Does John Gomes Have A Clue?

Unless Father Transparency shines a searing pragmatic light on John Gomes’ sanctimonious brainwaves by 2 p.m. Wednesday, the mayoral candidate will announce at a scheduled news conference he’s running in the Feb. 27 special general election, despite the chair of the Bridgeport Independent Party Wilfredo Martinez, who cast a safety net ballot line, withdrawing his support “In best interest of the community.”

Gomes has set a presser for 2 p.m. at campaign headquarters, 2196 East Main Street.

No doubt Gomes will bang the cosmetic drum of transparency trying to recapture the wind at his back following revelations of the drop-box ballot stuffing from last September on both sides but when you lose you scream the loudest. He will preach the past because there’s not much to say about the future, hoping he can manufacture an issue to change the course of this race.

The tide turned against Gomes in last week’s primary redo ordered by the court when Mayor Joe Ganim’s team correctly framed Gomes’ run a vengeance campaign after the mayor fired Gomes in 2022.

Ganim increased his vote total by 800 votes last Tuesday while Gomes dropped 100 votes from last September, leading to the mayor’s 12-point win.

What’s Gomes campaign all about? Simple.

Mayor Bill Finch fired John Gomes. Gomes ran against him. Joe Ganim fired Gomes. Again, Gomes challenged the boss who fired him. Sound familiar?

Nothing about this is good government, I’ll manage the city better than you, I’m empowered with a vision to take the city to a better place.

It’s all about ego.

The inner core of Gomes’ campaign centers on a half-dozen municipal troughers, including Gomes, fired by Ganim, seeking revenge. That’s it.

Can any Gomes supporter, the candidate himself, share a cogent vision for the future under his leadership? No.

If you can, please share, okay?

It’s simply about fired troglodytes longing for another piece of their derailed gravy train.

The power and glory of controlling the candy store. That’s it. Nothing else.

You may not like Joe Ganim, he certainly has many blemishes. But a revenge-seeking John Gomes who cannot articulate a positive path forward?

Examine the recent evidence of people who were thrown out of Gomes campaign, or left, because he lacks the temperament to lead effectively.

He’s gone through three campaign managers, threw a talented communications director to the curb, stiffed vendors, filed a campaign finance report three weeks late leading to a fine, his campaign supporters recently logged out absentee ballot applications incorrectly (then used white out when caught) leading to a complaint filed by the state, and when Gomes’ chief absentee ballot harvester, City Councilwoman Maria Pereira, called Police Chief Roderick Porter and the entire department “pigs” he ducked because her votes were, well, you can figure out the rest.

Last Tuesday it bit Gomes at the box office when Ganim croaked him in Pereira’s district and many other places.

And, just in case you’re wondering about Ganim’s record with all of his flaws:

He hasn’t raised taxes in eight years.

6,000-seat concert amphitheater drawing legions of people spending money, supporting restaurants, in Bridgeport.

Hiring respected Chief Porter who has built legacy relationships between his officers and community. (Yes, you bet, it should have been done long ago, but life isn’t about where you were it’s about today.)

Oh, did we forget: new Boys & Girls Club providing so many opportunities for young people.

New neighborhood libraries and senior citizen centers.

Mixed-use Cherry Streets Lofts in West End.

Honey Locust Square under construction in East End.

Thousands of new housing units throughout the city.

Recently announced soccer stadium, as well as EV battery manufacturing plant.

A new Fair Rent Commission.

Senior citizen tax break. (please apply)

So, on Wednesday John Gomes will host a press conference regurgitating the past without sharing what he will do on behalf of the future. Why?

He doesn’t know anything else. Because his run is all about ego revenge.