Former state senator remains in critical condition after crash
BRIDGEPORT — Ed Gomes has been known as a fighter for much of his 84 years.
And now family and friends are leaning on that warrior’s image of the former union organizer and retired Democratic state senator to try and stay optimistic about his chances of recovering from head injuries sustained in a serious car crash Sunday night.
“One of the things about Ed is he doesn’t give up. And he did come back,” said Marty Dunleavy of New Haven, a veteran labor and Democratic operative, referring to how Gomes lost his Senate
seat in 2012, then won it back in 2015 and retired three years later.
“He was able to go out on his own terms,” Dunleavy said. “He’s a bit of a folk hero in Bridgeport.”
Gomes was still hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday following emergency surgery three days earlier, according to niece Latoya Johnson-Aranjo, who has been receiving updates from his son.
“His blood pressure was going down, so they did a procedure on him,” Johnson-Aranjo said. “He is only responding to pain. He is not responding . to any commands. It’s just a waiting game. ... If they’re telling you to move your hands and you can’t move them, that’s something in the brain.”
Gomes, driving a 2010 Ford Fusion, and Clive Henry, 19, behind the wheel of a 2002 Acura RSX, collided just before 7 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Boston and Noble avenues. Gomes, police said, was trying to turn into the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant parking lot at 325 Boston Ave.
Aaron Turner was Gomes’ legislative aide for three years starting in 2015 and said there are a lot of well-wishers keeping Gomes in their thoughts and prayers.
“Folks have been reaching out to me to see how he’s doing, for updates, if there’s any way they can help the family or where to send ‘get well’ cards,” Turner said Wednesday.
He said he spent so much
time with Go mes during those three years, both professionally and in their spare time, that he came to think of his boss as a best friend :“Me and Ed got a 52- year age difference. That didn’t matter .”
Turner talked about thee moti on al experience of the last few days since the accident.
“At first there was the shock of hearing about it. And then you think, ‘Ed’s a tough guy. He’ll pull through,’ ” Turner said. But, he admitted he was very concerned
about “the severity of his injuries, coupled with his age.”
Johnson-Aranjo said because of coronavirus-related visiting restrictions, “No one has seen him. Everything (medical updates) is over the phone.”
“He’s definitely a fighter,” she said.
Gomes was first elected to represent the 23rd Senate District in 2005 and succeeded Ernie Newton. While both Democrats, the pair have sometimes been on opposites sides.
“I’m just saddened this happened,” Newton said Wednesday. “We still had the courtesy and respect for one another. He can be mad at you one day, but love you the next day. ... If he could help you, even his enemies, he would do it.”
Newton also referred to Gomes as “a fighter” and hoped that spirit would help him heal.
“He was strong in his commitment to people and I’m sure in his commitment of his own self,” Newton said. “He’s not a quitter.”