On May 19 about 2,000 delegates to the Democratic state party convention will gather in Hartford to endorse candidates for statewide office. Mayor Joe Ganim needs 15 percent of that support to place his name on the August primary ballot for governor. Going in, Greenwich entrepreneur Ned Lamont and former Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz enjoy the most delegate backing. See list of delegates by town here. Meanwhile Ganim is one week into a six-week petition drive to secure more than 15,000 signatures from Democratic voters in the state as the other option to make the ballot.
The convention momentum appears to be with Lamont as elements of the state party have rallied behind his candidacy. Internally the various camps are examining the value of the ballot lineup. The Bysiewicz analysis, as the lone female in the race, believes she’s better off with Ganim on the ballot, so if she has a comfortable delegate cushion, it could free up some extra delegates for Ganim. Last week Lamont was endorsed by New Haven Mayor Toni Harp but Ganim and Bysiewicz are not ceding the city to Lamont.
Deal-cutting is always a possibility. Does Lamont want Ganim off the ballot more than Bysiewicz wants him on? Republicans conduct their convention this weekend.
Ganim’s letter pitch to delegates:
Dear Fellow Democrat:
As the Democratic field narrows for governor, I would like to share with you why I am running for governor and what our campaign is about.
I have been honored to be elected Mayor of Bridgeport six times. Over these 14 years, working together we brought Bridgeport back from bankruptcy, balanced the budget for ten years in a row without raising taxes, attracted new businesses and jobs, built an entertainment and sports complex, drastically lowered crime, and created magnet schools.
At the same time, you know the story. I made terrible mistakes, broke the law, and paid a heavy price. When I returned to Bridgeport, I apologized for my actions and vowed that if I was ever given a second chance in elected office, I would spend every day giving back to make sure everyone has at least a first chance to succeed–let alone the second chance that I was given.
In 2015, the people of Bridgeport honored me by giving me that second chance when they elected me as their Mayor for the sixth time. Since then, we have continued to make strong progress. We’ve attracted new industry and jobs, accelerated development of our waterfront, and made Bridgeport a greener and cleaner energy efficient city. Like any city much more needs to be done, but real progress has been made.
Our campaign for governor is about building a new Connecticut economy that works for everyone–not just a few. We can’t tax or cut our way out of the state’s fiscal mess. We need to create jobs and get our economy going–and that begins by strengthening our cities to make them once again engines of economic growth and innovation. To attract new businesses and retain existing ones, we need to rebuild our transportation infrastructure, expand job training so workers have the skills for 21st century manufacturing and high technology jobs, and make sure every child has an opportunity to a first-class education.
Our campaign is about making sure hard working men and women are paid a livable wage, have access to paid family leave, are paid equally, and are allowed to collectively organize.
Our campaign is about inclusion and diversity—we are a stronger state and country when everyone can participate and contribute.
Our campaign is also about being a voice for all those who have been left economically behind. I will be a governor for them and all those who feel their voices are not heard.
And our campaign is about providing everyone who wants to work hard with an opportunity to contribute. That’s why I strongly support second chance re-entry programs and criminal justice reform to end the targeting of communities of color.
At this critical time in our state, we must have a Governor who has the skills and experience to manage the complexities we face. I humbly present myself as someone who’s been tested in good times and bad, who has navigated the state’s largest city through the toughest of times, and who has led the effort to create economic growth and jobs for everyone.
I have enjoyed talking to those of you I’ve met as I’ve traveled around the state–and I thank all of you who have given me your support.
For those of you who are undecided, I hope I can earn your support–and that you will join me in the effort to build a better Connecticut that works for everyone.
And finally, thank you for all that you do, for the countless hours you contribute to our party for the betterment of Connecticut.
If he’s pitching delegates, will the Mayor need help from the bullpen or can he complete a nine inning game?
Ganim isn’t in the major leagues here. He’s playing Single A while those around him are at least double or triple A.
Connecticut politics, esp. Bridgeport, is a poster child for cronyism, corruption, inept management, and the uninformed and ill-educated. Sad story of the same old same old.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Welcome to Connecticut.
When you run for Governor, you’re swinging for the seats!
He’s taking his current job for granted. He likes the calendar while others like their chances.
The best seat in the house is on the playing field and not in the stands.
He can’t even complete a nine word sentence that doesn’t begin with Joe Ganim, end with Joe Ganim and has at least one Joe Ganim somewhere in between.
Mariano Rivera couldn’t save this game.
What if his team is up 8-0 in the ninth-after striking out one batter after 59 pitches-and the manager is desperate to close the victory and his pitcher is tired?
Any “dish” on the Republican side????? Bridgeport has a candidate for governor on the Republican side.
Who????
