It’s just a little more than 100 signatures, if the Democratic primary for mayor is close, you have a second bite at the apple in the general election. It’s possible Bill Finch, Joe Ganim and Mary-Jane Foster could face off in September and November.
CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart has more:
Democrats Ex-Mayor Joseph Ganim and Mary-Jane Foster have signaled they may take their fights for the mayor’s office beyond the September primary if necessary into November.
Their campaigns are trying to petition their way onto the ballot in fall’s general election.
As reported earlier this week, Wednesday is the deadline for candidates to submit so-called nominating petitions to run in November as independent candidates.
For some of the contenders hoping to wrest the Democratic endorsement from Mayor Bill Finch in the Sept. 16 primary, the nominating petitions would be an easy Plan B (only 123 signatures are required) allowing them to appeal to all voters less than two months later should they lose.
Full story here.
Wait a minute.
You mean Finch could win the endorsement at the convention AND then win the primary AND still have to face Foster and Ganim again in the general election? THAT DON’T SOUND FAIR!!! Hehehehehe.
That would pretty much screw up Enrique’s plans, too.
Could be, but after Finch gets his ass kicked with his loss in September he might not want to run again.
I do not think Mayor Finch is concerned. Both Ganim and Foster will not benefit from another run, besides, we will be welcoming Officer David Daniels to the race in November.
Can you see them going to their donors again? No you can’t, and neither can I.
Steve, that’s right, positive thinking will help you and Mayor Finch get through this disappointing loss.
I agree with both candidates pursuing this avenue, but sometimes I have to scratch my head when I see who Joe includes in his inner circle.
Some guy from Trumbull who worked for the BBOE, until he was terminated a couple of months ago, constantly hangs around headquarters, but never lifts a finger to do any work while there. This afternoon, he tried to tell me how this election would turn out and give me a lecture. I couldn’t even focus on his over-the-top statements because he was wearing kelly green bermuda shorts with little navy whales on them. How could I possibly give any credibility to an adult male dressed like a four-year-old toddler? All I kept thinking is I want to sit him in the corner facing the wall and put him in a 15-minute timeout.
He then referred to Carolanne Curry as a “lovely young lady.” Once again, I couldn’t help think only someone born BC would describe her as “young.”
Can anyone say “I am desperately in need of a job?”
Maria, hysterical and mean. Very funny. I wouldn’t want to be on your bad side. Or would I?
Little Stevie Auerbach wants to be “disciplined” by Mistress Maria.
You read my mind! However, I’ll pass. 🙂
You are desperately in need of a job!
Up On Bridgeport, sorry to disappoint you, however I am gainfully employed.
Where?
Frank the Cabana Boy, I will answer you when you stop hiding behind a handle and post under your true name. Let’s see if you have the courage to do so.
You were the one who begged the question. It’s kind of like when you ask someone to call me a cab. You’re a cab! You could never disappoint me because I always know what to expect from you.
Well Steve, let’s hope neither of us ever find out. 🙂
Maria said, “I agree with both candidates pursuing this avenue, but sometimes I have to scratch my head when I see who Joe includes in his inner circle.”
I bet there are those in the Ganim HQ looking at you and saying the same thing. LOL. This election cycle is fun.
I’m laughing so hard I’m actually crying.
Lifelong Bpt, you may be correct, however on September 16th we are going to find out who can deliver on their commitments and who can’t. I am pretty sure I will be in the “can” column.
POST OF THE DAY!
POST OF THE WEEK!!!
I know Bob, because you bring so much to MJF’s campaign.
OMG!!!
Wilbur Chapman returns to the ‘Port to campaign with Joe Ganim.
When people ask me who do I think Joe would bring back into a new administration, the name Wilbur Chapman never crossed my lips.
I thought he would never set foot in Bridgeport again but here he is campaigning with Joe Ganim. A couple of politicians who understand self service but not public service. What a joke.
And Wilbur says he does not want to become Police Chief again. I am guessing he is collecting at least three pensions already, so of course he doesn’t want another’job,’ but a consulting gig would do just fine.
Only In Bridgeport.
