Related story by CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart here.
News release from the Ganim campaign:
Today, an outraged coalition of the Bridgeport’s leading religious and lay leaders came together and broke their silence over the outrage they feel by the sleazy campaign tactics Mayor Bill Finch has resorted to in the final desperate days of his incumbency as he faces the most significant challenge to his long and under-whelming tenure as the Park City’s chief executive.
Bridgeport Councilwoman Reverend Mary Lee-McBride, Reverend Dr. C.L. Stallworth, Reverend Janene W. Hawkins and Reverend Stalton Stack today strongly criticized Bill Finch for using what they considered to be underhanded and devious tactics in his campaign. Specifically, the group of ministers denounced Finch and his campaign for a recent mailer that tried to associate Joe Ganim with the KKK.“Bill Finch and his campaign should be ashamed of themselves,” stated Reverend Mary Lee. “Everyone knows my record in the Civil Rights movement. I speak with passion and authority when I say I saw the KKK, I was confronted by the KKK. Joe Ganim is the furthest thing from that. Bill Finch should be ashamed of himself for stooping this low with his campaign.”
As members of the clergy denounce Finch for his campaign tactics, Attorney Frank J. Riccio, II set the record straight on allegations against Ganim. “I was troubled to see the recent political mailing by Bill Finch relating to Joe Ganim’s “working for a white supremacist.”
Attorney Michael Hillis represented a Caucasian male, and I represented an African-American male, in a federal criminal case charging five men with the production and sale of weaponry to an informant who claimed to be a member of the KKK. Attorney Hillis and I requested the use of Mr. Ganim as a paralegal to research certain legal issues. This request was approved by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall. With Mr. Ganim’s useful assistance, I secured a “not guilty” verdict for my client. Mr. Ganim was not promoting white supremacist views in any way; rather, he assisted the defense in researching unusual legal issues brought on by an unusual case.”
Reverend Dr. C.L. Stallworth added, “Bill Finch’s tactics are disgraceful and divisive. We need to bring every community in this City together not tear them apart. Bill Finch going so low to try to make it appear that Joe Ganim is a white supremacist doesn’t hurt Joe it hurts the entire City.” Reverend Janene W. Hawkins said, “I am shocked and appalled that Bill Finch and his campaign would use such hurtful tactics that remind people of a dark time in our Country’s history. Anyone who believes that Bill Finch’s mailer is true or that Joe Ganim even needs to defend himself from this fraudulent and disgraceful mailer needs to look deep into their heart and soul to see what they truly stand for.
“We should stand for people and not politics,” Reverend Stalton Stack stated. “Bill Finch and his campaign are using factious tactics that are intended to alienate and divide this great City. Bill Finch should be spending his time bringing this City together. He has truly stooped to the lowest levels of fear and dishonesty with this mailer and should be ashamed of himself.”
Ganim, who is seeking to reclaim the seat he held from 1991 to 2003 said, “I am truly saddened by Bill Finch and his administration’s attempt to paint me as a racist.”
The former Mayor said, “This is insulting. These are desperate actions by desperate people.”
Ganim concluded, “Finch is not only insulting me as a former mayor of this great city, he is insulting every single resident of Bridgeport–all races and all ethnicities.
“These continued attempts to divide the city will backfire and serve no positive purpose,” Ganim said.
This shows what kind of person Bill Finch is. The question is; what is Bridgeport going to do about it?
I just returned from a “Restoring Unity” event in Birmingham Alabama lead by Bishop James Lowe, Alvida King, Glenn Beck, Raphael Cruz and many others. 30,000 people from all over the country and some parts of the world gathered for this weekend event. We marched the same route Dr. King walked from the 16th Street Baptist Church through downtown Birmingham and ended at the Legend Area for 5 hours of worship, wonderful Gospel music, prayer and fellowship. There is a movement happening in this country. We’re at a crossroads. We’re tired of the self-promoting divisiveness, racial hatred, and religious persecution. This city does not need leaders like Bill Finch. It’s time to put our faith in the Lord and not man and definitely not any political party or government.
Wait a minute, you were a part of something involving Alvida King and Glenn Beck? Please, two losers and you make three.
Ron Mackey, that was funny.
Ron, no problem. I’ll say a prayer for you tonight!
Well I can say not one person I know is at all interested in what these Clergy have to say about their support for a convict. That is sad in and of itself. Imagine ,ladies and gentlemen, they loathe Finch so much yet Mary-Jane Foster wasn’t even an option. Listen, I walked the Wilbur Cross area after this mailer went out. I will say Trumbull Gardens and the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding them are supporting Mayor Finch. They see these clergy as clowns and are embarrassed by them. They acknowledge all Finch has done from the paved roads to the exciting Downtown Thursdays, the family movies, the expanded Pre-K. These voters do not live in a vacuum and like everyone else they are excited about what’s happening in Bridgeport. They are not interested in the redemption of Ganim. Their homes are beautiful and they are embarrassed Bridgeport has been receiving press on TV about fences and vigils. Enough of this crap already. I suggest the clergy take care of their flock and elected officials focus on your constituents and stop walking around with anti-Finch signs and character assassinations of Adam Wood. What, Mario Testa is not despicable?
