Baker Seeks State House Challenge, Newton: Baker Sold Out Children

First he was in, then he was out, then he was in, then he was out, now he’s back in. School board member Andre Baker on Tuesday picked up petition papers to challenge party endorsed Ernie Newton in an August Democratic primary setting up a battle between two candidates with East End voter bases. Baker must submit 370 certified signatures from district Democrats by June 10 to make the ballot.

Upon hearing the news Baker filed petition papers, Newton struck quickly.

“Baker’s got to answer to the voters why he sold out the children and teachers and supported the mayor’s budget that relies on in kind services instead of direct funding of the schools,” said Newton, regarding the mayor meeting the state’s Minimum Budget Requirement. “I look forward to taking my message to the streets. Baker sounds like there’s no office he won’t run for. He decided to get on the board of education to make change and help children. He lied to the voters. He’s been there less than a year. Do they want a person who just runs for office or do they want someone who has experience helping the city?”

Newton claims Deborah Sims, a city employee supporter of Mayor Bill Finch, is behind recruiting  Baker’s candidacy. “If Sims is behind this the mayor is behind this,” says Newton who had breakfast with the mayor a few weeks ago in an attempt at political peace. “She doesn’t make a move unless the mayor gives permission. They want to elect Baker so he doesn’t run for mayor next year.”

If Finch supports Baker’s candidacy, he’s not doing so publicly. There’s a risk-reward factor for Finch’s political operation to weigh in against Newton, who has a strong following in the East End, with Finch up for reelection next year. Also, Finch’s political operation is working to elect Chris Rosario, the city’s anti-blight chief to the State House against incumbent Christina Ayala as well as the reelection of State Senator Anthony Musto who faces a tough primary challenge from political activist and healthcare professional Marilyn Moore.

They’d have to divert bodies and resources away from those races. The Finch operation, no doubt, can raise money for Baker, but will it? Baker, a former city councilor, has never tested someone with Newton’s following. When Baker won a seat on the school board last year as part of a challenge slate with Dave Hennessey and Howard Gardner, the financing and campaign operation was put together for him from several organized education advocates including the Bridgeport Education Association, Connecticut Education Association and the Connecticut Working Families Party.

The reticent Baker, who operates funeral homes in Bridgeport and Norwalk, had been having a hard time making a decision about entering the race. Over the Memorial Day weekend he made the decision to challenge Newton. Baker was hardly a Finch supporter while serving on the City Council, but as a school board member broke with the coalition that boosted his election last year by supporting Finch’s plan to build a new high school to replace Harding on Boston Avenue property owned by General Electric. Opponents to the location site environmental concerns. He also supported Finch’s funding of schools.

For Baker to wage a competitive primary against Newton he must qualify for public funds under the state’s Citizens Election Program of publicly funded races. He’d need to raise $5,000 in small donations to trigger a $27,500 public grant. Newton is barred from participating in the program following his conviction on corruption charges while a member of the legislature. Newton can raise funds outside of the public financing program.

Connecticut’s 124th State House seat covers the East End and a portion of the East Side.