I thought Chapman was coming to Bridgeport to see if he could sniff around and help solve some problems by outreaching to Ganim. What a loser. Certainly, this man knows Bill Finch is the Mayor? Maybe not. It’s called respect and protocol. I guess we need to get a Blatino Woman to showboat, that would trump the first black police chief.
Bob, there are number who are running for an elected position or hanging around a candidate to get a position as a consultant.
Joe Ganim was convicted of 16 counts of racketeering related to making Bridgeport a “pay to play” municipality. The cash, French wine, custom tailored shirts and four-star hotels went to him and a couple of middlemen. Bill Finch engages in a similar practice, accepting campaign contributions in exchange for unrestricted tax abatements. 35 years for $4000? Sounds like a great deal. In the meantime the residential property will be developed, tenants will move in and the city’s burden will be increased without corresponding increases in tax revenue: more children attending Bridgeport public schools at $14,000 a year each, showers, toilets, dishwashers and kitchen sinks in 84 new apartments adding to the overload of an antiquated wastewater treatment system, not to mention more responsibilities for an understaffed police department. Let’s not forget about the rubbish generated by 84 new apartments. Mr. Finch is giving this all to a developer for $4000. Who will foot the bill? The people of the city of Bridgeport, that’s who, because the one thing Bill Finch knows how to do is pass the buck.
This administration has done nothing but pimp off the local population. New construction is initiated by offering no-strings-attached multi-year tax abatements. Once the construction is completed at Steal Point, all those tenants will require water, sewage hookups, fire and police protection, etc. The tax abatements are quite favorable for the developer, not the city. Finch and his cronies will put together a budget that raises taxes yet again so the long-suffering taxpayers of Bridgeport will foot the bill for all of this fabulous new construction.
Kid,
When you say cash, are you referring to the half million cool ones from PSG they gave to Ganim and Pinto for the WPCA contract?
That’s a hell of a lot of shirts and fine wine, if you know what I mean. And we are still stuck with that bad contract.
What do you think, Maria?
Bridgeport Kid, just so I understand, you would support a candidate who left Steelpointe barren?
Kid, Maria P. is a fan. You have been elevated to Joe Ganim status. G-d forbid you fall from grace. Joe Ganim is petrified, as well he should be! 🙂 Sorry, Maria. 🙂 Run Joe, Run!
It’s official, I am a fan of Bridgeport Kid. Whoever you are, your comments are based in fact, you are articulate and intelligent.
Quite a bit of what you post I actually share with voters on doors.
Glad to be of assistance.
Kid, you are so spot on. Now you’ll feel the wrath of Steve Auerbach, who will spin this into something positive for Finch. As you know, he has a man crush on Finchy. Also, God forbid an ex-police chief who controlled crime like no else before or after him advises the future mayor.
LOL!!!
Phantom, you are an idiot. Do you ever have an original comment?
Steven Auerbach can’t seem to wash the taste of sour grapes out of his mouth. All that business of fucking up the economy under Mary Moran.
“The mayor has offered a chaser to get the City Council to swallow what critics consider a too-sweet cocktail of tax breaks mixed for an out-of-town developer,” according to Brian Lockhart’s story in the Connecticut Post.
“The council Monday, at Mayor Bill Finch’s request, tabled a re-vote on giving Stamford-based JHM Group a 35-year tax cut for its East Side housing development.
“Finch wants the council to consider another policy change granting seven-year-long tax benefits to local contractors who rehabilitate blighted properties. That’s an inducement to win over council members who have a problem with out-of-town developers getting special deals.
“Ideally, the mayor said, the council would eventually pass both JHM’s subsidies and the blight-related tax cuts as a package to revitalize the East Side.
“Whether that is just wishful thinking on Finch’s part remains to be seen …
“At least one critic of the JHM tax breaks, Councilman Alfred Castillo, D-136, said that deal would not have passed Monday.
“Castillo said he still wants more guarantees that local contractors and minorities will benefit from Crescent Crossing.
“‘So at least it keeps the money here,’ Castillo said.
