In the closing days to Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Board of Education some mail pieces have gotten edgy. Political activists examine mail pieces to determine an appropriate response or how to spin it back in their candidates’ favor. Campaign operatives for the endorsed slate (Kathryn Bukovsky, Simon Castillo, Brandon Clark) aligned with Mayor Bill Finch know a thing or two about drawing a contrast against the opposition.
One mail piece paid for by the Democratic State Central Committee on behalf of the endorsed slate claims the challengers “FAIL THE TEST” for school governance. It takes a swipe at Andre Baker, a member of the challenge slate, claiming taxpayers paid for his steak dinners and martinis on trips to New York City, a reference to his stipend allowance as a member of the City Council.
A mail piece sent by the challenge slate, Andre Baker, Howard Gardner and Dave Hennessey, declares “For decades endorsed Democrats have controlled our schools and all we have to show for it is failing schools, high drop-out rates and an arrogant administration that is unresponsive to the community. It’s time to elect leaders who answer to us.”
In the final days of the campaign, operatives on behalf of the endorsed slate will spread the word the challenge slate is supported by Ernie Newton, convicted on corruption charges and Coviello who received campaign donations as a mayoral candidate from a reputed organized crime figure. You might remember this video attack on Foster from her 2011 mayoral race financed by political action committee A Better Connecticut. It includes former City Councilman Joel “Speedy” Gonzalez who’s also supporting the challenge slate.
If that is the best everybody can do to get anybody to vote, they all had better get more absentee ballots.
How about the Finch team! They take $400,000 from our kids and our Senior taxpayers, and give it to Manny Moutinho for his new driveway in Stratford!
Then the Finch Team hands Sal DiNardo $750,000 of EPA money so Sal can clean up his buildings and lots.
Let’s send a message to Finch, Manny and Sal on Tuesday, NO FINCHETTES on the BOE!
That attack on Andre Baker was nothing short of hypocritical. Board Chairman Ken Moales and his relatives receive huge contracts from the Board of Ed for private schools they control and benefit from financially. And it is to be expected that if elected the endorsed slate would continue to support him.
*** In Bpt, whether it’s a politically “disgruntled” group (A) or a “now in power” group (B) or a “combination” from groups A, B and some newbies called group (C) throwing the bones, you still come up “snake eyes!” *** LORD HELP US! ***
Finch and Wood would be hilarious if they hadn’t done such damage to this city. These negative attacks conveniently don’t mention all their steak dinners with their posse at Michael Jordan’s in NYC or their own seriously challenged ethics or the drama in their own personal lives. Guess they forgot the old glass house thing. AS JML says, time will tell and you know what? With time, it will be told.
I confronted the City Council last Tuesday evening on the failure to be accurate or open about stipend use. Three members have contacted me to share their draws so far, but nobody wants to get the Council to become transparent by posting all of the info. Remember this when it comes to November Council elections.
By the way, I have suggested the reimbursements for each CC should include the purpose for which it was used. In the case of Andre Baker, I am told it was his own personal effort to encourage economic development with a personal meal. That seems worthwhile to me.
Isn’t it just like the bullies in power to hit one person with an accusation that cannot publicly be seen? Do you trust the administration more or less because of this campaign action? If it is less trust than before, they are digging their own grave and cannot see this is how their charges are received. Keep asking questions, Andre! They do not have the answers for the questions you have asked. Time will tell.
I can’t quite agree with your take here, OiB. They certainly did show us they know a thing or two about transparency. Actually they are so transparent it makes my hair hurt.
They may think they are good politicians but if they were, common folk like me (NO EINSTEIN HERE) would not be able to see through the rhetoric.
What they did show is the political strategies they used for the endorsed BOE slate campaign can be useful as a well-needed sleep aid for the lion’s share of the populace.
Thanks, dudes!