FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

PRESS STATEMENT: ON THE ROAD TO JUSTICE: ALMOST FIVE YEARS AFTER BRIDGEPORT’S 2019 MAYORAL PRIMARY, BRIDGEPORT VOTERS FINALLY SEE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ELECTION FRAUD

BRIDGEPORT – After Bridgeport’s 2019 mayoral primary, Bridgeport Generation Now Votes and PT Partners worked tirelessly together and uncovered significant violations in the absentee ballot process, which raised serious doubts as to the integrity of the election results. 

We then organized to bring that evidence to trial. The “Lazar v. Ganim” lawsuit represented the first time in Connecticut’s history that voters challenged the results of an election. Evidence presented in court exposed serious voter fraud, manipulation, and abuse in connection with absentee ballots. 

The evidence, which was compiled into a complaint to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, proved what Bridgeport voters have known for decades: Bridgeport’s local democracy is broken by the very people we trust to uphold it.

Today, almost 5 years later, the voters of Bridgeport are finally able to see a level of accountability. The arrests of Wanda Geter-Pataky, Vice-Chair of Bridgeport’s Democratic Town Committee, and Alfredo Castillo, City Councilman in the 136th District, on charges related to election fraud, represent a measure of justice that the people of Bridgeport have been painstakingly waiting for. 

Both officials have been charged with unlawful possession of absentee ballots, misrepresenting the eligibility requirements for absentee voting, and being present when voters completed their absentee ballots. Ms. Geter-Pataky has also been charged with witness tampering. Two other individuals – Nilsa Heredia and Josephine Edmonds – have also been arrested and charged. 

We hope that today’s arrests send a message to everyone who is complicit in upholding the decades-long election abuse in Bridgeport: If you cheat to win, you will eventually lose. Today, Mayor Ganim should finally end the over 250 days of Ms. Geter-Pataky’s paid administrative leave.  

Finally, in April, the SEEC forwarded two complaints of possible absentee ballot fraud in the 2023 Democratic mayoral primary to the chief state’s attorney office. We hope they investigate these matters swiftly and bring those responsible to justice. This coercive, fraudulent election rigging behavior that has destroyed our local democracy must end and the people of Bridgeport’s civil rights must be restored.