The Bridgeport City Council Monday night will once again try to elect a president after a candidate could not muster the charter-required 11 votes to select a leader.
North End councilor Jeanette Herron received 10 votes to incumbent Aidee Nieves’ 8 votes.
Rather than going for another round of voting, to break the logjam, Mayor Joe Ganim who chairs council meetings called for an adjournment which received blowback from some Herron supporters.
After the vote Herron’s 133 District partner Aikeem Boyd announced his candidacy for legislative leadership declaring he’d be an acceptable compromise candidate.
Going into the weekend, at least, machinations are underway. Boyd supported Nieves during the last vote. If Nieves feels the vote playout will not favor her will her supporters back Boyd?
If that’s the case he starts with 8 votes. Two council members, Maria Pereira and Galen Murray, voted for neither candidate last time. Even if they go with Boyd he’s at 10 votes so still a stalemate. He’d have to flip one more vote from Herron who would have to do the same on the precipice of winning. Could Herron persuade Pereira to support her this time?
As council president, she can provide Pereira the most coveted committee assignments.
Another potential factor is leadership of the civic group Bridgeport Generation Now, Gemeem Davis and Callie Heilmann. They have relationships with council members including Boyd whose reelection they supported as well as newcomer Nicole Nelson of the Black Rock/West End 130th District.
Nelson backed Herron last time but with a new candidate in Boyd is she amenable to backing him?
Another key vote to watch is newcomer Keyla Medina who backed Herron last time. Does Boyd’s entry change the configuration of the vote?
You can watch all the action on the city’s You Tube page here
See council agenda here
Saturday, December 13, 9:00 AM at URSA is a CASUAL CIVICS CONVERSATION.
That would be an ideal place to share your thoughts about the City Council leadership.
Action on Monday evening. But thoughts, identification of priorities, questions and/or gripes also have their place and will be listened to with respect. Welcome to all. The coffee is fresh roasted. Time will tell.