Finch Versus Ganim, Battle Of The Political Narcissists

Former Mayor Joe Ganim, after more than a decade asserting he did nothing wrong, issued a disingenuous public apology recently because it was strategically expedient as he weighs a political comeback from his public corruption conviction that forced him from office 12 years ago. Mayor Bill Finch, after years of supporting second chances, now says disingenuously some felons should be barred from seeking public office including Ganim, again a strategic position, albeit dubious in light of his declaration that Bridgeport is a “boom town … getting better every day.” If it’s such a boom town getting better why not just say hey Joe, run … let’s get it on! I got nothing to fear.

The reality is both Ganim and Finch have more baggage than Kennedy, LaGaurdia and Newark airports combined, some known publicly and some not, that both do not want to come out. Finch and his advisers actually undercut their message that Bridgeport is a boom town getting better by declaring Ganim should be barred from seeking public office. Every time Finch implies Ganim should not have the right to run he invites voters to ask: why is Finch afraid of Ganim? Finch has bled votes in the city, particularly regarding education issues, through his oligarchical posturing on voter rights including his desire to pick school board members, not the people.

It was titillating to listen to the mayor the other day crow his greatest accomplishment as mayor is restoring the public’s trust in local government. What a bunch of hooey. There’s stuff in Finch’s personal life that if made public would end his political career. And so it goes in the sanctimonious world of city politics that now infects Bill Finch.

Finch served in the State Senate for seven years at the apex of public corruption screaming across the front pages of newspapers: Joe Ganim, John Rowland, Ernie Newton. Did he talk about barring felons from seeking public office? What has Finch spewed in his seven-plus years as mayor about public corruption? All of a sudden Ganim emerges as a threat and Finch and his political advisers posture a line in the sand on this issue. Be very careful what you wish for, kids. To Finch’s way of thinking Joe Ganim must be barred from running, but not murderers and sex offenders?

Finch would be on the side of the angels if he were a true reform mayor. He is not. For seven-plus years Finch has violated the City Charter that prohibits city employees from serving on the City Council. In fact, Tom McCarthy, the City Council president, serves at the pleasure of the mayor as deputy director of Labor Relations earning more than $100,000 a year, damn the checks and balances in government. When it comes to the legislative body and the executive branch, checks and balances do not exist in Bridgeport. In just about every likewise position in government it’s illegal for the head of the legislative branch to work at the pleasure of the chief executive. Finch rationalizes it’s okay because of dubious advice from his city attorney who has a history of crafting arguments on behalf of the mayor instead of the people. It’s impossible for taxpayers to get the best deal under this governmental arrangement. Finch and McCarthy, both talented pols with strong suits, kid themselves that the arrangement is just fine. Finch has the power to end his power grab with the head of the legislative branch. Sometimes power can be an intoxicating thing that clouds reason. And Finch is no different.

Finch declares we must bar public corruption offenders from seeking office because it sends the right message to investors. Fair enough. What message is sent to investors when the head of the legislative branch bows down as Finch’s loyal servant? It’s like Finch has received a blood transfusion from Eddie Haskell. Finch would have credibility on the Ganim issue if his rhetoric was in synch with government actions.

As for Ganim, he’s full of it too. Ganim had his hand out and paid a large price for it. He’s decided to apologize not out of some genuine remorse, but because he’s been told by numerous political operatives he has to do this if he wants their support and by extension some additional public support for a comeback. Ganim will never regain his law license, as a result his earning power has been diminished. Understandably, he has children to care for with lotsa tuition payments on the horizon. Who’s gonna pay Ganim a package worth $150K a year? So to Ganim’s way of thinking, why not take the shot and run for mayor.

The Ganim/Finch relationship is an interesting study. They’ve never been best of buds. In the 1990s when Finch was a heartbeat away from homelessness, behind on mortgage and tax payments and child support, he was rescued by Ganim financially at the urging of Finch’s friends (full disclosure: me among them). Campaign work, city job, transit authority job, business community economic development job, Finch landed on his feet financially because of friends prevailing upon Ganim to assist.

Finch is the favorite to win a third, four-year term this year. He has plenty of campaign dough, a public platform, with an accomplishment list to sell to voters. So it would be nice if Finch scuttled his preaching for some pragmatic campaign strategy: here’s my record, let’s get it on!

And barring that, is there an alternative candidate to Finch and Ganim willing to say they’re both full of it?