Very interesting, Steve. I reside within that area and walked my neighborhood and they are supporting Ganim. They understand this election is between Finch and Ganim, Mary-Jane doesn’t have a chance! Stop drinking the kool-aid. Has Finch offered you a position in his administration?
Whatever, Baghdad.
Ron, Clarence Henderson was there also!
Steve, I’ll include you in my prayers too!
Quentin, thank you.
Glenn Beck, enough said.
🙂
Whatever, Baghdad Steve.
It was the Finch administration and the Finch re-election campaign that brought race into the mix. First by treating the Reverend Mary McBride-Lee as a pariah, second by hacking a ham-fisted and lame RSI Ed attempt to connect Joe Ganim to the Ku Klux Klan (a tactic employed against Mary-Jane Foster’s husband Jack McGregor back in 2011–it didn’t work then either).
Bill Finch can only condescend to the minority communities in Bridgeport. He attended an education forum at Cathedral of Faith on Gregory Street, along with several other mayoral hopefuls. His opponents all spoke of concrete plans to reform Bridgeport’s failed public education system. What did Finch have to say? “I built a water park!” As if that is going to prevent teenagers from dropping out.
DT USA poll
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bridgeport is being managed?
July 2015
Approve……33%
Disapprove…45%
DK/ref…….22%
September 2015
Approve……21%
Disapprove…49%
DK/Ref……..30%
Mil……40%
Genx…..58%
Boomer…79%
Silent…18%
Bridgeport is a diverse community. We come from all over to live in a classic melting pot community as Americans. Our diversity is and should always be a source of strength. Reverend Dr. Stallworth was right to point out the Finch administration is cynically exploiting the social diversity of Bridgeport to achieve its own ends. Bill Finch’s disdain and antipathy for people of color is more than a little apparent.
Another mayor would be astute enough to let an experienced law enforcement professional manage the police department. Not Finch, oh no no no. To him the BPD is the palace guard. A shooting at Trumbull Gardens? He doesn’t care if anyone was killed. “Those people,” he probably told his cronies, “don’t vote, so fuck ’em.”
Failing schools? “Hey, I built a water park to keep those people from opening the fire hydrants on the East Side. Don’t say I never did anything for you. The school system sucks lollipops but at least you have a water park. In the winter we’ll provide oil drums so those people can build fires. Maybe that’ll keep them from torching rubber factories.”
Highest taxes in the United States? “Fuck ’em, let the homeowners of Black Rock, Brooklawn and the North End eat cake. Let everyone eat cake. I built a water park and that makes everything great.”
Ron, it’s time for us to soften our hearts and come together. Question: What would Jesus do?
You know, I remember President Richard Nixon said those same words to bring us together and he did, he brought us together at the Unemployment Office.
“What would Jesus do?” He’d tell everyone to love thy neighbor and stop treating politics as if it were a contact sport. Except for Baghdad Steve. Jesus would tell him “Run along, bullethead. You bother me.”
“What would Jesus do?” No, Steve is Jewish.
So was Jesus.
But he’s not their savior.
Jesus came to fulfill the prophesy, not start a new religion. Those were the words of Jesus otherwise known as Yeshua Ben Joseph. There is a Messianic Jewish Temple in Westport if anyone is really interested in what the Jewish Messiah stood for. Aren’t you glad you projected me into the conversation? You would be surprised to find out what Jesus would say to those who completely completely adulterated his word and belief.
I think Jesus might feel for the impoverished having waterparks and new schools. He would probably support abatements for low-income housing. He might support medicinal marijuana. He would most likely be an extremely liberal individual, who would support free meals for school children and pre-K. I think Jesus would be appalled and disgusted by individuals who pray for Ganim to be reelected. There are prayers that are sinful. That would be one of them. I would imagine Jesus would embrace the city of Bridgeport and hope for its continued rebirth and restoring hope to those who have been hopeless for decades. I think that is what Jesus would say and do and I am certain He would be Celebrating the Highest Holidays on the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah, the anniversary of G-ds creation and Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. I do not believe Jesus forgives Murderers and pedophiles. Because he was a Jew. Since you asked!
The negative perception of the Finch Administration with the North Enders with whom I have spoken over the past several days is palpable.
I was actually surprised myself at how angry and cynical people of all demographic groups are towards the Finch Administration. And most of the homeowners I spoke with, especially near schools and parks, feel the splash pads are dangerous and stupid, and supervised, full-scale and shallow wading/swimming pools in two or three couple parts of town would have made much more sense.
The people believe the Finch Administration consists of lying, conniving, out-of-towners who believe Bridgeporters are stupid.
Guess again, Finch Administration. The people are going to toss you out of town on September 16.
Jeff, you are ridiculous. Would these people be the same three people who voted for you? Do they have a child? They are thrilled with a convicted felon? They actually talk about out-of-towners? You are confused and clearly people are lying to you. Ask to see current polls. Ask Joe to see them. It is certainly not looking good. People are repulsed by your candidate.