City politics can be a contact sport, so why not a mayoral debate with sharp elbows to compete with Sunday afternoon football? The 1,400-seat Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Avenue, will host a forum this Sunday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. presented by the League of Women Voters of the Bridgeport Area.
With two weeks left to the general election, all seven candidates appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot have committed to participating, according to organizers. The Bridgeport NAACP, Council of Churches and Bridgeport Public Library are also coalition partners.
The ballot lineup is Democrat Joe Ganim, Republican Enrique Torres, New Movement Party Charlie Coviello, followed by petitioning candidates Tony Barr, Christopher Taylor, Mary-Jane Foster and David Daniels.
The Klein is a fascinating venue with a Broadway-sized stage celebrating its 75th anniversary. How many voters and campaign enthusiasts will trek to the Klein for this forum? Fire up the troops.
I won’t be attending this debate, it is a waste of time. I am interested in what Foster, Torres and Ganim have to say. The other candidates, Not so Much. The other candidates take up too much time and really have nothing to say.
Andy, that is not true. Charlie has been paid by Joe to attack Foster. Isn’t it worth listening to his pathetic attacks while giving Ganim a free ride?
Steve, stop making shit up.
Steve,
Stop making up these stories.
carolanne curry and city hall smoker,
I was kidding. Ganim would not have to pay Charlie and Coviello would never take a dollar from Ganim.
Has anyone seen these “Adam Wood for Mary-Jane Foster” signs popping up in Black Rock?
Thank you Mr. Fardy for listening to all three candidates. For me, that is the right thing to do. In my opinion, you will hear Torres lead the debate, with his two runner-ups following his talking points as they have done on both WICC and NEWS 12.
This won’t matter.
I plan to attend but would strongly prefer it be limited to the only three candidates with a real chance to win. There have been prior debates involving all seven candidates.
I agree. At this point in the campaign, it is Foster, Ganim and Torres who need to get their points across to voters.
The only three viable candidates are Ganim, Ganim and Ganim.
Claude,
Are you suggesting the law firm AND the real estate interests of the numerous Ganims are the real candidates when you vote for Joe?
Joe has only one “bubble” to darken by voters as the party candidate. But trailing behind him are an array of candidates who qualified for Line A. City Council candidates B&B are on that line for the General Election.
Having been placed on the Ganim line for the primary where Ganim scored 411 votes at both polling sites while Tyisha Toms and I ran ahead of him with about 570 votes. B&B from the relative safety of the Finch line where the Mayor scored 685 to the Ganim 411, will they seek to separate themselves from the “leader of that pack?” In the forum the word “independent” was used more than once by the B&B team. How can you be independent when you carried petitions for Ganim? And how independent can you be when your brother is a Ganim campaign manager? And just how much training have DTC-supported past Council members shared with you in terms of the duties and responsibilities you will face? And what if, per the courtesy of voters, Joe Ganim ends up in the Mayor’s office once again (and brother Danny Roach gets on the City payroll), how can you possibly say NO to Joe at that time? Time will tell.
It was a joke. Ganim will beat all challengers by at least a 2:1 margin.
Torres, Foster and Ganim.
*** I can’t wait for the Mayoral elections in the worst city in CT “to live in” (Bpt) to be over! Because even if “Jack the Ripper” were running as a Democrat for a political office, chances would be very good he would win! The city DTC is filled with the same old family & friends groups that have always been shuffling back and forth looking for a bigger piece of the pie in every election! A regular city resident who would like to get involved in the day to day city activities in their district does not stand a chance getting on any committee or board without knowing or being related to a present member. So is it surprising to anyone when our political reps. get in trouble, or go to jail, then pay their dues and come back to represent us again only to get in trouble again? Who’s to blame in the end you ask? You the voter who votes for them and those who don’t vote at all. ***
Mojo, BINGO!!! You got that right.
You said it, Mojo!
We have a clear option for clean, honest government. Torres. You all know this. Now spread the word and GOTV! Only Torres can break the nasty cycle. TORRES!
There is no substantial progressive vote in Bridgeport, period. Dems vote Dem, Indys vote Dem, Republicans vote Republican.
Mojo, as you know the main way to make positive change in the Democratic Town Committee is to change the membership and that starts now with putting together people who want to make changes to run a slate of like-minded people to run a slate of candidates to be on the DTC in March 2016. Change can happen but you have to be in it to win.
Excellent post, Ron. I agree wholeheartedly. And you are correct, planning needs to begin now, not sometime in January or February. It may well be the best opportunity to loosen the grip the “machine” has on Bridgeport’s political system.
Ron, this tide is turning. Yes, people have finally realized they need to get involved. People must run against any candidate they can find. However, you know my position on getting it all started. Torres. He is a fair and honest man who is much more socially aware than any of his opponents in the visible ranks. I say that with respect to the candidates who are getting less attention but have great commitment to Bridgeport. At a certain point there is commitment that goes beyond politics and personal gain, we each must sort out who is whom. Regards.
An eloquent case for change, Mojo.
Mojo and Mackey,
Well said on all counts. Hats off to M & M. They regale us with history frequently and ask us to weigh the lessons that are there as take-away. Will we learn? Time will tell.
Mojo, I feel your pain.
Get ready for some Sunday CHURCH and a Mayoral debate.
I will sit this one out. There is nothing new I need to hear. There is no excitement in the streets. Sunday is movie day. If there is nothing better to do I may attend. I expect I will have something better to do. Though I would like to see Torres go after Ganim. 🙂
How about our preferred candidate Mary-Jane Foster takes off the gloves and gives Joe a good what for?
That would be a nice change for sure! I’ll wait for the News 12 and the CT Post front page Monday. I will let someone who needs information take my seat. I am voting for Foster, line G.
Maybe Stafstrom can take off one of his white leather shoes and help MJF double-team Ganim.
That is a bad image.
She may just be able to do that. Let’s see who looks like the next Mayor. Watch for Torres, though. All have been taking talking points from him.
I just saw some brilliant yellow sweatshirts.
Latinos
Alcalde de Bridgeport
Por Torres
un Hombre Sincero
They certainly got a lot of attention.
The color couldn’t be any louder. But clearly worn with pride. Much nicer than the Democrats for Torres tee-shirts.
I may go to the debate if only to go to the Chimneys afterward. I have not been to the most exclusive mansion in Bridgeport since they had a redecoration. We will see. Sunday I see my mother. 🙂
Bring your mother to the Chimneys.
Jennifer will be flying down the chimney, her broom fits.
Ha, don’t tell her, I can picture that!
I just saw some brilliant sweatshirts too.
Blacks
for Mary-Jane Foster
Husband is not a klansman.
Challenger is.
They certainly got a lot of attention.
Lennie, I know Bill Pelletier has been talking about ads for Torres on OIB. Though I have yet to see one. He tells me they have received a massive number of hits, yet I don’t see any Torres promotions. That does not add up. I see the Foster banner every day on top. To me, that is obvious in more ways than a horizontal advertisement needing to run horizontally. Aside from asking Bill, which I will do. What’s up? No contacts from our campaign?
No contact from Rick’s campaign. I’ve inquired.
Thank you, will find out tomorrow.
They are up now, Park City too.
*** LET’S GO, METS! ***