A federal judged has blowtorched Connecticut’s groundbreaking program to fund state political races.
U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill ruled the Citizens Election Program “imposes an unconstitutional, discriminatory burden on minor party candidates’ First Amendment-protected right to political opportunity.”
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a supporter of the legislation, is seeking an appeal. State Rep. Chris Caruso was one of the archiects of the clean money campaign that went into full force during the 2008 state election cycle. Under the program candidates have 85 percent of their respective campaigns financed by public money if they raise a small amount of money from small donations.
It’s been two years since Caruso lost the mayoral primary to Bill Finch by a measly 270 votes, four years after his loss to John Fabrizi by a similarly close margin. Caruso is reemerging at a number of city meetings as he gears up for 2011. Caruso will always be a factor in a mayoral race as long as he maintains his popularity in his legislative district. Quite simply, Caruso starts with the largest voting bloc of any mayoral challenger by virtue of his super popularity in voting districts that include portions of the North End and Whiskey Hill.
Right now Caruso is the leading challenger to Mayor Bill Finch who has suffered through a couple of tough years of tax increases, a rotten economy and dubious decisions. Finch still has time to turn it around but his window is closing. Once the Bridgeport electorate shuts the door on an incumbent it’s hard to get them back. And Finch has all kinds of issues to address with upcoming budgets. He also desperately needs an economic development initiative he can call his own. Can Finch get Steelpointe Harbor moving?
Who else is out there? Johnny Fabs would love to have his old job back. Now director of the Board of Education’s Adult Education Program, Fabs has been sitting back quietly taking a look to see if the time is right for a comeback. In 2007, party regulars that feared a Caruso mayoralty recruited Finch to run after polls showed Fabs could not beat Caruso. Finch’s polling showed him 10 points behind Caruso at the start of the race. Finch outspent Caruso two to one, Caruso focused his campaign on corruption (although he says he spoke to a variety of issues) and come primary day Finch closed the gap and a little more.
But Finch has lost part of the electorate that supported him two years ago. An anti-Finch segment of the Democratic party has reached out to former Superior Court Judge Carmen Lopez to make a run. Every Bridgeport mayor has been male and white except for Mary Moran who had the job from 1989 to 1991. The Latin community is now the largest single demographic in the city but has never truly coalesced behind one of their own. Board of Education President Max Medina came the closest in 2003. Some say State Rep. Andres Ayala, former president of the City Council, is a comer.
Bridgeport has never had a Latina candidate for mayor. Lopez, a resident of Black Rock, has made a name for herself trying to get the city to address the rat problem in the city’s West End. And a number of party regulars say she appeals to a cross section of the city. Other candidates may emerge in the next year.
Meanwhile, Caruso is still very much in play.
(Check out my daily blog at www.onlyinbridgeport.com)
Lennie,
Read the stories in the CT Magazine….Very Sad….Should be called a snowball growing in Bridgeprot CT….Too bad you went on that snowball going down that huge hill….What you do with the rest of your life matters now. Understand many will always judge on the past, but some may look at the after.
PS> Wonder where M. Testa was during this…He was ?
And I would have to question Mr. Fabrizi’s grasp on reality if he is actually giving unironic consideration toward another run for mayor. Johnny Fabs has a few skeletons that will will come dancing out of his closet, top hats upon their heads. Mr. Finch has a few in his wardrobe also. Mr. Caruso can do a variation on Mickey Mouse’s sorcerer’s apprentice routine to make the skeletons dance. Unlike Walt Disney’s creation, Mr. Caruso needn’t worry about making them stop.
If Representative Caruso made a few changes in his campaign style, he could very well be elected mayor of Bridgeport, Fairfield County’s litter-strewn version of Casterbridge.
#1, Mr. Caruso needs to formulate workable policies concerning the city’s most pressing problems: lack of employment opportunities; a woefully inadequate public education system; lack of development. Carrying on about a “corrupt poltical machine” is all fine and good, but we all live here; we already know about the “corrupt political machine.” We already know that the municipal payroll is larded with unqualified people in authoritative positions. All of ‘em obtained employment with the city of Bridgeport through the wonders of political appointment. Wanna get rid of ‘em? Me too. What’re ya gonna do after you’ve cleaned up city hall, Mr. Caruso?
#2, Mr. Caruso needs to shop for clothes someplace beside the Big ‘n’ Tall store at Sears Roebuck.
#3, he needs to tell his barber he’s tired of looking like an asshole.
Hi envoy, great to hear from you again. Fabs took a leave of absence from the BOE when he became mayor guaranteeing him a position with equal pay upon his return.
He got the job from Finch in exchange for him staying out of the last race for Mayor….Fabrizi couldn’t risk losing to Caruso and have zero income,,,If he ran and lost to Caruso he wouldn’t have an income that he is use to. Do you think Chris Caruso would of given him a job? I bet he went to Caruso’s people and tried to barter the same deal….Chris wouldn’t do that….So Fink Finch did…John makes in the area of near 6 figures doing a do nothing job…Yes, he does very little…All he does is bull shit all the time and talk about his glory days….WAKE UP BPT…SHAME SHAPE TO BE IN FOR THE LARGEST CT CITY….SHAME/DISGRACEFUL BPT………….CARUSO FOR MAYOR!
How is it possible that Fabrizi has a pension and a salary from the BOE. I don’t think this is true. Can someone clarify?
Hi Wilbur Cross voter:
Welcome. The library referendum will be Nov. 3.
And John Fabrizi is a double dipper, having retired as a school administrator getting a full pension and now working as an adult education administrator at full salary. We don’t need this
Bill Finch is a one-term mayor. I’m a member of the Democratic Town Committee and I was one of several elected to dump John Stafstrom last year. Regretfully, the only available viable candidate was Mario Testa, but at least you knew what you were getting. Sorry Dan Roach…you’re not chairman timber.
I supported Chris Caruso on the basis of his incorruptibility and his love of the City of Bridgeport. I’ve known Chris for over 30 years and have found him to be a sincere and committed public servant. While Carmen Lopez had been a sitting judge at one time, she hasn’t demonstrated leadership or connections that will get this once proud city off the dime.
Ganim, Fabrizi, and Finch had and have surrounded themselves with flies and leeches (Lennie, you’re included here) that sucked the coffers dry using smoke and mirrors. Only Ganim showed any perceived ability to do something, but he got greedy and self-important.
Oust Finch Now!
Hey Liar Wha-up with the $600 Tax rebate Finch?
How about the old people who are moving out of this city who can’t afford your Tax BS any-more.
I will never vote for you again Mayor Flinch.
This guy used smoke and mirrors to win his last election….He won in my mind because he PROMISED TAX relief /freeze tax increases and give something like a $600 tax refund to the voters….He hung a carrot in front of the horse(voters) and enough bit on it….So now he is a liar….. I remember hearing Chris Caruso explaining that the city had some financial problems ahead and that the city needed to get rid of those who have been fleecing it for years. He also said that there was no way in hell a $600 refund could happen…Well he told the truth and I guess Bridgeport voters don’t like the honest truth…Wake up Bpt. Finch is just using the city for the next high profile job down the line……Fink Fitch !
We can all start PRAYING now that Caruso runs again. Please G-D, please, anything but this idiot and cronies we have now.
Finch has no shot at winning,Caurso has my vote. The only way I dont vote Caurso is if Ganim is running. Ganim was very good I loved that guy. He is very popular in my neighborhood. I just read your personal blog and it was some good reading do I have to sign up to post there you seem to know everything do you know whats up with the Library? When is the election for that?