After a brutally cold winter, what a weekend for mayoral candidates to walk, knock on doors and greet the peeps. State Senator Ed Gomes joined candidate Mary-Jane Foster at a barbershop for “a conversation in the West End on race,” according to Foster’s Facebook page.
Foster has the support of Bridgeport’s two state senators, Gomes and Marilyn Moore. Following violent protests in Baltimore, conversations about race will be top of mind for mayoral candidates. Mayor Bill Finch plans to kick out a community outreach plan on the subject this week, former Mayor Joe Ganim has brought together clergy supporters and police union members for a discussion. Ganim and mayoral candidate Charlie Coviello were also at Saturday’s community discussion organized by petitioning candidate for Mayor Tony Barr who says he pulled the forum together following police custody controversies.
“It was a conversation for everyone,” says Barr. “I was impressed with the number of candidates who participated.”
Public safety will be a key battleground issue.
Ed Gomes, you are beloved by many, but your decision to publicly support MJF is troubling many of us who are active in your district. I wish you had just stayed out of this election and remained neutral.
Maria, political expedience has never been one of Ed’s strong suits. Ed had always done what he thought was right, what is moral and what’s just. Keep up the good work Ed, and run MJF, run.
Maria really, how many? Are you counting the old ladies at Nob Hill? Have you remembered the neighbor who said neither he nor his wife will vote for Ganim and Ganim was there?
Maria Pereira, you said, “I wish you had just stayed out of this election and remained neutral,” really, well Maria you don’t Ed Gomes. Ed is liked and well-respected by his friends and those who disagree with him because he has always been an honorable man and they know he makes decisions that are in the best interest of Bridgeport.
The day Ed stays out of a race is the day he has called it quits. He has obviously made a choice and I admire him for not taking a coward’s way out.
BTW, looking pretty sharp there, Senator!!!
I would have been shocked if Ed Gomes and Marilyn Moore did not support Mary-Jane Foster. Special note to Maria P. Are you really expecting Joe Ganim to get any high-level support? The kiss of death. Were Charlie Coviello and Tony Barr singing Karaoke at the March for education party? Good for them! Were Howard Gardner and David Daniels at this gathering?
Donald, Ron, Bob, Andy and Steve,
When Caruso ran against Finch in 2007, Ed Gomes made a decision to stay out of that race and did not support either of them. Ed Gomes shared that with me directly.
Ed was encouraged to do the same thing in this election. The reality is Ed is alienating those who delivered his recent victory. MJF, Rob Traitor, Bob Walsh, Marilyn Moore, Jack Hennessy, Kennard Ray, etc. cannot deliver a single school in Ed’s district, and this decision will probably impact him should he seek re-election. Had he remained neutral, no one would have been upset by that decision. His decision to publicly support MJF has upset those of us who delivered a substantial amount of votes in his polling locations. I was speaking with a longtime political leader from Bridgeport last night. Even that well-respected politician felt Ed would pay a price should he seek re-election, and he needed to be held accountable for his actions. I guess we will have to see what happens.
I have been at Joe Ganim’s meetings, he does have “high-level support.”
I have spoken with over 100 registered voters in Thomas Hooker over the last few weeks. Only one person told me they are voting for Finch, none have told me they are voting for MJF, and about five voters have expressed concerns about Ganim, but all agreed to keep an open mind over the next few months. It is more than fair to say 6-7 out of 10 have already committed to vote for Ganim.
I can’t speak to the sentiment in other neighborhoods, but I can definitely speak about what I am hearing in my neighborhood.
I adore Ed, but this is definitely problematic for me should he seek my support in 2016.
Maria Pereira, what are you making your opinion on, surely not on Ed’s past elections or are you doing it on your own interviews? You seem to be saying if Ed doesn’t change his mind and do what you say, then Ed will lose his reelection effort.
Ron, I am speaking for myself. Based on Ed’s decision to support MJF for the upcoming election, I doubt I would be able to support Ed for re-election. I know two other politically active leaders have indicated they would be unlikely to support Ed should he seek re-election.
No one can guarantee a victory or defeat on behalf of any candidate, however we can certainly decide to support another candidate who may decide to challenge Ed in 2016.