“Castillo said Finch’s blight tax cuts are a good idea, but not a ‘trade off’ for approval of the JHM tax subsidies.”
It would appear a ‘trade off’ is exactly what Finch wants. He will not get it; lame duck incumbents never get what they want.
Little Stevie Auerbach can spin this into cotton candy but the fact still remains the City Council, at least those not beholden to Bill Finch and the municipal payroll, are fed up with the mayor’s lack of farsightedness and lack of negotiating skills.
Tax abatements are all fine and good. The seven-year abatements for local contractors that rehabilitate blighted properties is a good one, worth the Council’s time to consider. The JHM proposal is a clusterfuck waiting to happen. The developer wants the tax break, the city will need increased revenue to cover the costs of increased water and sewer usage, police and fire protection, etc. The Finch administration, in its infinite wisdom, wants to whiz this one through the City Council and then wants the taxpayers to bear the extra costs.
The short-term abatements may be the right thing at this time for the small investor or general contractor looking to renew or rehabilitate vacant properties in the City. Brand new construction is more expensive and requires larger footprints than available in our many neighborhoods where blighted properties co-exist with properties with proud owners.
Even with short-term advantages provided, the process should be open. The properties and the details of the abatements should be public. A listing of these properties should be available on the City website. If the City refuses to do a commendable and verifiable monitoring of properties it owns, or those with special tax treatment, then let the public do it and comment. Why not? Having the public as watchdog for incumbent secrets is a worthwhile idea when the elected leaders fail in their responsibilities. Time will tell.
This is sound logic, Mr. Lee. Unfortunately, under the current administration, a list of available properties will not be made available because the Finch cabal is beholden to the Gold Coast and must do the bidding of the developers and investors that “contributed” to his re-election campaign.
What if the voting process kept the two issues separate rather than combining them as suggested? What would happen? Would we see who is so conflicted they cannot vote for the taxpayers? Would we see folks ready to move … off the Council and out of town? Time will tell.
John Marshall Lee // Aug 5, 2015 at 5:47 pm
To your post
JML,
And what would the seperstkng show.
And why a postponement when everyone who needs to be compromised from their original vote has been so?
Short Term Tax deals I can comprehend, I just don’t get the 35 years they proposed. Seriously, some of these properties are so poorly constructed, hopefully they’ll still be habitable in 35 years. Okay, maybe a little overdramatic, but as a taxpayer, I find this repulsive when my taxes to this city exceeds $34k/yr and I get absolutely no services from them, nor can I utilize anything they have to offer residents because I have a business here, nada, zip, zilch. Yet new businesses or new things get this golden handshake? Let us appreciate those who have stuck by our city during the even worse times than what we are dealing with and the times when so many others left us or changed names such as the Connecticut Post.
Now that I mention Connecticut Post, I personally don’t read this closest to tabloid piece of print due to the inaccurate or half-informed articles. Some laws are archaic on our books, one of which is how the public is to be notified about public meetings, such as City council meetings, etc. where the public can attend and be part of the development of such, also keeping elected officials knowing they are being appreciated but also noted as to their actions. I believe it states it has to be in the newspaper. Again, who reads this paper? Ask around, I have and have yet to run into one in my surroundings. “Oh but it’s on the Webpage of the city.” True, but I ask myself, did they have to pass a law or ordinance to put it on the webpage, if they did, great then they should pass another to put it on their Facebook page. If they didn’t then great also, then they should put it on the Facebook page. They should use every venue possible to announce public opportunities to interact with government and this shallow excuse of a printed paper called CT Post does not cut it. If everyone is riled up over the two sides wanting the city white house, all I always say is, regardless of whom I will be voting for, I will never burn my bridges and I can clearly say I get absolutely NOTHING from any of them. I always work with whoever is elected, but also have no reservations with sharing my distaste of anything in particular. Wasting time on destructive behaviors or are simply counterproductive in every way shape or form. But that’s my way of working and clearly respect everyone’s right to live as they wish because of course, it is entertaining at times. 🙂 Great day, everyone.
Check out the new Ganim ad.
www .dailymotion.com/video/x30nmbe_joe-ganim-for-mayor_news