Ganim Endorsed For Another Four-Year Term

Serenaded by chants of “four more years” by supporters and “Joe must go” by opponents, Mayor Joe Ganim Tuesday night won by acclamation the Democratic endorsement for another four-year term.

Ganim’s three announced challengers, Lamond Daniels, John Gomes and Marilyn Moore, all attended the convention at the Circolo Sportivo Italian American Club on Park Avenue in the North End, but chose not to enter their names into nomination.

Political insiders, on all sides, say Ganim had a lock on roughly 80 of the 90-strong Democratic Town Committee.

Still, what’s the point of showing up as opponents to miss out on a platform to make your case as mayor? Daniels, Gomes and Moore supporters combined carried their respective flags, making noise to drown out Ganim’s acceptance speech.

Okay, so?

Moore even told the Connecticut Post she would pursue party support at the convention.

City Council President Aidee Nieves, popular in her East Side District, placed Ganim’s name into nomination, citing balanced budgets without tax increases, housing starts Downtown, new business, a growing population base in the city.

“Under the mayor’s leadership, the City of Bridgeport has seen growth and progress,” said Nieves. “We have seen balanced budgets year after year, a substantial increase in affordable housing, a much more vibrant downtown, and strong city management. That is why Joe Ganim deserves to lead the City for another four years.”

“I am honored to receive this endorsement,” said Ganim in a prepared statement. “Tonight was a vote of confidence by the members of the Town Committee representing every neighborhood in our city regarding the job that we are doing to create a better Bridgeport. Over the coming weeks, we will be bringing our message of progress directly to the voters, and talking about how we collectively make our city a better place for all. By promoting a message of greater fiscal stability, economic development, and better quality of life, we are confident that we will earn another four years from the Democratic electorate in September.”

Ganim’s nomination was seconded by city minister and former State Rep. Charlie Stallworth who also received the endorsement as the candidate for town clerk running on Ganim’s slate.

The endorsed ticket, with automatic ballot qualification, is Ganim for mayor, Stallworth for town clerk and incumbent Lydia Martinez for city clerk.

Now comes the most challenging part for opponents, hitting the heated streets on Wednesday for a compressed two-week window to qualify for a September 12 Democratic primary.

They need about 2,000 validated signatures of Democratic voters.

List of endorsed candidates:

Joseph Ganim, Mayor

Lydia Martinez, City Clerk

Charles Stallworth, Town Clerk

Leslie Caraballo, Board of Education

Tiheba Williams-Bain, Board of Education

Andre Woodson, Board of Education

Ricardo Guzman, City Sheriff

Steve Nelson, City Sheriff

Richard Paoletto, City Sheriff

Matthew McCarthy, City Council – 130th District

Scott Burns, City Council – 130th District

Denese Taylor-Moye, City Council – 131st District

Glenn Pettway, City Council – 131st District

Rolanda Smith, City Council – 132nd District

Dasha Spell, City Council – 132nd District

Jeanette Herron, City Council – 133rd District

Aikeem Boyd, City Council – 133rd District

Michelle Lyons, City Council – 134th District

AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia City Council – 134th District

Mary McBride-Lee, City Council – 135th District

Richard Ortiz, City Council – 135th District

Alfredo Castillo, City Council – 136th District

Fred Hodges, City Council – 136th District

Aidee Nieves, City Council – 137th District

Maria Valle, City Council – 137th District

Samia Suliman, City Council – 138th District

Kevin Monks, City Council – 138th District

Ernest Newton, City Council – 139th District

Eneida Martinez, City Council – 139th District