Maria, honest to G-d. I am actually shocked you could possibly be so naive to think Ed Gomes will pay a political price for supporting Foster. Who do you think the Gomes supporters are following? Ganim? Maria, you have proven why you could be a politician’s worst nightmare. I cannot speak for any of the people you mentioned, but I can promise you this, you will not be able to deliver one school for Joe Ganim. People are just not that stupid. Close, but in the end people will see the light. It will come down to a two-man race. Finch and Foster. Foster has a lot of work to do and I really wished she’d waited four years. But who am I to tell the woman on a blog to put her dreams on hold? I respect her and worked my ass off for her, but … Finch is taking this city in the direction we need to be going and all he needs to do is embrace UB. Joe Ganim should quietly put his life back in order and learn what it is like to look for employment like so many Bridgeport residents who have been convicted of lesser things. Ganim’s hubris is impressive and naive. Special note to Jim Fox, I will be taking your advice ad taking my story to a much larger audience. I still believe Finch deserves another term, but I have nothing negative at all to say about Mary-Jane Foster. I think Mary-Jane Foster will give Mayor Finch an opportunity to bang his drum and Mayor Finch will give Mary-Jane Foster the opportunity to share her vision of Bridgeport’s future. Bridgeport’s future right now looks bright and the next five years will be transformative. This will be the greatest time to be guiding our city’s future. Good luck to both candidates.
Steve, there is only one school I have any influence over, and that is Thomas Hooker School. I believe I can deliver that school to any candidate I choose to support. So far, that has been the case.
We will have to wait to see what happens in September.
As for Nob Hill, that is Finch and Foster territory. The new Nob Hill Park btw looks spectacular and the residents there will thank Finch and Richie Paoletto. I am sure that will be target marketing, no? Beardsley Park looks great and the shopping Plaza on Huntington Tpke under the Finch Administration has been transformed. I think residents in the Thomas Hooker area benefit from this. Ganim will not take Hooker School.
Steven, you are not knowledgeable about voters in Nob Hill, or the Thomas Hooker neighborhood. Please stop pretending you are.
Maria, I lived in Nob Hill for 17 years I spend three days a week there and have owned eight units. I was involved with derail the jail on Virginia Avenue and you imagine I do not know Nob Hill. Think again.
I lived on William Street for 15 years. Does that mean I have a pulse on who the voters in that neighborhood will vote for? The answer is no.
Maria, if you live on Williams Street why aren’t you aware of the pulse of the neighborhood? What is it about Nob Hill and Thomas Hooker that draws you? You are talking two totally different neighborhoods!
Steve, I stated I “lived” on William Street for 15 years, not that I currently live there.
It appears Ed Gomes has now joined the long list of politicians who are now targets because they think for themselves and do not follow Maria’s every whim and word. Mrs. Fardy, Mrs. Barney, Baker, the list continues.
I would think Gomes would get a pass. I mean he has either officially or unofficially stood up for her at BOE meetings. Was it not a month or so ago he spoke on your behalf when the BOE chose to not recognize the DPAC?
This man is well respected by friend and foe alike. Honorable is a word rarely used in BPT politics, but it is one that applies to Ed Gomes. If you had just stated you were disappointed in him and on this occasion chose to agree to disagree, no one would have an issue. But to take it the extra step and basically say you will work against him because of this is over the top. Ed told you he sat out the Finch/Caruso election–likely because he did not believe in either one. He took the high road and let it play out. You could take the high road if he runs again. But you only know one way–scorched earth and retribution. I know, you are going to say you are free to support whomever you want, that is true. But this man has supported you, and probably faced a backlash for doing it, and you plan to turn on him. Hope Ganim watches his back.
Lifelong Bpt, so Ed gets to support the candidate of his choice, and that shows he is independent and thinks for himself. You clearly believe these to be good qualities. However if I, or other political activists choose to support a candidate other than Ed in 2016, that is a bad thing. What is good for the goose is certainly good for the gander!
By the way, Ed Gomes and Chris Caruso were good friends when he sat out the election in 2007. That was according to Ed when he shared the story with me.
P.S. You forgot to mention Dave Hennessey on my long list of “targets.” He is at the top of the list behind Mayor Finch. 🙂
Maria Pereira, you just don’t get it. You share some good points about the BBOE but then you cause people to turn on you about other positions you post about, it’s like six in one hand and a half a dozen in the other, you gain nothing. If the BBOE were so important to you then why did you quit after the voters elected you, they put their trust in you and you said no, I’m out of here, now that’s being loyal, what a friend to the voters.
Ron Mackey, I never “quit” the BBOE. I fulfilled my complete term, minus the 14 months I lost due to the illegal takeover orchestrated by Governor Malloy, Mayor Finch, the SBOE, the six BBOE members who voted in favor of it, and the billionaire-backed Megan Lowney and Nate Snow.
Choosing not to seek another term was not disloyal or untrustworthy. It was the correct decision for me at the time.
