Testa-Backed New Rules On The Agenda For The Democratic Town Committee, A Streamlined Body Politic

It’s been more than 40 years since the makeup of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee has changed. That could happen again next week when the DTC meets to act on a motion to amend party rules by lowering membership from the current 90 members to 70 as well as amend the rules to remove the current requirement that the treasurer of the body be a Bridgeport resident.

The treasurer issue came to light recently when the state party notified Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa that the only way longtime treasurer Maria Hoffman, who became a resident of Shelton, may remain in that role is via a change to local party bylaws.

Hoffman has been a reliable treasurer for decades, the one who files the party finance reports with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

As for reducing the size of the body from 90 to 70, nine members per 10 districts, Testa believes nine members per district has become unwieldy from lack of political activism. He views seven members “as increasing competition for inclusion” by eliminating the dead weight. It also lessens the number of members who seek city jobs. Many of them are on the public payroll.

In 1983 the town committee amended the bylaws to increase the makeup from 50 to 90 members.

The meeting will take place May 13, 5:30 p.m. in the Margaret Morton Government Center, 999 Broad Street.

Are the votes there to amend the rules? Testa is a pretty good scorekeeper. He generally does not bring the group together unless he has the votes.

Town committee members serve two-year terms. They are the backbone of the party infrastructure, endorsing candidates for public office and conducting party business.

If the full body approves this streamlining motion, the new membership will take seats next March. Challenge slates may run primaries to elect seven members per the respective districts. It’s not winning slate takes all. The winners are decided by those who finish in the top nine among all the candidates, or presumably top seven next year.

See agenda and motions below: