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Finch Asks Merrill To Reconsider Decision To Bar Him From Bridgeport Ballot

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Bill Finch is is asking Secretary of the State Denise Merrill to reconsider her decision barring him from the November ballot in Bridgeport as he seeks re-election as a member of a minor third party. 

Mayor Bill Finch is trying to find a way to be on the November ballot in his bid for re-election.

Mayor Bill Finch is trying to find a way to be on the November ballot in his bid for re-election.

Photo Credit: File

Merrill's ruling Friday came less than one day after the Job Creation Party officially endorsed Finch as its mayoral candidate and before the party filed its endorsement. 

"I strongly encourage the Secretary of [the] State to reconsider her decision, which results in the restriction of ballot access for the Job Creation Party on the November 3rd ballot," Finch said. "And, in the wake of this unfortunate decision, we're exploring our options."

Finch earlier had vowed to file a lawsuit to gain a spot on the ballot.

“I strongly support minor party access to the ballot and new participation in the electoral process," Merrill said Friday. "However, our election laws exist to ensure a fair and level playing field for all parties and candidates. The Job Creation Party designation committee filed papers to run a petitioning candidate for mayor of Bridgeport, but they never submitted any document endorsing a candidate for that office."

Merrill said the deadline to do so has passed.

"State election law clearly states that in order to get a candidate on the ballot, a petitioning minor party must submit a letter of endorsement by the statutorily mandated deadline," she said. 

The minor party endorsement deadline was Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 4 p.m.

"No statement of endorsement was submitted to our office by the Job Creation Party designation committee by that deadline," Merrill said. "Because of this, state law forbids my office from approving any petitioning candidate from that group. None of the ensuing circumstances that have taken place since that deadline passed have changed that determination made by my office."

Finch lost the Democratic primary Sept. 16 to former Mayor Joe Ganim, who served over seven years in prison on corruption charges. 

"Ultimately, the Secretary of the State’s office is bound to follow the law as written, and unfortunately we have no legal authority to grant any exceptions,” Merrill said. 

To stay in the race, Finch must run as a write-in candidate or as the endorsed candidate of another party.

The Republican Party turned down a bid from Finch to repalace its candidate, Enrique Torres, on the ballot. The other party-endorsed candidate is Charles Coviello of the New Movement Party.

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