I know my positions on particular topics can be controversial, however I have never seen gray. I generally see things in black or white. Most people see me in black or white, and either like me or dislike me. I am fine with it. I actually prefer to know where I stand with people. It saves so much wasted time.
Maria, I do not see you in Black or White. I find you to be an extremely colorful individual and totally enjoy going at it with you. Just thought I’d be clear. When I spend three days a week at Nob Hill it is a slugfest with six Republicans against three Democrats and I love it!
By the way, Lifelong Bpt, the difference between Ed Gomes versus Andre Baker, Pat Fardy, Anne Barney, Dave Hennessey, Mayor Finch, etc. is I adore Ed.
Actually, that is my point. Here is a man who has gone to bat for you on several occasions. Who you adore. However since he has gone against your wishes this one time, you have declared him to be your adversary if he runs in 2016. Sounds to me like you only want to be surrounded by “Yes, Maria” men and women, which is what we are all critical of those around Finch. So that makes you like Finch in that regard. Good for the goose is good for the gander, no?
Lifelong Bpt, this is not a minor issue, this is a major issue. I haven’t declared Ed Gomes is my “adversary.” Do not put words in my mouth. If Ed is allowed to support MJF for the upcoming election, then I am certainly entitled to support the candidate of my choice for my State Senator in 2016.
Ed spoke at a BBOE meeting in support of the ousted DPAC Executive Board, not specifically Maria Pereira. Please do list all the other occasions where Ed has gone “to bat” for me.
It is often referred to as politics. 🙂
He spoke on behalf of the DPAC Board, but likely as a favor to you since you helped him on his latest campaign … politics. As far as him being an adversary in 2016, all your above comments allude to this.
I adore Ed, but this is definitely problematic for me should he seek my support in 2016.
I doubt I would be able to support Ed for re-election.
No one can guarantee a victory or defeat on behalf of any candidate, however we can certainly decide to support another candidate who may decide to challenge Ed in 2016.
Those are just the comments from this comments section.
And when else did he support you?
www .ctpost.com/local/article/Gomes-says-school-board-had-it-coming-4684987.php
🙂
Ed’s showdown with Moales was really about the disrespect he was showing the minority members of the BBOE, and not adhering to basic meeting protocols.
I purposely kept putting my hand in the air and refused to put it down because I knew Moales would behave as if he didn’t see it, and ultimately he made himself look bad. I also knew the press was present and the room was packed.
Maria Pereira, if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Well your comments about Ed Gomes’ support for Mary-Jane Foster shows Ed Gomes is your “adversary.”
Ron Mackey and Lifelong Bpt, you do not get to speak for me. I speak for me. If I considered Ed Gomes my adversary, as most people already know, I would have absolutely no problem stating so.
Ed Gomes is not my adversary. Bill Finch, Dave Hennessey, Andre Baker, Kenneth Moales, Hernan Illingworth, Kadisha Coates and Fran Rabinowitz are my adversaries. In other words they are my enemies. Ed Gomes does not fall into the same category as these individuals.
As I have stated previously, I truly adore Ed, but it is highly unlikely I will support him should he seek re-election. I had a conversation with Ed about this issue prior to supporting Ed in the Special Election. Let’s just say I feel I was misled on this particular issue. Had Ed made it clear to me he would be supporting MJF for the upcoming election, then I would not have raised money for his campaign, nor would I have worked to deliver a 6 to 1 victory for him at Thomas Hooker School.
Ed has made his decision, and I am equally entitled to make my decisions. That is simply how life works.
Maria Pereira, do you read what you write? You have a strange way to win friends and to influence people. So you deliver a 6 to 1 victory for him at Thomas Hooker School, well, then you should be the district leader there and you should be in control of who runs for the two council seats there.
Ron Mackey, I was asked if I wanted to run for the DTC when Scott Hughes organized a slate in the 138th in March 2014. I declined. I have never been interested in being a part of the Democratic Machine. I have always worked on the outside and against most of those associated with the DM. I don’t need to be part of the DTC to have influence in Thomas Hooker. I believe I have clearly demonstrated that previously.
Ron, a brilliant individual once told me to keep my circle of “friends” to a select few because only your “friends” can betray you. I know today how accurate that piece of advice was. I am not participating in some type of contest to “win” friends. I clearly am able to influence my neighbors without being part of the DM.
Haven’t I already proven I do not need to be part of the DTC to decide the TC members in the 138th? After all, the six candidates I worked for won in March 2014. The three I didn’t work for lost. It would be the same for the two council seats.