The length of the holiday shopping list pales in comparison to the list of things to do for a mayoral run. That’s where potential candidates are guided by dear old MOM: money, organization, message. Each category has its own checklist and 2011 Democratic mayoral candidate Mary-Jane Foster is examining her list to determine if a 2015 challenge of Mayor Bill Finch makes sense. She expects to make a thumbs-up or down decision next month.
Several potential Democratic candidates are sniffing around for support including former mayoral candidates Bob Keeley, Charlie Coviello and John Gomes, as well as retired police officer David Daniels and school board member Howard Gardner. Can any of them bring MOM to the table? Not likely.
The money piece is daunting, building organized opposition difficult and having a clearly defined message required to take out a well-financed incumbent.
In 2011 Foster spent about $200,000 to crack 40 percent of the vote against Finch in a primary. She was outspent by about two to one. Finch already has raised $300,000 for his 2015 reelection.
As Foster, a vice president at the University of Bridgeport, considers her options, former Mayor Joe Ganim has been moving around, showing his face, appearing at a number of functions. Several political operatives say they think he’ll get into the race. A Finch/Foster/Ganim primary could create a fascinating dynamic. Ganim’s strength, according to polling, appears to be with the African American community that saw progress during his years as mayor from November 1991 to April 2003 when he was forced from office following his conviction on federal corruption charges.
Foster’s strength comes in the 22nd Senatorial District such as Black Rock and Brooklawn neighborhoods. If she does not run, where would those votes go?
If Ganim runs, will the campaign become a referendum on his past or a referendum on Finch’s mayoralty?
Will Ganim show some actual contrition, which has escaped him thus far with voters and also cost him his legal license? Ganim’s pal, Buddy Cianci, twice convicted on felony charges, came up short in his comeback bid for mayor of Providence in a competitive race last month.
Also, if Ganim’s really serious about running, when will he move back into Bridgeport from Easton?
Wow, I had no idea Mary-Jane Foster was thinking about running. Political operatives think Joe Ganim can get elected. Really? Seems like Fabrizi got out a tad early. I think Mary-Jane is a great choice for Mayor. I am going to enjoy this race as a spectator.
Finch was really counting on you, Steve. Oh well, another Finchette bites the dust.
Run Mary-Jane, run.
Sorry Fox, you’d have to have an impressive platform to dethrone the Mayor while Steelepointe is taking shape, new schools being built and downtown showing signs of life. Then of course who are your supporters? I do not know anyone talking about Joe Ganim. Mary-Jane Foster has support as well as Fabrizi. I’d still bet on Bill Finch, then again if I were running against Finch I’d acknowledge his positive contributions of which there are many. I’d stop talking about his personality and question what happens to a man when he has been in office too long. Memories of Joe Ganim. Hiring many at $90,000 a year. Will the taxpayer benefit? Of course a list will be compiled of the hires of the past two years alone and what accomplishments they have made to the City and administration. Personally, I believe the Mayor should be surrounded by people who help implement his goals. I think Bill Finch is a progressive-thinking Mayor. I think anyone running against him better have more than Board of Ed. issues to regurgitate. I am glad Harding is moving forward. Add that to Bill Finch’s accomplishments. I would say if I were the Mayor I’d push for housing and hotel to be in the works for Steelepointe before the election. Retail and restaurants just do not transform neighborhoods. The North End has a new Sports Authority, a Mexican restaurant and a redesigned Dunkin Donuts. I am hopeful. I wish all potential candidates good luck. Personally, I am more excited about the Presidential election. I wonder if Adam WOOD would be running Clinton’s campaign?
Steve, you really should rethink voting for Hillary Clinton after her latest speech. She really stated we should empathize with our enemies, which means the USA should feel sorry for ISIS and other terrorists and let’s not forget her decisions that caused the death of the ambassador to Libya and four other Americans died with him. Yeah, Hillary Clinton Baloney.
ANDY, BEN CARSON EQUATES GAYS TO BEASTIALITY AND THE UNITED STATES TO NAZI GERMANY. I do not need to rethink Hilary just yet. Give me a Republican worth listening to.
He is an asshole and is not running for president.
Steve, I also would like to thank Mayor Finch for my high taxes, and those future coffee houses. Other than that, he’s a good caretaker.
Jim Fox, you actually believe no other Mayor would raise your taxes? You believe Finch doesn’t know the gravity of the situation? Now we also have a reevaluation coming up and I think you just gave every potential candidate their platform. Nobody will be voting on the BOE issue. It will be taxes and I just can’t wait to hear how your man Ganim is going to not raise taxes while sustaining all of the city’s social services for the community he imagines he has support. Anybody else running who wants to talk taxes? Economic development is the only ticket.
Well hot diggity!
Steve, I too would like to thank the mayor for having the fewest blacks in leadership positions in his administration in 25 years. I would like to thank him for the fewest blacks and women hired for the police and fire department in 40 years.
While I’m thanking him, let me thank him for the grocery store he didn’t put in the East End while putting a Bass Pro Shops right across the bridge so the residents of the East End can buy fishing gear and hunting equipment, but no fresh vegetables or fruit for their children. Wow, there are many more things the black community should be thankful for because of the generosity of Mayor Finch, I am overcome with joy.
Donald Day, I too want to thank the Mayor for having the fewest blacks in leadership roles. Nothing says you are a competent Mayor like hiring more blacks. Mr. Day honestly, let’s get more Brazilians and Vietnamese in leadership roles. As a white Jew I could care less about more white Jews in leadership roles. If that is your criterion for voting for Mayor, it makes me sad.
Steven, just when I think you couldn’t possibly write something more stupid, you write this drivel. The fact is according to 2010 census figures 34.56% or 49,842 of the population of Bridgeport lists itself as black or African American alone. These almost 50,000 residents are taxpayers and as such have an inherent right to have positions of authority in the Bridgeport city government ahead of white males from the suburbs, which Mayor Finch seems to favor. Are you possibly intimating there are no blacks residing in this city who aren’t intelligent enough to hold a leadership position in city government? REALLY?
I remember you saying you are a teacher in the Bridgeport school system. If that’s the case then one can understand why our children are getting a sub-standard education and if we can’t weed our educational garden then it will kill the beautiful plants, our children, to death. I’ve got one word for you Steve, COUNSELING.
Mr. Day, I have never intimated there were no qualified black individuals capable of holding leadership roles in the City of Bridgeport, you did. But while we are on the subject, who are they? Where are they? I have been asking this question regarding the black community for 40 years. Oh yeah that’s right, you have been too busy supporting Joe Ganim and Ernest Newton. That’s who you have supported for black leadership. You want intelligent, educated blacks who have good jobs, but they are not interested in City politics. I know, these are my black friends and neighbors.
Steven Auerbach, where is the white leadership? Blacks and Hispanics are 2/3rds of Bridgeport but Mayor Finch has the WORST record in hiring blacks and Hispanics in the police and fire department but if you’re white and live out of town then Bill Finch is your guy. If Bridgeport had a large percentage of Brazilians and Vietnamese like there are blacks and Hispanics then yes they should be in leadership positions.
Donald Day, I am a sub in the Bridgeport school system and I can assure you their kids in 32 different schools are very fortunate to have an individual as myself, not part of the union, making $90 a day. Not a career union teacher making $65,000 a year. Donald Day, you really should not be so black-centric in all your postings. It is embarrassing and a real turn-off.
Donald Day, I believe there will be a grocery store by Steelepointe within 24 months. Wanna make a bet?
Tell how much you wanna bet Stevie boy, and I will take that action.
Bob, are you sure?
Absolutely. Without a doubt.
Bob, I repeatedly offered you a significant wager on the BBOE elections to be held this upcoming Monday and you would not respond to my challenge, however you want to place a wager on whether there will be a grocery store by STEALpointe within 24 months?
The fact you refused to accept my wager for $1,000 tells me you don’t have any faith in your own assertions and position about Dishonest Dave Hennessey and Mayor Finch’s puppet Joe Larcheveque.
Maria,
As always, you are rewriting history in your own mind.
First, you never mentioned $1,000. Now I guess two days before the election you are brave enough to come up with $1,000.
Second, you original bet was just Dave Hennessey. Now you are changing it to Dave or Joe.
But finally, if you go back I responded to you the same way I did to Steve. And now two days before the election you are changing the bet and finally responding.
Sorry. You snooze, you lose.
