Saying he wants to create a “brighter future for a great city,” Board of Education member Howard Gardner has entered the mayoral sweepstakes with plans to run in the September Democratic primary. See his website here. Gardner is challenging incumbent Bill Finch. Others are expected to jump in, such as former Mayor Joe Ganim and 2011 mayoral candidate Mary-Jane Foster.
Gardner, an intellectual entrepreneur, (see his bio here) tells OIB he has been working quietly to build a grassroots organization. He says he’s determined to go “all the way” to a September primary. Gardner was elected to the school board in 2013 as part of an insurgent force that wiped out three endorsed candidates in a Democratic primary. “We live in a city that works for a select few,” says Gardner who lives on the West Side.
Can Gardner raise money? Big if. He will not receive the Democratic Town Committee endorsement so to get his name on the ballot he must secure nearly 2000 certified signatures from registered Democrats in the city, a labor-intensive process.
“I cannot start a movement by myself,” Gardner explains on his website, “that can only be done by people like you who believe in our vision for the future of the City of Bridgeport and are driven to share this vision with others.”
Platform from Garner’s website
· Bring new business to the City of Bridgeport to create additional jobs and contribute to the reduction of the tax burden on home owners;
· Spend more of the City’s dollars with local business to grow our local economy;
· Establish a public-private partnership to create employment for the City’s youths;
· Fully fund the Board of Education’s Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR), work with Bridgeport’s state legislators to get the state to fully fund its Education Cost Sharing (ECS) obligation and work with the BOE toward achieving universal preschool for all children in the City;
· Create a city government which works for all its citizens by being responsive to their concerns and requests, as well as conducting City business in a manner which is completely transparent (i.e., open access to all City contracts and financial data); and
· Remove all conflicts of interest within our local government structure and set the highest standard of ethics for City employees with meaningful repercussion for violations.
More from Gardner’s website:
High taxes, lack of job creation, zero economic growth and lost confidence in local administration are all problems which need to be addressed and solved.
Howard Gardner’s engineering training and three decades of business experience have honed his “problem-solving” skills. When presented with a problem, he strives to develop a real solution by working through it using a “team work” approach. He will do so to create “A Brighter Future for a Great City.”
Okay Ron Mackey, now I have a real reason to consider joining the party.
Howard Gardner is a wonderful human being. Kind, gentle, smart and thoughtful. Wish him the best.
Finally. A candidate of quality, substance and experience. How refreshing!!!
Howard Gardner is a very nice gentlemen. I have to say Mr. Gardner and I have a bet, made the night of Melanie Jackson’s approval to the Council. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Gardner and his wife whom I have had the pleasure of working with on a number of occasions. It is in my financial best interest not to see him win. But on the other hand you will not hear one negative remark about Mr. Gardner as I have a number of friends who also like him a lot. Good luck to all candidates.
Howard is a man of high integrity and character and would be a valuable asset as the new mayor of Bridgeport. Bridgeport would be lucky to have such a man as its Mayor.
Howard,
Thank you for your intention to challenge the leadership contenders in the City of Bridgeport. You have intelligence, courage, experience and practical financial ability along with integrity. That is formidable strength in the time to come.
When it comes to finances and budgets, your practical experience will lead you to understand whether there is a less expensive way that will benefit current taxpayers.
My guess is you will attempt to build consensus among the many people of the City as to their priorities and follow through in this manner. I know you are about opening up City process, becoming more transparent to the voters and accountable to the people in many ways the current administration is not. I am happy to provide whatever factual observations on City finances as you find useful so voters become better informed and use that when they go to the polls. Time will tell.