Sasha Duran, Yadira Antunez, Jeronimo Ortiz and Major McCargo. According to local elections officials, they represent the lone city residents registered with Connecticut’s Working Families Party. And it’s possible, even if highly unlikely, one of them could be considered to replace John Bagley on the Board of Education. Does anyone know them?
This is another classic OIB moment. An attorney for the Board of Education has shared an advisory opinion that the person to replace the resigned Bagley on the school board should be selected from someone registered with the party Bagley won his seat two years ago based in part on this City Charter language:
If a vacancy arises for any reason in the membership of the Board of Education, the remaining members shall elect a new member to serve for the balance of the term vacated. The person so elected shall be a resident and elector and a member of the same political party as the member vacating such office.
Bagley, as a registered Democrat, won his school board seat running on the WFP line. State mandated minority-party representation requires three of the nine school board seats cannot be from a major party. The Dems already have six slots.
So this is all a work in progress to figure out what voter pool can be considered to replace Bagley. Attorney Thomas Mooney, on behalf of the school board, has shared an advisory opinion about a WFP selection. We’ve not heard official word yet from City Attorney Mark Anastasi so it’s possible he could throw a new wrinkle into this.
Bridgeport has roughly 16,000 registered voters not affiliated with the Democratic or Republican Party. So we may see a scenario where someone from that pool becomes a member of the WFP to satisfy a qualified selection. Why so few registered WFP members?
The Connecticut WFP is essentially a liberal-leaning offshoot of the Democratic Party that encourages its members to remain registered Democrats, although endorsed and running on the WFP line in general elections, to participate in party primaries. A few exceptions exist, for instance the school board chair Sauda Baraka was first elected in 2005 running on the Republican line. When party regulars did not endorse her for another term in 2009 she ran on the WFP line with political newcomer Maria Pereira. They both won school board seats running ahead of the Republican candidates to fill two of three minority party slots. Baraka won reelection last year running on the WFP line.
So, if ya feel you have something to offer the school board, hurry quick and register with the WFP. Ya just never know in this crazy world of city politics.
Lennie, it is very clear to me the WFP had someone in mind before the resignation was submitted. You assume the four individuals named are the only ones who can apply. WFP is an extension of the Bridgeport Democratic Party. Having said this, expect a more creative approach from the WFP. It is possible for someone from out of town who is registered with the WFP to be named as the replacement after moving to Bridgeport or using an address in Bridgeport.
I personally like the name Major McCargo. I can see myself voting for the Major. No major disappointment there. Why vote minor when you can choose a Major? Vote for the Major from the minor party.
Endless slogans.
Major McCargo, cousin to Major McBragg who had a famous children’s cartoon in the ’70s.
Paging Denise Merrill.
Will any OIB reader click on this link to check where you must go to vote and tell me what happens? My wife and I don’t appear in their records or as usual, the system is not working. Millions of dollars has been invested in this shitty system that hasn’t worked in the past.
www .ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp
Joel,
Your link is invalid, you can’t get to anywhere from there. The direct link to look someone up is
www .ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3172&q=512796
I couldn’t try to look you up because I don’t know your date of birth. And I can’t look myself up because although I was born in Bridgeport, I currently live in New Hampshire.
If someone living in Bridgeport wants to try, use the link above instead.
The link is not working period. The jerk in the comment below didn’t know about this until I raised the issue. I tried five different people and not a single one worked.
Thanks, Ray Fusci. This link seems to be working. Let’s see what happens when I try sharing the link. How many of these wonderful candidates ever provided this link to anyone?
So are you referring to yourself when you said the jerk in the comment below?
Another one of Speedy’s conspiracy theories bashed. Thank you, Ray.