Bob, clearly my mind is sharp as a tack when compared to yours. I was unaware Trolls could become plagued with senility. Read it and weep.
onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/kadisha-coates-charter-school-mom-new-school-board-member/#more-65879
So far , everyone who is coming (supposed) to Steal point has established banking in the area their corporate headquarters are located. So if we are subsidizing ANYTHING (taxes, etc.), what do we as taxpayers get. The rent? That’s probably going to the landlord, is that us or the “preferred developer?” If the money that gets spent there doesn’t recirculate within Connecticut, what is the benefit to us?
I also would like to thank Joe Ganim for holding the line on taxes to zero for 10 years, and John Fabizi for all the new schools, while Finch has raised taxes on average above 29% for the past seven years.
Jim, isn’t it amazing Mary Moran declared bankruptcy and the thief who went to jail didn’t raise taxes or any economic development in 10 years. There is the problem. What an idiot you are, Mr.Fox. You make it so easy to sing Finch’s praises.
I just remember how you sang those Musto praises!
So get those vocal cords warmed up Stevie, FINCH NEEDS YOU!
Jimfox, never mind my vocal chords for Musto. I also supported Hillary over Obama and Moran over Ganim and Foster over FINCH once. I do not always pick a winner but I always look at the big picture. Musto lost now Marilyn Moore will have to prove herself. I however am not an elected official and I have never made promises I cannot keep. I have no reason to reject nor support Mayor Finch. As a voter and a taxpayer, sometimes late at the 11th hour, I always hope our Mayor succeeds and only an idiot would think and feel otherwise.
I know for a fact Joe Ganim or even John Fabrizi would have stopped into Mimi Dragone’s, a business with 49 years of service in Bridgeport that banked locally and hired locally, to inquire as to why they were closing and how the city could (if possible) help. Yet, according to the owner, not one person from the City has inquired at all. There was a good amount of fanfare for “Starbucks” which has yet to prove what benefit, if any, it will be to Bridgeport at exactly the same time a proven Bridgeport business was going under. SMH …
Hector, Mr. Dragone’s reason for leaving was all over the news and pretty specific. It had to do with personnel and thievery.
Hector–I agree it is unfortunate Dragone’s went out of business, but exactly what was the City supposed to do to remedy the fact Mr. Dragone’s business was being robbed by their own employees?
Godiva, first of all my comment was referring to what a Mayor should or would do, which in my opinion would be to visit the owner and ask, if the issue was being “robbed by employees” then they should have assisted in arresting and charging the individuals/individual.
Hector–the onus of reporting the alleged thefts by employee(s) was that of Mr. Dragone. How can an arrest be made if the police were not notified of it by the victim? There was no way the Mayor could remedy the situation. Tell me this if you know–was anyone charged with stealing from the business? I don’t recall having seen any arrest made in the paper in connection with the closing of the business.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge a sad reality. This posting regarding Mary-Jane Foster contemplating a run to be announced in January should have had at least 80 posts. I said she would make a fine choice for Mayor and Ron Mackey stated, run Mary-Jane run. Other than that it doesn’t seem to excite the blogosphere. That may determine her decision.
Stevie, once again you are missing Hector’s point. Think local; build local. Back when I was on the council I tried to drive interest in building up the area around Mimi’s. You had an antique car showroom and an interior repair shop. Add some antique shops, repair shops and make it into a themed attraction.
Instead the city takes it for granted and does nothing to help build it up. It could have been unique and an attraction with a little help from the city. But all the mayor and council president gush about is a Starbucks. No creativity. No vision. No progress.
Bob, I commend you for building up the area. I always admired Mimi Dragone’s antique showroom. I must agree. It really could have been a tourist attraction. I think the City had been spending their efforts on revitalizing the heart of downtown, Steelepointe, Pleasure Beach, Harding High School, Seaview Ave, Remington Woods, and a few more things I am sure. I did not miss Hector’s point. The largest city in the state has huge issues. An employee stealing from Dragone is sad. That is not a city or Finch issue. It is just a sad reality. I wish them well.
Well Steve, if that was what the city was doing they failed miserably; wouldn’t you say?
Downtown, Steal Point, Remington Woods, Seaview Ave, Harding High and Pleasure Beach. So let’s see. I guess you would consider Pleasure Beach a huge success. I don’t and nothing has happened with the others.
Incompetency and special interest is why. At least you can be sure that wouldn’t be the case with MJF.
