If you had the pleasure of following the late Sen. Ed Gomes’ career, you know he was a fierce advocate for working families and the quality of life issues that matter to us. It should come as no surprise then, that members of his namesake organization, The Greater Bridgeport Ed Gomes Black Democratic Club, have had it up to our eyeballs with the current mayor whose illegal pay-to-play schemes sent him to federal prison in 2003 on 16 counts of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, extortion, mail fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and filing false income tax returns. Mayor Joe Ganim served nine years in prison and earned Bridgeport a reputation as the most corrupt city in the state. We consider it a travesty that, in 2015, he staged (pun intended) a humble comeback and was reelected to lead the city from which he brazenly stole. 

Founded in 2021 by five women, including this writer, the Greater Bridgeport Ed Gomes Black Democratic Club is keeping the senator’s legacy alive by engaging folks across the region in discussions on the importance of local politics, challenging the status quo and getting out the vote. Our mission is to identify, elect and hold accountable candidates who will ensure justice, equity, and parity for the greater good — not just a select group of political cronies.

Fast forward to June 3. On that bright, sunny day, the Greater Bridgeport Ed Gomes Black Democratic Club proudly stood with seven other member organizations that make up the Unrig Bridgeport Coalition and endorsed “Marilyn For Mayor”! Using our collective power, we will elect Marilyn Moore as Bridgeport’s next mayor because she’s a lifelong resident with the experience and proven track record of results to turn our beloved city around. As a five-term state senator and community activist, she has championed such causes as gun violence prevention, food insecurity, living wage, health equity and more. She doesn’t just believe in a higher quality of life for all Bridgeport residents, she has brought millions of dollars into the city over the years to support programs and services to ensure them.

Marilyn Moore Is The Only Credible Candidate

She is also trustworthy. The citizens of Bridgeport will be able to rely on Marilyn Moore to get up every day and work for them. She can be trusted to invest in Bridgeport public schools; provide affordable housing; work with the police department to make our city safer; create jobs and boost the economy; fix roads in all the neighborhoods, not just downtown; invest in the environment and the arts. These are the things the people have said are important to them. And these are the things that Marilyn Moore promised to deliver on when she pledged to the People’s Platform.  

Honestly, this race should be a cake walk because, of the four candidates running, Marilyn Moore is the most qualified and best suited for the job. She’s the only one who was born and raised in the Park City and has never given up on it. She’s the only one with credible legislative and policy experience. She’s the only one who has already delivered on the issues that matter most to the residents of Bridgeport. The only one. Perhaps more important, she is not beholden to any former or current members of this administration. Like her old friend Ed Gomes, she is an independent Democratic who has been effecting positive change for Bridgeport without the support of the city’s political establishment. She alone is poised to right this ship. 

From where we sit, there’s only thing standing between Marilyn Moore and the Mayor’s office: voter apathy. 

With a population of 148,654, including 34,938 children and 113,716 adults, Bridgeport is the largest city in the state. Data show that of the city’s adults, only 69,449 are active voters in their party, including 41,860 Democrats. Of the active Democrats, barely 10,000 bothered to vote in the 2019 municipal elections. People in Bridgeport have become so discouraged by the city’s reputation for political shenanigans that they disengage as a coping mechanism. It’s the freeze response to trauma. Sadly, that mindset is dangerous because it puts the city at risk of not electing a change agent like Marilyn Moore. The fact is that if we don’t vote, we don’t win. If we sit back, sit out, don’t care to be bothered, we will wind up stuck with more of the same. 

This is a high stakes year. The citizens of Bridgeport have a real opportunity to BE THE CHANGE by voting in Marilyn for Mayor, 20 City Council and six Board of Ed members. The September 12 primary is right around the corner. It is up to us, the citizens of Bridgeport, to shake off the fear and apathy and take back our city!  

If Sen. Gomes were alive, he’d roll his eyes and ask, “What the hell are you waiting for?!”  

Ronelle Swagerty is a founding member of the Greater Bridgeport Ed Gomes Black Democratic Club.

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Sources:

CT Secretary of the State Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of November 1, 2022

ctdatahaven.org

Love Bridgeport? Learn Why Marilyn Moore is The People’s Choice For Mayor, Read The People’s Platform,  Pledge to Vote on Tues, Sept, 12th and Donate to the Year of Change HERE!