As expected, by a 64-24 vote Thursday night, Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa received another two-year term during the organizational meeting of the Democratic Town Committee at the Morton Government center, pacing East End District Leader Dr. Ralph Ford, a fixture in city politics for decades.
See video of DTC meeting here
Ford received a majority of his support from his town committee and insurgents from Black Rock and West End who won all nine seats in the 130th District primary last week, arguing change from the status quo. Ford, however, is very much part of the Democratic establishment.
The lone member of the East End contingent to vote for Testa was his long-time ally City Clerk Lydia Martinez.
As they say in politics there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. The respective town committee members from the East End and Black Rock have gone at it pretty good over the years, but Thursday night they had a common cause to oppose Testa for Ford, a psychologist by profession and member of the Civil Service Commission.
The Testa and Ford relationship has been largely cordial over the years. Ford, addressing the DTC, cited poor Democratic turnout and election scandals as reasons for change.
East End City Councilman and a DTC member Ernie Newton and Testa have had a chilly relationship in recent years. Newton worked the phones trying to line up support for Ford.
Outside the 130th and 139th District, Testa largely dominated the vote for chairman.
The 136th District Leader Wanda Geter-Pataky, facing numerous counts of alleged election fraud by the state, stepped down as the party vice chair.
A wrinkle is the party officer-election came during the vote for treasurer. Marie Heller, a Testa loyalist for 30 years, was challenged by Callie Heilmann from the Black Rock District. She is the co-founder of the community group Bridgeport Generation Now, a forceful critic of Testa.
Ultimately, the vote was tabled.
CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart shares more on that:
An ex-Bridgeport resident, Heller had previously come under fire for continuing to serve in that role despite moving out several years ago. State Democrats in January 2025 advised their Bridgeport counterparts to either replace her or clarify their local rules to let Heller remain on the job as an out-of-towner. Testa successfully pushed the latter option at a town committee gathering last May.
“She’s been with me for 30 years,” he said at the time. “You want somebody that knows what they’re doing.”
But then last August the state party concluded the town committee had incorrectly amended its rules to accommodate Heller and needed to schedule a do-over. That never happened. So on Thursday Callie Heilmann, Heller’s opponent for treasurer, raised that issue and, ultimately, enough members agreed to hold off until there could be some clarity over what they got wrong last May.
Full story here
Mario Testa is a man of few words certainly. When he rose to pitch his continuing leadership of the Democratic Town Committee, he did not speak to actions under his leadership as a rallying cry for those who would support him with their vote. And the words that might have become public, provided on a updated internet site, were also unavailable to those gathered. But they were sufficient for most of those assembled.
So the story moves to how a State party wishing for strong Democratic voting from Bridgeport maintains its leadership when a local town committee does not comply administratively with changing their rules. Possibly, if Callie Heilman is the only official and eligible candidate of record as the meeting adjourned last night the research by the parliamentarian for the facts may come to naught (or not, when a Special Session might be called.) Often, in a situation where there is a new Treasurer, especially after decades under a predecessor, a call for an audit is made, if not required. Time will tell.
JML, the short statement in other words by Mario was directed at Dr. Ford. You ungrateful bastard, I helped you get back on the Town Committee. We all witness a bunch of Blacks and Hispanics (Mostly Puerto Ricans) afraid to leave the Plantation. Chantelle Mendez nominee for vice-chair, is Puerto Rican by Blood (father) and African American father. I’ve seen many of those Puerto Ricans 🇵🇷 many times, exhibiting and waiving the Puerto Rican flag, shouting “BORICUA”, calling for unity, !Wepa, wepa, wepa. A total disgrace.
They are content in their colonized Plantation. I Bluffed about seeking the vice-chair. I wanted to see how many answered, the phone and text messages.
I am proud of Bridgeport Generation Now than I am to say “I’m Puerto Rican.” Mataron al Nagro Bembon y le pegaron a la Negra.
Having said this, I’m joining Bridgeport New Generation Now and taking it bilingual.
Joel,
About ‘words’ and ‘actions’ , first off whom did you mean to call ‘ungrateful’?
And in your following sentence you raise the issue of race and culture rather than human rights to be enjoyed by all and responsibilities of those officials present last evening, to act for all the citizens of Bridgeport who believe in democratic practice.
