Commentary by John Marshall Lee:
Democratic values and practices need support at all times but especially when their absence is recognized. One major right in a democracy is to use your voice and your vote on a regular, respectful, and informed basis. Our system of local, State, and Federal representation can be compromised when one party fails to show up, on a regular and timely basis, to contest an election. In the State’s largest City, where Democratic registration maintains at least about an 11 to 1 advantage over Republican registration, where does the public hear from the “loyal opposition”? Is such a meaningful dialog supported by the Democratic Town Committee declaring its adherence to democratic values?
I am currently registered as unaffiliated, not a Democrat, not a Republican, and join about 40% of Bridgeport voters as such. But I happened to meet the Mayoral candidate for 2023, at the recognition ceremony outside Police Department HQ on Congress Street, quietly and unexpectedly two weeks ago. I exchanged my Greater Bridgeport NAACP card for one that he used pre-campaign. It declared: “Your life matters. You are your own best judge. Family matters. Community matters. Your rights matter.” I realized we had much in common and asked to meet with him again, to listen, and to learn why he is offering his time, his energy, and his resources “to try something better” in Bridgeport’s highest leadership role.
David R. Herz is an attorney, who is the Republican candidate for Mayor in 2023. In an interview today I understand that he knows our current guiding document, the City Charter, and wishes its responsibilities were followed by the current administration. A governance value that is a priority for him is transparency, especially around finances and budgets. We are a long way from historic New England style fiscal decision making when a Mayor does not present himself to explain priorities around budgets or answer questions publicly regarding audited financial documents annually. Herz has many beliefs supporting open governance where he states, “Let people who can contribute, and want to contribute, and who stand for what we stand for, take part.” Conversations in community, respectful and repeated, provide lessons for all and likely purposeful activity. Welcome to this activity, which is called by many, healing the world. Herz is a new mind, with the energy of his age, and a willingness to meet the community where it is and work to develop more opportunity, economic and educational, specifically.
Do you understand that the City Charter calls for an annual State of the City report by the incumbent Mayor, drawn from all his departments, and presented to the City Council each September? When was the last time you observed this governance practice and duty followed? If communication by and with is not present to provide examples of official oversight and listening, where is democracy being practiced? Where is an opportunity for the larger public to hear from candidates who wish “to try something better” in a debate as held in the past? Time will tell.
Didn’t Mayor Ganim fulfill his charter duties by recently giving a State of the City address to the biz community at The Amp?
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LE:
From the Bridgeport Charter….this is the Charter stipulation that I suspect has been too often ignored! Look for your interpretation……addresses ‘annual report’, ‘all administrative officers and boards’, and ‘to the city council’. Where is the most recent such report archived, from the “experience” of our 20 year municipal leader, Ganim 2?
Section 2. – Annual report of mayor.
In September of each year, the Mayor shall present an annual report showing the situation of the government, finances and improvements of the city of this chapter, to the city council. The annual reports of all administrative city officers and boards, shall be made to the Mayor on or before the fifteenth day of August in each year.
Where is your so-called “biz community” mentioned in the Charter? If their residences are not in Bridgeport, why does a Mayor address them uniquely and specifically, as residence in Bridgeport seems fundamental to a standing here in the Charter? For the benefit of readers, and pursuers of oversight, I hope you respond to my answer to you. Is there a lack of “best quality practice” initiative in Bridgeport? Time will tell.
Okay, the Mayor is taking political liberties with the charter.
He might think the biz community is more important than the City Council.
And it didn’t happen in September.
In closing, I’m liberal enough to believe in charter interpretations that still embody the original intent.
John, David Herz sounds a bit kooky and unfocused to me from what he’s written on his web site ! http://davidherz.org/ Madeline Dennis Raleigh
Bepo
Thank you for doing a bit of research and making it available to a wider audience. I am pleased that you found what I reported above to be fair and accurate representations of the man to displease you.
Where are the Republican Party members? Why are they not promoting a just and righteous person, willing to represent them on a ballot? Herz is maintaining the “practical fiction” perhaps that we have a working two-party ‘democratic’ system, isn’t he?
Where is a message from the Republican Town Committee commenting on their status at this moment? Likewise where is a message talking about basic “good governance” values and “best practices” they support in their candidates nominated? Is there an inherent hypocrisy in a pursuti of power without declaring principles and values to which they expect to be accountable to the citizenry who vote and pay for the government actions? Time will tell.
Strike “to displease you” and replace with “and not displease you” Sorry for error. Human. and Time does tell.
The Bridgeport RTC has dwindled down to a handful of self serving individuals who keep the committee alive so they can take the few guaranteed paying jobs for themselves. The days have passed since the RTC can raise enough money to run a competitive campaign. A vote cast for a Republican candidate in a Bridgeport election is a wasted vote. If those registered Republicans choose to vote it would be better to cast a vote for a candidate that could actually win, otherwise just sit out until the next national election. Those registered as Republicans should boycott the polls this election to protest the self serving actions of the Bridgeport RTC. Most candidates are candidates in name only, they do not raise funds or run a meaningful campaign. It’s time to eradicate this cancerous group of selfish people from a position of power in the BRTC. And yes based on the content of the web site of this liberal Republican candidate for mayor,he does appear to be kooky.
Joe,
Thank you for reporting from the front lines of Republican party membership, such as it exists today in Bridgeport. But since you talk about fellow Bridgeporter voter residents who are disappointed in City representation, I agree with your encouraging them to “cast a vote for a candidate that could actually win.”
Rather than boycotting the election to protest the Bridgeport RTC, that will never leave a ripple in the water, they might wait for the DTC primary results and find a candidate whom they can support for fresh, new , able, open, and accountable governance. Four thousand, or half that amount may cover the separation between the incumbent and another candidate in November, 2023.
(continued from above)
Finally, two folks find it important to hold some of the views held by the Republican candidate for mayor this year as kooky. Are any so absurd that they do not bear discussion? A respectful conversation? With perhaps one or two conclusions in common? Are “kooky” posts by a “liberal Repib;ocan” a judgement that bears no further discussion? Are they a “discriminatory or divisive” statement meant to keep everyone else from investigating or exploring the values of this candidate?
Back in the day, community discussions were held in the largest hall in the community. In our part of the world the Congregational Church had the largest seating available for meetings. Were the principles and values some of the things that made American great at the time? Are they great today? Why not live up to them in order to explore “autocratic behavior and practices” whether on the political right or political left? Why not do the oversight, raise questions, responses, and new thoughts for today? Time will tell.-