Bridgeport Lawyers Reviewing Court Decision On New Mayoral Primary

BRIDGEPORT, CT — With Wednesday's court decision ordering a new mayoral primary in Bridgeport, confusion reigns over next week's election. But one thing is certain, Bridgeport voters will still head to the polls on Tuesday and cast ballots in the general election, according to officials.

"The City Attorney’s Office is reviewing Judge Clark’s opinion and all the legal options available to us," Bridgeport officials said in a statement. "Meanwhile, as Judge Clark’s decision makes clear, Tuesday’s General Election is proceeding as scheduled, and we encourage voters to participate in that election."

Superior Court Judge William Clark ruled that mayoral candidate John Gomes, who lost the primary this summer to incumbent Mayor Joseph Ganim, met the "burden of proof and established violations in the placing of absentee ballot into drop boxes by partisans."

Gomes, who filed the lawsuit that resulted in Clark'd decision, reportedly won the machine count for the primary, but lost to Ganim by 251 votes, most of which were from absentee ballots.

When a new primary might be held has not been determined. Four candidates are on the ballot for mayor in Bridgeport in Tuesday's election:

• Democratic incumbent Joseph P. Ganim
• Republican: David R. Herz
• Independent: John Gomes
• Petitioning Candidate: Lamond T. Daniels

Gomes' attorney, Bill Bloss, told the Connecticut Post that if Gomes wins on Tuesday, there is no need for a new primary, but if one of the other candidates wins, then there will need to be a primary.

On Wednesday, Daniels called the judge's decision "a victory for democracy and election integrity," but an embarrassment for the city.