Come on,Ron. You know who it is. David Walker
Oh, I was wondering when you side when, “Republican side” because I’m not hearing or seeing anything about Walker in Bridgeport. I was watching Walker’s latest video on OIB but he didn’t say anything about how he would solve the issues of Connecticut. I don’t hear anything from and of the Republican candidates for governor speaking out against 45’s new tax law that hurts all voters of the with their state income tax and property owners of the state who are not able to write off their property tax on their federal taxes.
The Black Rock has a candidate for Governor.
As a municipal entity, Black Rock does not exist.
As the world’s largest money manager, Black Rock is a household brand.
When Bob Walsh knows more about Bridgeport than I do, he can use these pages to show his superiority.
Correction: My handlers called. Black Rock is a separate municipal entity when it comes to taxation. But when people in black Rock are in trouble, they never call the black rock police department because it doesn’t exist.
Come on..you seem to dip into Black rock FB pages once in a while. Black Rock is a community within the City of Bridgeport. No more and no less. Some in Black Rock have idealized about seceding from BPT and becoming a part of Fairfield. For a very long list of reasons,that will not happen. The people of Black Rock need to work with the parameters of City of Bridgeport governance…like it or not.
As a man thinketh, those are the conclusions I’ve arrived at.
Ok
Is this guy for real??.does he actually believe what he writes??
Let’s start with this one..
..”We’ve attracted new industry and jobs, accelerated development of our waterfront, and made Bridgeport a greener and cleaner energy efficient city.”
What?,is there some new industry here in Bpt,that I missed??..and the rest of that statement?,Finch did all that.
How about this beauty?
“I humbly present myself as someone who’s been tested in good times and bad, who has navigated the state’s largest city through the toughest of times, and who has led the effort to create economic growth and jobs for everyone”
Joe,you robbed from us,you took advantage of the very people who elected you,and now you’re trying to do it again by arranging for raises for your friends,you didn’t think anyone would notice,but you got caught..And tell me what jobs you have created?
Joe Ganim is flat out LYING.
Not hearing anything from any of the candidates that creates any hope for a recovery from the Connecticut Dark Ages administration of Dan Malloy…
Most of Joe’s prescription sounds like a Bill Finch BRBC Breakfast Meeting statement (sans the drone of the apologetic refrain) … (A fossil fuel replacement plant doesn’t constitute real economic or future-development progress… So, nothing real to claim on the economic front for a governor’s run in that regard… But there has been some effort to get a few moderately significant things going – however tenuous the prospects – to give credit where it is due…) (A casino cash-machine would be a game-changer, however…)
But looking at the D-front runners; Susan Bysiewicz and Ned Lamont really don’t want the job. We shouldn’t forget about Susan’s abandonment of her governor’s run — despite front runner status (!) in 2010… Ned has been after a US Senate seat from Connecticut for a couple of decades… Does anyone think that he’ll settle for Hartford over DC at this stage of the game? Look to his Lieutenant Governor choice to serve out most of his term if he were to be elected…
The Republicans have an excellent candidate in the form of David Walker — but his hints (so far) of a platform indicate something much too “Republican” to accomplish the tremendous socioeconomic change needed in 2018 Connecticut…
But the pivot point in this election is certainly the casino issue… Now, I can just see the frantic maneuvering of the Gold Coast-Hartford Power Axis during these waning hours of the GA Session to derail the prospects for a Bridgeport-casino economic catalyst, which would have big-time, consequent ramifications in regard to the shifting of the political-economic balance of power away from Stamford (Gold Coast)-Hartford to Bridgeport and the other urban centers of the state…(I can hear the prayers among the Gold Coast-Hartford delegation, in terms of “God save us from a resurgent Bridgeport and the loss of their cheap labor at our beck and call – and God, please don’t allow the election of a Bridgeporter(!) as the next Governor… After all; we are your Connecticut Chosen… Please don’t allow THEM to corrupt the sanctity of our privilege, we pray!…”).
If the Bridgeport casino issue is defeated, look to 8 more years of the same declining Connecticut under 8 more years of self-serving, destructive Gold Coast-Oligarchy control… If the Bridgeport casino issue passes, look to the possibility of real, positive, socioeconomic change in Connecticut…
In any event; if the Bridgeport casino issue is defeated, Bridgeporters, and the voters of the rest of the state (excluding Gold Coast-Hartford area voters, of course) should vote against all state and federal-level Gold Coast-Hartford candidates in this election… It is imperative for the future of the state that the Gold Coast-Hartford political-economic stranglehold on the state be broken if socioeconomic progress is to occur in Connecticut.
Jeff, base on your summary what Republican candidate are you supporting?
If Ganim were to get on the ballot, let alone be the nominee, the other 49 states would probably ask this state to leave the union.