Keeley, Simmons Challenge Ballot Rejection By Dem Registrar

Disqualified from the August 11 primary ballot by Democratic Registrar of Voters Patricia Howard because they reside outside the State House districts where they seek public office, Bob Keeley and Wanda Simmons have retained a lawyer to make their case for ballot access, according to this commentary by Rev. D Stanley Lord, President of Greater Bridgeport Branch NAACP.

The NAACP and its Branches, Greater Bridgeport Branch NAACP, has a long history of fighting for voting and citizens’ rights to vote or be a candidate for public office. Hats are being thrown into the ring for the upcoming Democratic Primary contests. The governance of many City departments has been uninspired and uncommunicative while under the reign of DTC chair, so challenge in a Democratic primary, if successful, likely means change in officeholders.

Two such challenges are for the 127th & 128th District State Rep. positions where Wanda Simmons and Robert Keeley, currently City registered Democrat voters. have filed petitions to get on the ballot. It seems that they provided more than the necessary 257 signatures with a 20% surplus, in a manner acceptable to the Bridgeport Registrar of Voter office in a timely manner. But they have been turned down by Patricia Howard, Democrat Registrar of Voters based on her reading and interpretation of CT General Statute 9-406 where it calls for a candidate to appear on the enrollment list of the district where they will run.

Simmons & Keeley have countered with CT Statute Sec 9-453b with the interpretation that this rule allows a candidate to run in a primary from outside the State Rep District where they currently reside, but when office is won, must move into that District. They have retained counsel, Alexander T. Taubes and a motion challenging the current ruling goes to Bridgeport Registrar of Voters today.

The Greater Bridgeport Branch NAACP stands with them. The spirit of challenge is active in this community. To be ready upon reflection to represent all Bridgeport people, to observe that some in our current State delegation are not exercising their talents as is their responsibility for “all the people,” and to secure more positive attention to and results for the 25,000 youth in Bridgeport are motivation for Simmons and Keeley. Interesting to observe that a tag saying beneath Patricia Howard signature says, “Obedience Brings Success.” What Wanda Simmons is doing is to challenge the situation when Obedience by the Many Has Brought Multiple Failures.

We cannot continue to operate in the City of Bridgeport without stated policies or purpose in City Hall or the Bridgeport Registrar of Voter office. Let’s get this right; instead of encouraging citizens to participate more fully in the process, Bridgeport Registrar of Voter is doing the opposite. What will the Court say on Friday?

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11 comments

  1. Lennie, asked you, Grin Ripper says:
    June 12, 2020 at 4:33 pm, It could be that it only refers to general or special elections but is not applicable for a primary. Not sure. Lennie, I though that you said there are certain districts that a candidate didn’t have to reside at the time of the election but if they won that they had to move into that district, could you inform us what are the facts, thanks.

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      1. Grin, thanks but I think CGS 9-406 was amended because I’m not sure if it was Bob Keeley or some other Bridgeport State Rep who didn’t reside in their district.

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  2. The fact that residency law for election to an office in a state district was changed after long standing in previous form, not requiring residency merely to run but only to serve upon assuming office, would seem to indicate its deference to the CT and US Constitutions, and legality in THAT context — the Constitutional right of electors within the state to seek any given office, per the CT and US Constitutions… In the aforementioned context, it would seem that the right to SEEK elected office would supersede the statutory amendment to live a district merely to seek election to that district…

    I would wager that Keeley/Simmons is going to win their court case based on the Constitutionality issue…
    My $ is on Bob-Wanda in this situation…

    But this state election — in a Census/Reapportionment year, also reminds me of the theft of the 125th GA district from Bridgeport by New Canaan in the 2000 Census.Reapportinment year… WHY IS IT NOT A PRIORTY BY BRIDGEPORT TO FIGHT TO REGAIN THE 125TH GA DISTRICT AND ITS VITAL GA VOTE FOR BRIDGEPORT. WE HAVE REGAINED THE POPULATION TO ARGUE SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE RETURN OF THAT DISTDICT, WITH ITS VITAL GA VOTE/POWER$ FOR BRIDGEPORT. DON’T OUR GA LEGISLATORS AND CITY AND PARTY LEADERSHIP CARE ABOUT THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE?… SHOUDLN’T THIS BE A BRIDGEPORT POLITICAL PRIORITY FOR CITY HALL AND ALL GA CANDIDATES?. IT COULD HAVE A MAJOR EFFECT ON OUR LEGSILATIVE POWER IN HARTFORD (AND WOULD REALLIGN POLITICAL POWER WITHIN THE CITY AND REGION)…

    RETRIEVE BRIDGEPORT’S PURLOINED 125TH FROM THE THEIVING GOLD COAST (NEW CANAAN)!

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      1. What will the Court say on Friday?
        I also believe their civil rights have been violated!
        The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the US Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, equal protection of the laws, and freedom from discrimination.
        Of or relating to such rights or privileges.
        Of or relating to a political movement, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, devoted to securing equal opportunity and treatment for members of minority groups.

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        1. DITTO, it’s up to the voters to vote on who they want and to see if they agree with Lennie or not when he said, “Just like Keeley’s City Council court case. What’s the point of winning in court if you laze through the campaign effort? As for Simmons, if she’s placed on the ballot, Chris Rosario will crush her. “

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