More diversity sought for Ganim’s City Hall

How do mayor’s hires reflect racial makeup?

As he tries to force a Democratic gubernatorial primary, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim has taken advantage of the criticism that the top of his party’s ticket — Ned Lamont and running mate Susan Bysiewicz — is too white.

Gathering primary petition signatures from urban voters he needs to beat Lamont, Ganim said party leaders’ nomination last week of the Greenwich businessman and Bysiewicz was “not inclusive and insensitive to the diversity of Connecticut.”

So does Ganim’s City Hall reflect the diversity of Connecticut’s largest city?

The returned mayor — Ganim ran Bridgeport from 1991 to 2003 and was re-elected in 2015 — has hired blacks and Hispanics for important, high-paid positions like chief administrative officer and her deputy, police chief and health, budget, grants and labor relations directors.

“Talk about policy-makers and people with large spheres of influence,” Ganim said. “I’m well-served and appreciative of diversity. And whenever there’s an opportunity, I like to be aware of that opportunity for advancement, whether ethnic- or gender-based.”

Some prominent voices in the minority community want more people of color in top spots, and particularly in the mayor’s office.

Christine Bartlett-Josie, who is black and was hired in late 2016 as the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, was gradually shifted to two other departments before resigning this year. Her departure left the four remaining top spots in Ganim’s suite — chief of staff, two aides and director of communications — occupied by three white men and a woman who said she is part Native American.

State Rep. Ezequiel Santiago, who works for the city as a special projects manager in the public facilities department, said Ganim has employed some very qualified African Americans and Hispanics — “not figureheads” — for important jobs.

“You can definitely point to people and say some names,” said Santiago. “But not enough, in my opinion.”

Several other department heads, including those running the public facilities, economic development, finance, legal and fire departments, are white, as are a couple Ganim aides not stationed in the mayor’s suite.

“If you’re going to talk about a diverse ticket, your upper level staff should reflect the city,” said state Rep. Chris Rosario. “He does have some top positions that are diverse. I don’t think that’s the case in his mayoral (office).”

While key advisers working in his suite are white, Ganim has African American or Hispanic women as the executive office manager, clerical assistant, receptionist and as a communications specialist

“The inner office could use a little bit more diversity,” said Council President Aidee Nieves, suggesting Bartlett-Josie’s vacancy be filled with a minority hire who could act as a neighborhood liaison. “The inner circle, it could use a little more color.”

“I still think he (Ganim) has a ways to go,” said community leader Ralph Ford. “We got black folks all up and down City Hall, but not in decision-making situations . ... We have to be at the table when decisions are made.”