Bluffing, about your actual intended activity, may be easily ignored by the public or not considered based on your actions witnessed week in and week out. You created a mark when you went ‘digital’ years ago, thereby causing doubt on your grasp of reality. What mark did your action make ultimately?
What is your active pursuit at this time, if you wish to share it with the OIB audience. Consider your response carefully, as it may be of less value to Gen Now than you consider. What do the citations you use add to your current story? Time will tell.
JML, are you still an active member of the NAACP? Whe you was a member, You talk about, “human rights to be enjoyed by all and responsibilities of those officials present last evening, to act for all the…”
Or race and black culture?
I can’t speak of my race and culture? But a white man can dictate to me what I can’t and can talk about.
Mr. Plantation owner, screw you. If the shoe Fitzpatrick, wear it.
Bridgeport New Generation pulled a Bad Bunny out of a hat. I’m sure all my fellow Puerto Ricans in the Plantation didn’t mind although they didn’t understand what happened. Now we know why Anthony Paolleta was rushing, dodging, and confused. Maybe he forgot to take his medication.
As I understand, nominations was closed, two nominees for treasurer stand in limbo. Only one faces disqualification and it’s not Callie Heilmann. Not sure if Mario is going to try the Rabbit in the had trick. Perhaps, he can try using Antony Paolleta’s Barnum Grand Marshall hat.
I think Heller and Mario wanted time to cook the DTC books. How long will it take to get a simple answer? My Rabbit ears raised when I heard Heller’s name.
El Negro Bembon:
https://youtu.be/FYMzEoGi8i4?si=SwMRzUL-iLzjS5vo
NO le peques a la Negra:
https://youtube.com/shorts/pBNGAI4pe4c?si=qBGkEc0P-xkg_rfY
¡Cabrones!
The Wizard of Oz of Bridgeport Politics
The decades-long corrupt rule by the Wizard of Oz of Bridgeport Politics, Mario Testa, continues with his reelection as Democratic Town Committee Chair. In 1996 Testa blocked the contract renewal of the worthy Police Chief Thomas Sweeney because he had disciplined an officer who was the son of Testa’s girlfriend.
My organization, Greater Bridgeport Interfaith Action, “decurtained” the Wizard by picketing his Madison Avenue restaurant at lunchtime with our SOS Save Our Sweeney signs. Testa posted a Special of the Day in the front window, “Ravioli a la Caruso”, in recognition of his “paisan”, State Representative Chris Caruso, who was on the picket line. By next morning Sweeney’s contract was renewed by the Ganim Administration.
Testa has always backed Joe Ganim who served nine years in federal prison for taking bribes from developers seeking projects in Bridgeport. I heard that Ganim refused to provide information on Testa sought by the Feds. Supposedly, as payback, Testa backed him for Mayor once he was free.
Many believe that Testa has long orchestrated absentee ballot fraud to determine the outcome of elections. Testa’s long-time Town Committee Vice-Chair Wanda Geter-Pataky faces nearly 100 criminal charges for absentee ballot fraud working for Ganim’s mayoral election in 2019 and 2023.
In my opinion, Testa has yet to be nailed because he manipulates his puppets from behind the curtain while remaining the real power holding back progress and democracy in Bridgeport.
Sadly, he has also made Bridgeport the poster child for absentee ballot fraud, which Donald Trump inaccurately claims is a national Democratic Party practice, and has been the pretext to try restricting voting by millions.
Joshua Nessen
Executive Director
Greater Bridgeport Interfaith Action (1991-1998)
Joshua Nessen,those were the good old days. Sweeney was among the good Police Chief to serve us. Listen to this one, Thief Roderick Porter got caught double dipping out of our pension (CMERS). After Joe Ganim quietly managed to get his State Representatives to change the rules to accommodate his Thief.
Thief Porter is on his second appeal which he knows he’ll lose. Attorney Bucci, Mario’s cousin is his Attorney. They are running the clock, buying time. I got wind the mayor already has set funds aside in order to pay the $146,000 the Thief has been ordered to reimburse to CMERS pension fund. Bucci shall file a suit vs the City of Bridgeport in behalf of his client; the mayor will settle out of court and the Thief of Police shall pay the double dipped money to CMERS.
He probably wants to be around long enough until Kamala runs again 😂 and comes around to lick his balls.
Oh….so sorry for the typo…. Taste his meatballs is what I meant. 😝