Activists hope Bridgeport’s Election Day monitor will extend past this year
BRIDGEPORT — It’s not going to be a twomonth deal or even a one-shot deal — at least that’s the hope of some local activists and politicians.
State Sen. Marilyn Moore, who has the support of Bridgeport Generation Now and the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, told supporters at McLevy Green on Friday that she is going to ask for additional money in January to extend a federally funded Election Day monitor for another two years.
“We will go back in January to fight for legislation to pay for the monitor for every election held in Bridgeport until we see fair elections taking place here,” Moore said.
As part of a bill introduced during this week’s special sessions of the House and Senate, federal CARES Act funding will go toward an Election Day monitor who will have a variety of duties including conducting inspections and investigations related to the way the city handles the November election. On Friday morning the governor signed the bill aimed at helping expedite absentee ballot processing.
One election, however, is insufficient, according to Moore and her supporters.
The Rev. D. Stanley Lord, president of the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, agreed that more time is needed to use an election monitor to help regain the public’s trust that their votes count and pledged his group’s support..
“For far too long in this city we have seen elections that have been questionable ,” he said. “We have seen people working for campaigns knocking on the doors of our seniors, those who do not speak Engl is has their first language and wear econcerned that their votes are being abused .”
State Rep. Antonio Felipe said the approval
of the monitor is therapy, “finally icing the black eye that is on Bridgeport. People look at Bridgeport and think of three things — crime, corruption and fraud.”
The solicitation of absentee ballots by Democratic operatives has been an issue in Bridgeport for years.
Last year it impacted Moore’s race for mayor. She defeated Mayor Joseph Ganim on the voting machines by 4,721 to 4,337. But in the absentee ballot race, Moore lost 967 to 313 and as a result lost the election 5,304 to 5,034. Absentee ballots also figured in other local and gubernatorial elections in Bridgeport in recent decades.
Bridgeport Generation Now played a role in bringing a lawsuit in that case. But the election results were not overturned.
Callie Heilmann, who with Gemeem Davis heads the civic group, said the independent election lawyer will be working with the state in overseeing the election.
“Partisian players in our city target and manipulate some of our most vulnerable residents — our low-income, elderly, disabled and (those living in) monolingual Spanish speaking neighborhoods,” she said.
She said the Council of Churches, the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, P.T. Partners and Make the Road Connecticut are supporting Bridgeport Generation Now and the legislative efforts of Moore and Felipe to extend the duration of an Election Day monitor in Bridgeport.