With already more than $400,000 raised, Mayor Bill Finch has launched a campaign donation website as he seeks a third four-year term. Former Mayor Joe Ganim is in an exploratory phase for his old job. School board member Howard Gardner and East End committeeman Charlie Coviello are in the race. Finch’s 2011 Democratic primary opponent Mary-Jane Foster is edging closer to a run.
Finch issued this eblast to his contact list today:
In Bridgeport, we’re making smart investments in the future by going green: creating green jobs and producing clean energy so our kids and grandkids will breathe easier.
That’s why I set out to develop the Eco-Technology Park. It’s all about encouraging green businesses to come here, thrive here, grow here, and most importantly, put more and more Bridgeporters to work here. Our efforts have resulted in hundreds of new jobs, and more than $10 million in annual personal income. And, we’re just getting started.
It’s also why we’re home to North America’’s largest fuel cell, producing enough clean energy to power 15,000 homes. And, we’re putting thousands of solar panels and another fuel cell atop an old and unused, powering an additional 5,000 homes with clean energy. We’re ensuring our kids and grandkids breathe easier, and folks at a national level are taking notice.
Our efforts to combat climate change in Bridgeport are working, and getting national acclaim. Here’s what the New York Times said today about the growth of clean energy production in Connecticut’s largest city:
“The enthusiastic support of Mayor Finch, who is also co-chairman of the United States Conference of Mayors Climate Change Protection Task Force, helped persuade reluctant utility companies to embrace alternative technologies.”We’re working hard to make Bridgeport a place where our kids and grandkids will choose to live, work, and raise their families, too. And, I’m proud to say that we’re on the right track.
Bridgeport is on the way up. Let’s keep it going.
There’s a typo. It should read We’re going GREED, not green.
Come the day there is a $3 bill, I’ll donate it to Bill Finch.
He’s a Counterfeit Bill!
I think Mayor Finch has the right to tout his clean energy and green initiatives. It shows he is cutting edge and in synch with the President of the United States and most forward-thinking people. Granted, the care for our environment and clean energy is a Democratic and scientific supported cause. Even the Pope supports it. Would be nice if these were the goals of all candidates moving forward. They are certainly lofty and commendable goals.
Thank you, Professor Pangloss!
I’m sorry, Mayor, I must have missed it, but just where were those hundreds of jobs created in Bridgeport and how many went to Bridgeport residents?
We all know how much money he has in the bank. How can we help it? The campaign has been blowing their financial horn for the residents to hear, over and over and over and over.
Meanwhile in Bridgeport … Yes, this is BRIDGEPORT. Foreclosure, unemployment, crimes of desperation, poverty. Lest you forget, the “have nots” outnumber the “haves.” News flash: the “have nots” votes count too. It’s actually grotesque to ask for more when you already have so much more than most.
I might have suggested he downplay this page, if I were an adviser to this campaign. You know? Think over the voters maybe?
The Haves and Have Nots is one of my favorite shows on the Oprah Network. The only time the $400,000 will be an issue is when everyone loses and states they were outspent 3 to 1 or he lost and all the money didn’t help. Wicca, this is a political campaign, it all comes down to money. This is not a charity event and it doesn’t come down to the haves and the have nots. Sometimes in a political campaign it is the $3 donations that mean the most … after you have amassed $400,000.
From what I read here, you are truly in a class by yourself, Mr. Auerbach. You keep folks smiling for sure. Don’t change.
Folks,
Goliath had the troops, the money, armor and a big sword. He was faced by a local youth, a smelly shepherd who lived in the wild with his sheep, defending them from predators.
Goliath was in the valley as David descended to him, or so the modern story goes, and his vision was poor enough for him to ignore the weapon that was whirling in David’s hands. The sling with its rounded pellet flew with great velocity at the close distance hitting the giant in a vulnerable spot and felling him.
The modern version has supported a new moral to the story, never carry a knife to a gunfight! Regardless Steve, money can only supply so much material such as it has already without answering the numerous questions the Finch administration has left hanging for seven years. For voters who are sore about taxes, will $40 per voter only buy 5,000 votes anyway after all of the glossy materials? Aren’t most folks going to be really outraged by how much City money has been used to “brag?” Can all that money make up for the secrecy and fiscal deception of Finch and his team? Time will tell.
Not at all, JML. That is why people are going to come out in droves for Ganim. For his honesty and integrity, not to mention the transparency you dream about. Your story about David and Goliath is out of place here. David was annointed by G-d, the christ so to speak, not a convicted felon. Granted David did grow up to be a bisexual and adulterer as well as a murderer and womanizer, but hey we will save that for another day. I do not think you are talking about Ganim. I do agree about one thing. $400,000 will not buy the position for an individual who is not worthy. I just do not agree with other bloggers here. Finch definitely has issues to deal with. But development is happening here and people are beginning to feel good about Bridgeport. If the Mayor does not blow his horn and tout projects, who other than myself will? Where is the pride? Most people on this blog have none.
