It’s a long day for those who give rides to the polls

From staff writer John Burgeson:

BRIDGEPORT –– For most it’s a labor of love. For some it’s a labor of love with a tank of gas thrown in.

They’re the people who give rides to the polls on election day, and on Tuesday, dozens found themselves driving all over the city to pick up the home bound for a ride to the polls.

Just about all of them work for either the campaigns of incumbent Mayor Bill Finch, or his challenger, Mary Jane Foster.

“I’ve given about 10 rides so far,” said Bonnie Roach, who had just dropped off an elderly voter in front on Longfellow School on the city’s West End at about noon. “For many of them is’s a confusing day for them. Unless you say to them, ‘Do you know what today is?’ many of them don’t get it. But once you talk to them for five minutes, they’re on board with the election.”

Roach, a Finch supporter, said that she was volunteering her time, and her car expenses. “Look, I’m on ‘E’ –– I gotta get some gas.”

It was a long day for Finch supporter and former Bridgeport City Council member Mike Marella.

“I started at seven o’clock,” he said after dropping off a voter at the JFK Campus on the East End, “I’ll be doing this until eight. They wanted to pay me, but I’m, doing this because I’m an old-time politician.”

Marella is in charge of the Bridgeport Police Athletic League.

The JFK Campus, which includes the High Horizons and Multicultural magnet schools, has a long driveway and it’s at the end of Palisade Avenue, so most of those voting there need rides if they don’t have their own cars.

Driver Odalis Inoa, 19, another Finch supporter, said that he was driving exclusively to the JFK Campus. “They gave me a full tank of gas. And it’ll look good on my resume.”

For Foster booster Terry Conroy, now of Stamford, helping out her campaign was an assignment that he couldn’t turn down.

“I was employed by Mary Jane at one time, and I was on the on-filed announcer for a season,” he said after dropping of a voter in front of Harding High School. “I was Capt. L.I. Sounder for a season. I met my wife at a game, so Mary Jane will; always have a place in my heart, because she’s at least partly responsible for hooking me up with my wife.”

You can reach John Burgeson at 203-330-6403 or by email at jburgeson@ctpost.com. Follow twitter.com/johnburgeson.

Keila Torres Ocasio