Democratic candidates vying to lead the city of Bridgeport met for their first debate this week.
Incumbent Mayor Bill Finch, former mayor Joe Ganim, and businesswoman Mary Jane Foster squared off at an event sponsored by the AARP of Connecticut, the NAACP, and the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network.
Topics included economic development, education, and public safety, but Finch kept returning to the issue of public trust.
Challenger Joe Ganim was convicted in 2003 of corruption in City Hall – steering contracts in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in wine, clothes, cash, and home improvements. He spent seven years in federal prison.
Finch said his leadership has been based on what was best for Bridgeport’s families. "And our families have been through a lot," he said. "They’ve been through the great recession, one of the worst corruption scandals in the history of our country. But we’ve roared back. Trust is back in the city of Bridgeport."
Ganim said as mayor he’d make Bridgeport a city that once again works for everyone by tackling problems head-on. "Taxes being out of control, neighborhoods being overrun by violent crime, a school system that’s failing our children," he said.
Foster charged the Finch administration with a lack of transparency. "When we ask for transparency on things as simple as financial reporting and budget we don’t get it," she said.
And the issue of transparency and availability of daily crime statistics, led to hoots and hollers from the crowd, and a heated exchange between the moderator -- Connecticut Post reporter Ken Dixon -- and Mayor Bill Finch, who snapped that he was now answering three opponents.
It was the first debate ahead of a hotly contested September Democratic primary. The mayoral candidates could face off again in November if the challengers can round up enough signatures for a place on the ballot.
Watch CT-N's coverage of the debate below:
