Christine Bartlett-Josie who became the face of John Gomes mayoral race has set off to the glorious sanctuary of her native island country St. Lucia in the Caribbean, posting several images on her Facebook page, and according to multiple sources there’s no plan for her return to active campaign duty with the Democratic primary redo on the horizon January 23.
She’s been gone for more than two weeks and word is she will not return from holiday for another week or so. She texted OIB on Thursday to explain she’s on an extended stay to help her elderly father. She did not explain what the future holds for Gomes campaign work.
What gives? A campaign manager doesn’t go away for three weeks with so much on the line, this close to another vote, unless something’s up. Things happen in campaigns be it personality or money driven, especially a historic extended election season into 2024 that can stretch personalities to breaking points. Bartlett-Josie is a bold figure with years of campaign experience including for Mayor Joe Ganim. She’s among a cadre of political influencers, once Ganim supporters, who aligned with Gomes after he had a falling out with the mayor.
It was Bartlett-Josie who assembled the research that armed attorney Bill Bloss to persuade Superior Court Judge William Clark to order another Democratic primary based on absentee ballot irregularities. She also testified in the court hearing.
During the media frenzy that followed the September 12 primary, Bartlett-Josie, not Gomes, was front and center with the candidate largely taking a back seat.
Come Tuesday the new special primary will be three weeks away when the organizational structure must come together and the campaign begins to spend in earnest, tasks delegated, media narrative lined up. Who’s directing bills to be paid?
OIB texted Bartlett-Josie on Dec. 19. Her response: “Out of the country. Limited Wi-Fi. Just turned on my phone and amongst the messages is you!! Merry Christmas.”
You too and Happy New Year.
Her DNA was not a good fit for the campaign.
Don’t worry Grin, John Ricci is and has always been the campaign manager.
She might have accepted a job offer in “Saint Lucia” — might see more employment security (with a big sign-on bonus) there…
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. That is the glue that holds this group together. Unfortunately Mr Gomes glue is not waterproof and as the ship takes on water many of the crew and supporters will abandon. The smart running back to Joe Ganim.
History does kind of repeats itself. La ofensiva in the style of Bridgeport begins All men and women over the age of 18 are thereby ordered to the front-line or risk getting beaten with a stack of ABs.
Signed:
Comandante Speedy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_offensive_of_1989
Stick a fork in her she’s done and so is Gomes and his campaign.