State Senator Herron Gaston, an ally of Mayor Joe Ganim, is leaving city service as assistant chief administrative officer to accept a senior position at the University of Bridgeport.
News release from Mayor’s Office:
Rev. Dr. Herron Keyon Gaston has announced he will be taking the position of Vice President for External Affairs and Chief of Staff at the University of Bridgeport and will resign as Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Bridgeport, effective Friday, August 18, 2023. Gaston was hired under the Ganim Administration in November 2019 and has been serving as a Senator for the State of Connecticut since January 2023. His position at the University of Bridgeport will initially be a phased in process in order for him to continue in a transitional role here at the Chief Administrative Office.
Gaston’s accomplishments as an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Bridgeport are far and wide. Some of those accomplishments include Gaston’s ability to oversee, participate, and lead the accreditation process on behalf of the Bridgeport Health Department in securing its very first accreditation; making Bridgeport amongst the first in the state to achieve this high standard in health. He was the lead liaison for the City while working in partnership with federal, state, and local community partners to address homelessness, facilitated permanent housing solutions, and decompressed homeless shelters to place the most vulnerable members into temporary housing. Gaston has also advocated for and solidified the Department of Justice Second Chance Grant that was awarded to the City in October 2020 in the amount of $680k to assist formally incarcerated individuals across the City to improve their quality of life.
Mayor Ganim stated, “I want to thank Rev. Dr. Herron Keyon Gaston for his unwavering dedication to the City of Bridgeport during his time as Assistant Chief Administrative Officer. He’s been a pivotal asset to our City and his advocacy has been an integral part of our City’s push forward. We will miss the leadership he encompassed and wish him well on his new endeavors. We’re more than confident that Herron will surpass expectations in his new role.”
The City of Bridgeport is currently hiring for the positions of Director of Public Health and Deputy Director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development. There will be an opening for the role of Assistant Chief Administrative Officer in the upcoming weeks. To inquire about these positions, visit bridgeportct.gov/careers.
The nautical expression that “Rats leave a sinking ship” is an observed truth. Not only will they attempt to save themselves but they will also assist in saving others. In fact studies show that they will be more apt to help their fellow rats if they had experienced a previous dunking themselves. Although detested by human’s rats are in fact very compassionate social animals that crave company. Research has proven that they will help another rat in distress before searching for food even though they may be hungry. Although not proven it has been observed that they have an innate knowledge of impending disaster and if they are seen abandoning ship, it just might be wise to follow. This is born out in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Act I, Scene II where he wrote: “In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, bore us some leagues to the sea; where they prepared a rotten carcass of a boat, not rigged, nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats instinctively had to quit it.” Of course this nautical concept is fortunately not frequently witnessed, however in a metaphorical sense it is now being witnessed politically. The New York Times’s Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns have written articles concerning the tumult behind the scenes in the world of Donald Trump. “In private, Mr. Trump’s mood is often sullen and erratic, his associates say. He veers from barking at members of his staff to grumbling about how he was better off following his own instincts…” Many others claim that he is not up to the task and could actually be a danger to our country if not the World. On Twitter, Bill Kristol a conservative and the Editor at large of the Weekly Standard says that the New York Times story suggest suggests prominent members of Trump’s team are already beginning their recriminations in anticipation of a Republican defeat in November. Although I usually save my political remarks for my personal Facebook page, the obvious cannot be ignored and it has been universally apparent that our “Ship of State” has been heading into uncharted waters, rife with dangers herebefore unknown!
”
”
Hank Bracker
“
yes, I think that the Board and the Senate are one and the same: rats crawling on top of each other trying to gain some advantage regardless of the fact the ship is sinking out from under them.
”
”
Joshua Dalzelle (Counterstrike (Black Fleet Trilogy, #3))
“Gaston’s accomplishments as an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Bridgeport are far and wide.” That statement is from a communications officer employed by the City announcing Senator Gaston’s transition from City employment to the University of Bridgeport. Then several of his recent work topics are presented with an opinion expressed. Why did voters and taxpayers have to wait to find out just what political appointees are up to and the outcomes of their work?
Oversight of municipal management and allocation of resources suffer from lack of presentation of administrative priorities as a matter of fact. Where is the Mayor presenting to the voters of the community a thorough list of priorities for a year ahead at budget time, or the past year upon completion of the annual audit, or as the Charter directs annually to the City Council?? We can see the priorities, agree or disagree, but at least know. Possibly we can ask questions, and perhaps receive answers from Ganim2?? He has the benefit of being in the public eye for more than a photo op. And questions about the motion picture of municipal activities shows slow motion, photo ops, and social messages rather than a City plan, that cares for all the people today, and provides the necessary opportunities to youths in the City for education and skill development to keep them safe and on a productive pathway. Where does caring and sharing reveal itself in the Bridgeport governance pattern today? Time will tell.