The challenge slate for Board of Education has kicked out a lengthy list of endorsements that includes political operatives, education advocates, civil rights leaders and even a few city employees. The slate of Andre Baker, Dave Hennessey and Howard Gardner is challenging endorsed Democrats Kathryn Bukovsky, Simon Castillo and Brandon Clark in a September 10 primary. Folks lending names to an endorsement list is not nearly as meaningful as the ones on the list putting in the grunt work so essential in primaries. A solid majority of activists on the list are seasoned campaigners. See news release below from Marilyn Moore on behalf of the challenge candidates.
The Better Education Starts Today, or BEST, slate of candidates running for the Democratic nomination for Bridgeport Board of Education today released a list of 31 elected officials, community leaders and educators who are endorsing them.
Candidates Andre Baker Jr., Howard Gardner, and Dave Hennessey are running on Row B as the BEST slate, the team of Democrats that represents and answers to the voters and the Bridgeport community, not political bosses. The primary will be held on Tuesday, September 10th and polls are open from 6am to 8pm.
“No candidate who opposed Board of Education elections should even be running in them,” said Marilyn Moore. “We vote for our city officials so that we can chose candidates with integrity, experience, and commitment to the community, and that’s why I’m supporting Andre, Howard, and Dave.”
“Only community-driven reform and a democratically-run school system will guarantee every Bridgeport child a quality education. That’s why it was important to protect the voters’ rights,” said Howard Gardner.
Support for Baker, Gardner, and Hennessey has been so strong, in part, because they are the only candidates in this Board of Education primary who stood up for the rights of city voters to elect their Board of Education members in last November’s ballot question. The endorsed Democrats in this race all supported denying Bridgeport voters that right and handing over Board of Education appointments as a privilege to city politicians.
The following elected officials, community leaders and educators are supporting the BEST candidates:
John Bagley, Bridgeport Board of Education
Sauda Baraka, Bridgeport Board of Education
Deola Barfield, Pastor and retired Bridgeport Teacher
Sara Batalla, Bridgeport teacher and parent
Tammy Boyle, District Parent Advisory Council Corresponding Secretary
Maryanne Brewster, incoming president of Burroughs Community Center
Kevin Cassidy, Professor at Fairfield University
Ann deBernard, retired principal of Waltersville School
John DePina, Cape Verdean Community Leader and coach
Ralph Ford, district leader
Ed Gomes, former state senator
Lyle Hassan Jones, community advocate
Jack Hennessy, Bridgeport State Representative
Wayne Hiller
Scott Hughes, Bridgeport City librarian
Carmen Lopez, retired Judge and community activist
Max Medina, former Board of Education member and community leader
Kim McLaughlin, housing advocacy organizer
Marilyn Moore, community advocate
Migdalia Muniz, Bridgeport school nurse
Carolyn Nah, Past President, NAACP
Gary Peluchette, Bridgeport teacher, and President of Bridgeport Education Association
Maria Pereira, Bridgeport Board of Education
Donald Pierre-Charles, Haitian community activist and coach
Neida Robles, community activist
Bobby Simmons, Bridgeport Board of Education
John D. Soltis
Rob Traber, Bridgeport teacher and Bridgeport Education Association Vice President
Carolyn Vermont, Immediate Past President, NAACP
Bob Walsh, former City Councilperson
Teresa Wilson, college preparation advocate
The BEST candidates believe that all Bridgeport children need access to good schools, and that that can only be accomplished through collaboration between parents, students, teachers, administrators, board members and the community. The fundamental right to vote for Board of Education members is not just a civil right, it is essential for better schools.
*** I will not tug on anyone’s cape who’s on this long list of supporters, however their are 5 or 6 names mentioned who are either part of the problem now or have been in the past, no? *** RUBBER STAMP POLITICAL MACHINE, CITYSIDE OR BOE ***
Who are supporting your candidates, Mojo?
*** In my district and BOE, me, myself and I will be supporting and voting for my candidates! ***
You may or may not like everyone on the list of endorsers but it is a pretty good indication of the broad base of support against the status quo. Momentum building …
The plain but simple truth is these three are the best qualified of the primary candidates and they are not beholden to or part of Bridgeport’s political machine. Ultimately, we need to elect five qualified and non-conflicted candidates in November.
You have three votes available if you are voting in the Democratic primary. These three candidates have demonstrated a greater degree of independence than the DTC is comfortable with. There is a track record of curiosity and questioning, of service to the youth community in diverse ways, of concern for how public funds are spent. Where is similar concern, experience and indications of independence among the party slate?
Have one or more of the alternative candidates pledged loyalty to another organization? Frying pan into fire? Only in Bridgeport? Time will tell.
Agree with DW and JML.
Anyone else notice something on this page …?
CLICK on the ad for the DTC-endorsed slate … and it brings you to the abetterconnecticut.org site.
CLICK on the ad for the challenge slate … and it brings you to the slate’s own Facebook page.
Do a little digging … and connect the dots.