nd Senatorial including Black Rock and Central precincts.
Gadkar-Wilcox is expected to run well in her hometown Trumbull. Looming question: how much can she cut into the Bridgeport tally? Several city polls are backing her including former State House members Chris Caruso, Bob Keeley and Lee Samowitz, ex senate candidate Shante Hanks and erstwhile councilman Joel Gonzalez.
Also, will the Trumbull percentage turnout eclipse Bridgeport that has twice as many Democrats in the district.
All four candidates are spending evenly, roughly $127,000, courtesy of Connecticut’s Citizens Election Program of publicly funded races,
Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox for Senator of the 22nd!
After reviewing the multiple literature pieces mailed to my address over the past several weeks, I have to say that the only campaign for the 22nd State Senate seat that makes any sense, with respect to a rational choice for BRIDGEPORT voters, is that of SuJata Gadkar-Wilcox. (As a matter of fact, if I were to run for mayor of Bridgeport, I would use her senate-campaign literature for MY mailers.)
Only Gadkar-Wilcox speaks directly to Bridgeport voter-worker-taxpayer-homeowners with respect to direct initiatives that could actually help them and their struggling city….
However; I would issue a “caveat emptor” with this rationale for voting for Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, because of her talk of “regional” solutions to “regional” problems — because that is exactly how Bridgeport became so distressed and downtrodden in the first place — by serving the “region” even as it lost tax-base and quality of life as a result, as it was “cannibalized” for its infrastructure and services at great cost…. It would have been very appropriate and indicated if Gadkar-Wilcox also spoke in terms of “compensation” and “restitution” for Bridgeport….
But, nevertheless, Gadkar-Wilcox does speak about good and real things for Bridgeport as none of the other candidates took any pains to express in their mailings.
The other candidates spoke only to statewide issues and talked around Bridgeport, with one candidate actually calling for a stop to a Bridgeport project…. Better that he should have also talked “around” that bizarre campaign statement — perhaps by indicating that the amount of money associated with that project could be used to prepare manufacturing space and manufacturing training….
Otherwise, the other candidates only promised us more of the same or national Democratic campaign rhetoric….
Go, Sujata! VOTE FOR SUJATA-GADKAR WILCOX! (But let’s hold her to her promises and make sure that she puts them in place before she heads for the US Rep. position for the 4th…!)
One of these Candidates, stuck us with a Twenty Million Dollar Tax short fall, according to our current Mayor Joe Ganim.
Another Candidate, Carpetbagged his way over to Black Rock, thinking no one would notice.
A third Candidate voted in favor of a fifty Unit housing complex, right here on Fairfield Ave, with little regard for traffic, schools or his neighbors. Not to mention his vote for those flucking UI Mono-poles for Black Rock!
I’m going to vote for someone who will protect woman’s rights, our kids and the State Senatorial 22nd district.
She has my vote, Quinnipiac Law School Professor Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox!
Hey Jimfox, The Headless Speedy Gonzalez is in front of your polling place. Too windy this morning to put on the head.
Sujata Sugonna Subeat all Sus Asses.
Sincerely,
Speedy Gonzalez