Okay, here we go, one last time Feb. 27 (presumably) to decide the mayoralty in Connecticut’s most populous community. Five months of voting comes down to, hopefully, less than four weeks, the one that finally counts.
Mayor Joe Ganim, speaking to state media after John Gomes’ pledge to stay in the race, says he’s living in a fantasy world of losses.
The battle of attrition, a vote-fatigued electorate, campaign treasuries drained, some political operatives bowing out, money people pulling dust from their pockets.
About 70,000 registered voters are eligible to cast a vote: the likelihood 20-25 percent will show up, depending on the weather. The Democratic primary redo actually outperformed the first with Ganim’s campaign team churning out voters that stayed home for the first primary.
The mayor increased his vote total by about 800 while Gomes number went down by about 100. The mayor performed strong in Black and Hispanic precincts while Gomes held his own in White precincts particularly Black Rock, a majority of voters there anathema to Ganim no matter the alternative.
Gomes will need a wedge issue to change the course of this war. Gomes lives in the past, he shares no salient point, something different, for a wider audience to embrace about the future. His race really is about I’m not Joe Ganim.
This is the most schizophrenic mayoral election in history so the thought of another crazy thing popping up is not out of the question. Look for the Gomes campaign to try to manufacture an issue that plays into his vote controversy narrative to whip up the conspiracy theorists or hope that law enforcement news pops up from last September’s ballot stuffing conducted by both sides.
Meanwhile, Ganim is going about his business running on his record of tax stability and economic development while trotting out future measures such as a senior citizen tax cut, flood control and public safety initiatives. The Ganim campaign also developed a doer-versus-divider contrast that resonated with voters. The incumbent is also doing what he does best: retail politicking. The wind that was at Gomes’ back for the first general election in which he came up short is now with Ganim.
The Ganim campaign, however, can ill-afford complacency.
Gomes operation hopes that unaffiliated voters swing to him Feb. 27. That takes money in a campaign whose treasury is drained and some money backers have vacated ship eschewing donations for a fourth vote.
Ganim, too, must go back to the well, but he has power of incumbency on his side as well as a double-digit win to build momentum.
Gomes could be the recipient of a heavy independent expenditure by Ganim critics at Bridgeport Generation Now Votes, but if they go for it how deep will they get in?
Absentee ballot operatives on both sides have signed out applications from the Town Clerk’s Office spreading across neighborhoods in earnest to build an early vote. In the days to come the Town Clerk’s absentee ballot log will provide insight into workers staying and leaving Gomes.
Doesn’t mean Gomes departures will swing to Ganim, it could simply mean they are staying out of it for various reasons: money, personality clashes, campaign fatigue.
The round-four campaigning continues. Having fun yet?
You can win 100 primaries and still not be elected, until you win the general…. Mayor!
I’m glad to see you’re starting to come along Jimfox. “…until you win the general…. Mayor!”
You didn’t say, ‘if’. You referred to Ganim as “Mayor.” That’s your subconscious telling you the truth.
Lennie, what’s this with “presumably” and “hopefully” stuff? Don’t freaked get me going with a potential 5th. election. Here’s a scenario I fear could take place: Sabotage/Set-up. John Ricci and the people behind this power move. Could very well set-up a scenario where several of Gomes operative pose as Joe Ganim volunteers and commit Absentee Ballot fraud recorded with videos. This will not only cause a fifth round and finalize the take-over they’re so desperately are seeking. Judge Clark’s order to me comes as a Steeven King Novel in the making. Mark my words Lennie. You know me best of all political animals and you’re familiar with my instincts, if there’s anyone who can read political moves before they’re made, count on me to call it out.
I’m trying my best to throw a WRENCH in the Gomes Machine as soon as I can. I’m waiting for a call and I pray it comes today and I hear what I must hear. This is all about a BILLION dollar move and this City is filled with too many dumb motherfuckers who would fall for anything. The clock is ticking!
City charter tells me that Joe Ganim is not the Mayor at this time, if he’s lucky enough to win on Feb 27 general election, right now the President of the City Council should be holding that seat as acting Mayor.
If that’s the case Sonny why hasn’t Judge Clark ordered so?
Maybe he will now.
No, he won’t. 1. He hasn’t been asked. 2. If asked, every lawyer tells me the request would be tossed immediately. Sonny, why don’t you petition the court for an answer?
There only one thing that Joe Ganim is afraid of ………… the forensic audit after Feb.27
Lennie stop using those old Trump lawyers.
Sonny, yesterday my life with filled with rain…Sonny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain…
Lennie, do you have Robert Teixeira on moderation or he still hasn’t figured out where I cut the cables?
It’s not the “City Charter” telling that–it’s the voices in your head.
Voices in whose head? You are the first to propose an outline for a “conspiracy hypothesis” projecting a fifth election? Will it be a primary or a General Election in your fantasy?
It seems to my awareness of the facts and the Court Case ruling that by setting up a re-do of a bogus primary, with corrupt action, that triggers a General Election where all can vote. Isn’t it that simple? Isn’t that AMERICAN style DEMOCRACY even in Bridgeport?
Smell some fresh air. Think about the four out of five neighbors who do not exercise their citizen right, a basic civil right to vote, as long as you are eligible and registered. What will be their decision and maybe 30 minutes of their time on February 27 to uphold the Constitutional rights they have to use the voting opportunity to vote the status quo or for change? Cease the chatter about what’s the matter, and vote!! Time will tell.
