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Exchanges occasionally grew heated between incumbent Mayor Bill Finch and his two challengers in the Democratic primary race: former Mayor Joseph Ganim and businesswoman Mary-Jane Foster. The two challengers accused Finch of not reporting crime statistics and not doing enough to combat violent crime in the city.
“Taxpayer dollars are paying for these things and it our right to know these things. We have absolutely got to be forthright and honest with your citizenry and if you can’t be you ought not to be mayor, you ought to be doing something else besides hiding the cracks,” Foster said. “We have had a dramatic increase in gun violence over the last couple months, no matter how you slice and dice the statistics, and people are frightened.”
“Robberies are going on and you’re not letting that information out and someone is not taking extra precautions in their neighborhood because there’s no statistics or those crimes are not being disclosed,” Ganim said. “That adds to the number of victims.”
Finch said that the city was making strong efforts in reducing crime and would continue to take action, such as adding cameras in the streets and hiring 100 new police officers.
“Crime statistics have never been lower in 40 years,” Finch said. “You can have revisionist history all you want, but property crimes are down 30 percent, car thefts are down 40 and violent crimes are down 13 percent. Those aren’t my numbers, those come from the police department and the FBI.”
A recent article in the Connecticut Post was referenced that asserted that Finch’s office was not allowing crime information to be released to the media. Finch said that article was “made up and it was probably high-ranking members of the police union that fabricated the story.”
That response was answered with boos from audience members and drew the ire of the event’s moderator, Connecticut Post reporter Ken Dixon, who said that he had recently been denied access to Bridgeport police reports. Finch asserted that the records were open and that he would never give such an order.
On the issue of economic development, Finch touted the development at Steel Point, saying that it would bring in hundreds of jobs that would pay a living wage. He said that he would continue to court businesses to come to Bridgeport, and that people will want to invest in the city.
Foster said that the city needs to exercise fiscal discipline, and also pointed to her time as co-founder of the Bridgeport Bluefish, and said that an important element of the team's success was hiring within the city and using local businesses for services such as food, scoreboards and uniforms. She said it is important to keep paychecks in Bridgeport for local residents and businesses to see economic prosperity.
Ganim said that one of the impediments to businesses in the city was the high taxes. He said that he “held the line” on taxes when he was mayor from 1991 to 2003, and said that Finch raised taxes on homeowners every year except election years.
“I was paying off corruption,” Finch shot back, referencing Ganim’s 2003 conviction on corruption charges, for which he served seven years in federal prison. Finch said that scandal cost “$1,300 for every man, woman and child in Bridgeport.”
Ganim acknowledged the scandal.
“I did things that were wrong, no question,” he said. Ganim added that he believes that as mayor he could bring credibility back to the city and be transparent. “I humbly ask for a second chance.”
Foster said it was time for the city to move on.
“I wish Mr. Ganim all the best, but I would like to see him earn redemption some other way,” she said.
The candidates were in agreement about some issues. All three said they would support body cameras on police officers, and said that more has to be done to engage and involve African-American and Latino residents. They also want to grow opportunities for youths and make sure businesses pay living wages.
Bridgeport’s Democratic voters will decide who they would like to see as their candidate during the primary election on Sept. 16.
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