UPDATE: Today (Tuesday) is shaping up as a splendid day to vote in district primaries for Democratic Town Committee seats. How many times will you vote? Primaries are all about identifying friends and dragging them to the polls. But why drag voters to the polls when you have the magic of an absentee ballot operation? It’s always fascinating to see a higher percentage of electors voting by AB in a teenie weenie district fight than higher-profile elections. How does that happen?
As of Tuesday morning 172 absentee ballots were returned to the Town Clerk’s Office from the 131st District and 125 from the 137th District. Former State Rep. Americo Santiago and City Councilwoman Lydia Martinez have emerged as the king and queen of absentee ballot operations in the city. Lydia was fined $500 a few months ago by the state for AB manipulation. Americo the beautiful, however, is putting Lydia to shame pulling AB rabbits out of his hat. Santiago is part of a veteran town committee slate in the 131st District challenged by a group of insurgents promising not to accept paid city positions if elected. Lydia’s town committee slate in the 137th District faces a challenge from veteran pols, some of whom Lydia kicked off her slate. Town committee members carry party influence. They endorse candidates for office and select a chair.
Judging by AB returns into the Town Clerk’s Office the slate led by Santiago and District Leader Mitch Robles will have a lead on the challenge slate. That means these challengers– Mario Arango, Mark Bush, Rhonda Bush, Charritin Escalera, Chris Foreman, George Gholson, Jr., Rafael Mojica, Glenn Pettway and Eric Simmons–must make up lots of ground on the machine count. The district has 4300 registered Democrats. Will 10 percent vote?
The top 9 vote-getters among the 18 candidates in each district win election.
Polls will be open for the two district primaries on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the 131st District the voting precincts are Roosevelt School, 680 Park Avenue, and City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace. The district covers the South End, downtown and portions of the West End and The Hollow. In the East Side 137th District the voting precincts are Marin School, 479 Helen Street, and Bridge Academy, 401 Kossuth Street.
*** Will the election post “Zombieland” results or will the “Bpt First Challenge Slate” shake things up a bit by getting some of their members on the 131st DTC? Lord knows it’s an uphill “slippery slope” battle in which actual voter turnout must be the challenge slate’s key to a move towards some type of change! Transparent, community advertized, open-door mobile meetings that will listen to more of the residents’ voices concerning what’s happening in their neighborhoods! Have some spare time; the challenge slate could sure use your help making calls from Rainey Faye’s bookstore downtown 11-7pm Tues. March 6, 2012. *** HERE WE GO! ***
Come and help the 131st challenge slate at Rainey Faye’s bookstore on John Street in the Read’s Artspace building 11am until 8pm. Every vote counts! Every single one.
Mojo, I strongly suggest your challenge slate pass out palm cards in Seaside Village as soon as possible as a reminder to vote today.
Off topic, saw this on the CT Post website.
Will this be another payday for Tom Bucci?
Seems like he’s get paid more now that he is not Mayor than when he was thanks to Larry Osborne, Council President Tommy Mac and the crack staff in Labor Relations.
“The law says before taking a person’s job away–minimally–you have to follow this process,” said Thomas Bucci, Harris’ attorney.
Bucci said the lawsuit is only challenging the process the city followed to terminate Harris’ employment, not the substance of the city’s decision.
Read more: www .ctpost.com/local/article/Bridgeport-worker-in-MBE-case-sues-over-firing-3383420.php
Under Malloy’s Bill No. 24, due process for teachers is a thing of the past. So if his bill goes through and Bridgeport educators lose tenure/certification/and/or experience a significant drop in income based on yet to be determined (looking like 45% of student test scores) evaluations without said process described above, we get to file suit against the city?
Hmmm …
Or is this part of the fix:
Bucci sues the city.
The city agrees it was wrong.
City rehires Harris and says it can no longer take action against Scinto?
Grin, your first post at 1:17 is accurate. Employee rights are being violated all over the city. Labor Relations either doesn’t know the law or they are not being allowed to enforce it. Union grievances are at an all-time high and employees have taken to hiring private attorneys. Tom Bucci is a top-notch labor attorney and is just doing his job. Wish I could say the same for the staff of Labor Relations.