From the Finch campaign:
Today, former Bridgeport Mayors John Fabrizi, Tom Bucci, and Leonard Paoletta announced their Democratic Primary support for incumbent Mayor Bill Finch’s re-election campaign.
The announcement from the former Bridgeport mayors comes as the groundswell of support for Mayor Finch’s re-election bid continues to grow. Recent endorsements include: U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, Congressman Jim Himes, State Attorney General George Jepsen, and the Bridgeport firefighters union.
Former Mayor Fabrizi–who transitioned from city council president to chief executive when sitting Mayor Joseph Ganim resigned days after being convicted on 16 federal corruption charges, and served as mayor until 2007–said that the city must continue the progress it’s experiencing under Mayor Finch.
“On the very first day of becoming mayor in April 2003, I immediately set out to beat back the pay-to-play politics that kept businesses from wanting to come to Bridgeport. In my nearly five years as mayor, we laid the foundation for a cleaner government and a better business environment.”
“Under Mayor Finch, these reforms have taken hold. He’s making smart, honest investments in the future. He’s creating jobs at Steelpointe Harbor and across the city. Bridgeport’s getting better every day. We need to keep the progress going. And, Mayor Finch is the right person to do just that.”
Former Mayor Bucci–who served as chief executive from 1985-1989–also noted that Bridgeport is moving forward and getting rid of the legacy of corruption left from the turn of the century.
“As a former mayor, I support Mayor Finch’s efforts to rebuild a better Bridgeport and his vision for an even better future,” said Bucci.
“In the 1990s, it was disheartening to watch a mayor tear down the principles of good government and selflessness that I so deeply believe in. We saw Bridgeport set back by more than a decade because of avarice. We cannot let that happen again. I urge my fellow Democrats to do what’s right and join me in supporting Mayor Finch and his vision for the future.”
Former Mayor Paoletta–a former state representative who served as mayor from 1981-1985–noted that progress on Steel Point, which is a waterfront development that originated under his administration, stalled due to political corruption in the ’90s, and is finally back on track under Mayor Finch’s leadership, is a key reason for his supporting the incumbent.
“I’m not a Democrat and don’t have a vote in this Primary. But I am a Bridgeport supporter. If I had a vote in this Primary, it would go to Bill Finch who has brought several projects to reality, including: job creation and vertical construction to Steel Point; access restoration and new life to Pleasure Beach; improvements and new apartments to downtown; and revitalization to several run down industrial properties across the city. With a positive track record on development, it is not the time to gamble with the untested and the tested who have failed.”
Earlier this summer, Mayor Finch was joined by former Bridgeport Mayors Fabrizi, Bucci, and Paoletta for an announcement of a Cinepolis–a luxury movie theater–coming to the Steelpointe Harbor development alongside Starbucks, Chipotle, T-Mobile, Bass Pro Shops, and other to be announced job creating businesses.
Mayor Finch said that he’s honored to have the support of three strong champions of Bridgeport and its moving toward a stronger future.
“I’m honored to have the support of Mayors Fabrizi, Bucci, and Paoletta,” said Mayor Finch. “We’re all in agreement that in this election, there is a clear choice: We can either continue down the path of strong leadership that is focused on the long run, making smart investments in the future, OR, we go back to the corruption and mismanagement that set us back and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.”
“Together, as hardworking Bridgeporters, we’ll continue making our city a place where our kids and grandkids will choose to live, work, and raise their families, too.”
For more information, please visit www.billfinchformayor.com.
These comments were obviously crafted by Finch’s ministry of public enlightenment with an attempt to address the former mayors’ individual interests.
I call attention to the comments attributed to former Mayor Bucci regarding the good government principles started in his administration. He is not suggesting the Finch administration has continued those good government initiatives. One example is the Ethics Commission. Mr. Bucci is citing a reason not to vote for Joe Ganim.
I won’t comment on Tom’s opinions because he is the best Mayor I served with and a dear friend. His comments come from what he truly believes, I must add, however, that I don’t agree with him. As for Fabrizi, did he make any attempt to tackle the issue of City employees serving on the council. Of course not, that would have meant he would have to spend more time doing his job rather than engaging with council members who didn’t agree with him. City employees had to do what he wanted, or they were gone. I mean their jobs. As for Paoletta, he left Dodge as soon as he was fired as Mayor. When he receives his tax bills, he doesn’t have to gasp as the taxpayers of Bridgeport do. So with the exception of Tom Bucci, Bill can take that endorsement and put it where the sun don’t shine.
That’s great, three former mayors endorse Finch, what a surprise. None of these three have done much for Bridgeport. Bucci lacked the courage to allow National Little League to build their regional office at Veterans Park, he is a member of the NBA club. Paoletta spent tons of city money trying to get rid of Joe Walsh and that failed.
Fabrizi, what can you say about this flip flopper? At the last convention Fabrizi did everything up to kissing Finch’s ass when he nominated him. Then oh wait a minute, Fabrizi is contemplating another mayoral run and starts to badmouth Finch. Wait a minute, Fabrizi decides he won’t run for mayor but will run for the BOE. Oh boy, back to kissing Finch’s ass. John, go away, please go away.
Three of my favorite Mayors. Thomas Bucci, my former attorney and put me on the Black Rock historic commission giving me my first taste of politics. Gave the city the Wright Financial Center and the Peoples Headquarters. Leonard Paoletta who had the vision for Harborpointe that he is seeing the fruit of his labor come to fruition. He also knew how to market the city. I still have some of those marketing pieces. John Fabrizi–great Mayor–having to restore the image of a disgusting corrupt city in the aftermath of the greatest scandal that had plagued our city. Fabrizi will be remembered in my book as getting the contracts together to get the developers in place for Steelpointe. They all must be proud to finally see bricks and mortar and cranes everywhere.
This is a great endorsement from three beloved Mayors. Mayors who still love this city and realize this is Bridgeport’s second chance at greatness. A second change for our city to become a destination and Jewel of Fairfield county.
There is a reason why developers from all over are supporting Mayor Finch. We all believe in second chances and we all believe this city is getting its second chance under Mayor Finch’s leadership. Not interested in the second chance of a convicted felon serving his own personal need who would not be qualified to get a job as a substitute teacher or Taco Bell, McDonalds, Bass Pro, Chipotle or Starbucks but to have the audacity to run for Mayor making $135,000 a year. I’ll bet the local convicted felons want you to get that job!
This was a great endorsement and the voters will agree.
Slurp.
Who cares? This election is about the future of Bridgeport, and none of those folks will have much at all to do with that.
I mean what were they supposed to do? Nobody cares because it means nothing.
Who cares that Fabizi endorses Finch? He was a failure. Guess it takes one loser to know the other.
Tom Bucci wants and needs Finch in office. It’s his Gravy Train with all the labor screw-up cases he has won!