Steve,
With you writing as The Voice of Finch perhaps you have not had time to keep up with recent books. Malcolm Gladwell of Tipping Point fame produced another work called David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants. This is where I raised the more modern interpretation of the biblical story.
The incumbent is the individual with the task of delivering OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT governance, right? When those are not deliverables for the seven years of his throne sitting, then “development is happening” is a weak counterstatement, especially when the development for the most part is of PUBLIC PROPERTY (schools, parks, recreation areas) using PUBLIC FUNDS and the development occurring on PRIVATE PROPERTY is done with multiple types of public financial assistance. That is a current reality, true, but there ought to be fiscal statements that show how much the PUBLIC has invested, how long the TAXPAYER has lost revenues from the property commandeered by the City, and what the return to the PUBLIC and when may occur. Take Steel Point Infrastructure Improvement District if you will. Lots of money invested. But no projects to report on even though taxes were paid on some of the property last cycle. But how much helps the City as a whole from the first property tax just paid, or that from five years from now, or 25 years from now? Fiscal reality or horn blowing? Taxpayers, take your pick.
Perhaps you will understand it is not necessarily pride that leads you to be a lone cheerleader. There are a number of very human people who have or will probably have their hats in the race this year. If multiple hats were to produce primary results with no majority winner, how much excitement? Is that a story? Time will tell.
JML, my choice in reading is James Patterson and I have 13 novels in the queue. Thank you for your recommended reading suggestions but I will pass.
Steve Auerbach, I’m sure you are going to give the max donation to help keep Bill Finch in office.
Ron Mackey, I have not given a dollar.
My word of mouth is worth so much more than the money I could possibly contribute on my poverty-level income.
Steve Auerbach, you are a fake supporter, your money is very important to a candidate. Even if you are a loyal hardworking follower, your donation is a must for your candidate unless you are personally driving 20 voters to the polls on election day but even then you don’t know who they really voted for but they know your support by giving that money.
Ron Makey, then I am a fake supporter. Welfare recipients and section 8 recipients make more than I do. So I am a fake supporter. If I were a candidate who had this fake supporter as you put it in my camp, I’d thank G-d. Now if a candidate does not want my fake support, word of mouth and talking to hundreds of constituents and putting their signs on my lawn, they can say, Steven Auerbach we do not want your fake support we’d rather have a check with your hand out and that’s how we will know you are not a fake supporter. Ron Mackey, sometimes your posts are just ridiculous. Even I know how valuable I am to a campaign without blowing smoke up my own ass. And never having asked for a favor!
Ron Makey, you have shamed me publicly. Now as per your assault I will contribute to the Finch campaign. I’d have to give the max to keep him in office? Really? I think my contribution should get him to $400,025 and most likely $500,000 by Memorial Day. There are a lot of developers who want to keep the ball rolling. I see a major Steelepointe announcement and fundraiser at St. Andrew’s golf club hosted by former Mayor Bloomberg … oh was that a secret? Oops.
Ron Mackey has never posted a ridiculous statement. In fact, Ron is more effective in promoting a candidate just by the mere fact he is credible, he’s been there and he’s very respected. So There!!!
Lisa Parziale, do you ever get tired of kissing Ron Mackey and Maria Pereira’s ass? How does one go from Mary-Jane Foster to Joe Ganim? I said it before, you represent the Bridgeport of yesterday and so does Joe Ganim. I just can’t wait for you to try to sell him to your constituents. When you do, they will see right through you. And remember the specifics of Ganim’s demise and look at you like you have two faces, I mean heads. This is where I get the hater lecture, you know, the same old crap!
If Lisa Parziale and Joe Ganim “represent the Bridgeport of yesterday,” let’s all hop a time machine to “yesterday.” I would rather live in their yesterday rather than Bill Finch’s today.
🙂 Are you sure?
Don’t waste any money giving it to Finch or to Ganim. Register Libertarian now. 43% have changed their registration to Independent. They vote Democrat and Republican. Let’s clear out the Republican Democrat crime family. Let’s show America Bridgeport has snapped out of the trance. We can prove a point and get rich in Bridgeport. Ask me any question and you’ll get a direct honest answer.
*** Who said three times is the charm? Must have been a Bpt Democrat who needed a no-show job who gives back 10 vacation days every year to the city, no? ***