Get your meds checked JML. The comment had nothing to do with you. After your doctor changes your meds maybe you can come back and read the thread all over again.
Is that Baby Joe on the left?
Lennie, remember when Gomes’ Campaign Manager went away to an Island? Here’s where she really went to:
https://youtu.be/HtwRvpuNxeY?si=nShxtyloWYvz-d7t
Black History Month is a reminder of the struggle for civil rights, equal opportunity, and participation in the democratic process of self-governance by all citizens regardless of color. Whatever the color of your skin, whatever the faith tradition with which you associate, whatever your native language spoken and understood, and no matter of your current age, economic situation and place of residence, when February 27 arrives the destiny of leadership change is within control by your one vote, when associated with others who actively come to the polls and use their vote as a voice to seek the common good.
We have in the past provided a second chance to Ganim2 after his conviction for municipal corruption. He did serve time, though he allegedly was not an addict, but followed a dishonest application, for a reduction in time served. The conflicts of Gomes seem far less serious in comparison, and when the Hearst Media used FOI to discover the employee records of John Gomes, apparently there is nothing there and we wonder why not? Is it because “employee evaluations”, useful to management as well as to guiding employees to better work productivity and opportunity, have not been widely used in most departments for years? Again, why not, when private and public employers use such process for the common purpose of better governance.
Eight years as Mayor again and the “housing” process is weak in the City. HUD dollars flow primarily through the Park City Communities formerly the Housing Authority of Bridgeport, with failing grades until recently earning a grade of 62 from HUD. Where is the public informed, and responded to questions from this body, with appointments by the Mayor, but little public record of agendas, meetings, discussions, and accountability to HUD in report form? And what is Baldwin Holdings and its financial purpose?
Housing, in general, has failed by permitting Fair Housing and Fair Rent commissions to die from failure to appoint new members to their organizations , while recording on City website the names of both organizations until recently. Affordable housing is prominent in the media. But from what quarter does the City leadership respond to neglect of people, the residents of housing who can create their own “neighborhood watch” process in “vertical high-rise” neighborhoods with the help of municipal support. But is there support from Ganim2 with his years in office? Residents of the Stratfield Apartments on Tuesday, after meeting for more than two years with City Council members Jorge Cruz and Tyler Mack, reviewing captains and co-captains for 8 floors of residents, studying and voting on bylaws, nominated and elected three candidates for President, Vice-President, and Secretary to listen, review, and use the combined voice power of more than 190 units to get attention, when necessary. Congratulations to those residents embracing a democratic process of their own to deal with fears of safety and security, and tenant rights rather than face eviction.
OIB has recorded multiple calls in recent years for Charter Review, but the current administration has been deaf or unaware of the sections of the Charter they ignore which would produce annual governance more OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT and HONEST than it currently is. Do we expect an announcement of such an initiative previous to the February 27 GENERAL ELECTION? Time will tell.
Please, stop with the bullshit. Judge Clark orders 4 elections with no regards to The First and Fourteenth Amendments and all you can think of is post such bullshit.
Shit, I need to schedule a simultaneous emergency therapy session with Dr. Kohut and Dr. McLaine. Hey guys, were are ya’ll?
I was born in Bridgeport. Educated and invested in my own future by owning and operating businesses in the city for many decades, until Ganim 1 from my childhood to adult I only saw a steadily declining city with the grand finale of former Mayor Mary Moran attempting to move the city into bankruptcy,claiming it was the only way to save the city. I recall a murder rate that was the highest ever seen, drug gangs took over neighborhoods, if you drove a car made by General Motors with a tilt steering wheel and parked in the vicinity of Bridgeport Hospital you more than likely walked home because the car thievs were there waiting to take it. I could go on. Then came Joe Ganim. I recall he came to my door with the late Jim McGinnis and we discussed these problems. He promised if elected that he would return the city to financial stability with out going bankrupt, he also promised to rescue the neighborhoods from the rule of the drug gangs, he with the hard work of many others made good on those promises. From that time on the quality of life in Bridgeport improved and continues to improve. Stay the course, vote for Joe Ganim. Move Forward!
Jim Mcginnis brings fond memories. McLaine, you were safer driving GM than a Ford–not even a Pinto was safe and if you’re luck wasn’t average, the Pinto would be found stripped.
People who have lived in Bridgeport for at least the last 40 years and dare say that Bridgeport is bad or worst, are simply plain bullshitters with their minds residing in Fantasy Island. The plane, the plane!
“…Gomes will need a wedge issue to change the course of this war. Gomes lives in the past, he shares no salient point, something different, for a wider audience to embrace about the future. His race really is about I’m not Joe Ganim….”
True enough, Lennie. If the Gomes Campaign can’t manage to utilize at least one of the many, powerful “wedge issues” that have been provided by decades of this protracted/resurrected administration — and more importantly, present a vision, with specifics, that can excite the larger electorate — then “games over”… But there is plenty of material to work with, so if the campaign can shake off the cobwebs covering the chaos — a tall order, but not impossible — they can deliver a winning blow to the competition…
As JML would say; “time will tell”… But the clock is ticking…
Take a deep breath and do some wake-up stretches, Mr. Gomes…
John Gomes is nothing more than a wedgie in the seat of Joe Ganim’s pants. It will be over soon and Gomes will need to find someone else to annoy.