BRIDGEPORT — Mayor Bill Finch’s campaign is demanding a public apology from primary opponent Mary-Jane Foster for negative comments about adoption made by someone running on her slate.
In a comment on a posting on the Only in Bridgeport website, Joel Gonzalez, recruited by Foster for a position as city sheriff, asked Lennie Grimaldi, the blog author, whether Finch was the “bastard” he referred to in one of his postings.
“Lennie are you trying to say that Bill Finch is getting sued,” Gonzalez posted Sunday at 9:42 p.m., according to the blog time stamp. “He is the only ‘Bastard’ involved here. As far as I know everyone else involved can account for their real parents.”
Finch, who was adopted as a child, sent out a press release this morning demanding a public apology for the comment.
Foster’s campaign declined to comment because they had yet to see the release.
Here is the release, presented as a letter to Foster:
Dear Mary-Jane Foster:
We are writing you today to demand a public apology from you and your entire ticket for the cruel and offensive comment regarding adopted children made by the candidate for Sheriff you chose for your slate–Joel Gonzalez. These disparaging comments directed at Mayor Finch made on August 7 on a local blog are completely unacceptable, and to choose someone who would make such comments clearly call into question your judgment in character. While the public understands that we are in the middle of an election campaign, disparaging comments like these, that impact all adopted children in families across every neighborhood of this city, cannot and will not be tolerated.
Approximately 120,000 children are adopted each year in the United States. Adoption helps many of these children to grow up in permanent families rather than in foster homes or institutions. We do not know why the members of your slate think being adopted is something that should be disparaged, but I am proud of the fact that I was adopted and raised by two wonderful loving parents in Bridgeport and Dulce has adopted two children and is in the process of adopting a third. Many children in the City of Bridgeport live as foster children and many of them hope for the permanency and the stability adoption will bring them.
On behalf of all those in the adoption community, we hope that you will issue an apology and refrain from such derogatory comments in the future.
The comment made is below for your review and was posted on www.onlyinbridgeport.com
Joel Gonzalez // Aug 7, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Lennie are you trying to say that Bill Finch is getting sued? He is the only “Bastard” involved here. As far as I know everyone else involved can account for their real parents.
Sincerely,
Bill Finch, Mayor, City of Bridgeport
Dulce Nieves, Coordinator for Children in Placement (she advocates for abused and neglected children who are misplaced or need to be adopted)