Well Bob, that is a perfect opportunity for NOT addressing all those issues, isn’t it? You are just so negative Bob, it is difficult to take you seriously. Your blatant disrespect for the Mayor is obvious. I think Finch has made great strides in the City and I am so excited to hear what anyone would have, could have done differently. Nobody is going to change captains if they believe we are moving forward as a CITY. I believe we are. I did not support MJF last time because I disliked Finch or believed him to be incompetent or corrupt. The wheels of government move way to slow for me. I honestly believed MJF could have jump-started many projects. Today, I do not think anyone could improve upon Finch’s efforts. I would however, love to hear the next BULLSHIT artist who is willing to share their vision.
Bob and Steve–you are not thinking of the same business. That location was not the site of an antique car showroom. Dragone’s on Main St. is the antique car showroom and it is not owned by Mimi Dragone but it is a relative of his. The showroom houses some amazing cars.
Everything will be okay with our city, Tom McCarthy … “The world is taking notice of Bridgeport now, Starbucks is coming.”
Harvey, personally I’d take McDonald’s 99 cent any size coffee.
Harvey, this had to be one of the most idiotic public comments made by Tom McCarthy I have ever heard. He looked like an absolute buffoon.
Joe Ganim moving back to Bridgeport? 🙂 Really? Add that to the list of why he is so full of himself. That should go over real big with his strongest supporters living in poverty while he is still living the life in Easton. Honestly! I would give Fabrizi a second chance if I thought Finch sucked after all, so supported Fabrizi before he made the choice not to run against Finch. That year I had Finch signs on my lawn. Mary-Jane Foster is a sharp woman and a class act. Still, I cannot see changing captains. The BOE issues as well as the Hennessy Bill, although commendable are of no interest to me and most voters. I want Bridgeport to become a magnet for economic development. I want all employees working in that department marketing this city 24/7. I believe Finch agrees with me. I want the arts and entertainment to come to our city that is culturally challenged. I believe those are the goals of the Finch administration.
Bob W and Steve A, when you reference the Dragone Showroom, I think you are referring to Mimi’s cousin George on Main Street while the business closure concerns Mimi’s on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock. Am I right? The businesses are not related although the two men are cousins with the same last name. And George Dragone’s Showrooms in Bull’s Head are awesome. We brought 30 people into it on November 15th for the Bike the Art Trail Event I organized and George was gracious and awesome! A best-kept Bridgeport Secret, moment.
Bob Halstead, you are correct in everything you said. Now my question to you, is the Main St. Business continuing?
Yes, it is flourishing!
To change the subject since everyone is drooling waiting for the MJF decision.
I am just watching Candy Crowley, who is leaving CNN, interview George W. Bush. I have to admit not only was it one of his best interviews but now I am actually interested in reading his number-one New York Times bestseller 41 a Portrait of My Father.
Steve, you stated I should not be so black-centric in my postings as it is embarrassing and a real turn-off. Steve, I’m going to let James Baldwin, American novelist, playwright and poet explain my need to be as you say, so black-centric.
“WHAT MADE HIM UNFAMILIAR AND DANGEROUS WAS NOT HIS HATRED FOR WHITE PEOPLE BUT HIS LOVE FOR BLACK PEOPLE, HIS APPREHENSION OF THE HORROR OF THE BLACK CONDITION, AND HIS DETERMINATION SO TO WORK ON THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS THAT THEY WOULD BE ENABLED TO SEE THEIR CONDITION AND CHANGE IT THEMSELVES.”
Well Don, it does not appear the black leaders of today have done much as it relates to the quote above. The same can be said for the Democratic party that has kept the poor, POOR.
Andy, honest to G-d I was thinking exactly the same thing. Donald Day, help me understand what you are trying to say. Seriously.
Again, Mary-Jane Foster may run for Mayor, discuss!!!
Andy, the above-mentioned quote was strictly directed to Steve about me and only me. It isn’t an indictment of black politicians on how they should think, feel or believe.
Steve, talk to your many black friends and ask them what James Baldwin meant by the quote. I thought it was self-explanatory.
Donald Day, it wasn’t. I asked you, I do not need to ask my black friends and bring them into this conversation and assume they read the works of James Baldwin.
Donald Day, I am not patronizing you. I am trying to understand you and the quote you shared. If it was important to you, then it is important to me. I am not offended that you speak out about the injustices to the black community. I get that. I guess it is the alienation you make me feel as I am one of the choir you are preaching to.
I guess there are not going to be any commentaries on Mary-Jane Foster. Surprising? Just a little.