BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — There were new developments in the Bridgeport absentee ballot scandal on Wednesday that have put a cloud of uncertainty over the city mayor’s race. The State Election Enforcement Commission (SEEC) voted to launch a formal investigation into potential fraud.
“It is of paramount importance to this commission that Connecticut’s elections and primaries are conducted freely and fairly,” said SEEC Chair Stephen Penny during a meeting Wednesday morning.
SEEC voted unanimously on three motions connected to the Bridgeport mayoral primary. It will be investigating possible absentee ballot fraud across three locations in the city - 999 Broad Street, 725 Palisade Ave., and 75 Stewart Street.
Specifically, it will look into the surveillance video obtained by the John Gomes campaign that allegedly shows city employee and Mayor Joe Ganim supporter Wanda Geter-Pataky stuffing the absentee ballot box outside the Margaret Morton Government Center.
In addition, SEEC will investigate allegations of ballot fraud at the Fireside Apartments. It is a mostly elderly and disabled living complex managed by Park City Properties. Its board of commissioners is appointed by the Bridgeport mayor and operates as an independent entity.
“We have called directly to the Park City housing office and we filed a complaint,” Gomes said.
The Gomes campaign claims Ganim conspired with property managers and used his authority as mayor to block building access to his challenger.
"In some instances, those who were elected and on the slate with the other team, worked out with the managers of those facilities and purposely did not allow us to have access whatsoever,” said Gomes.
Ganim denied the claims. He told FOX61 that older voters simply like him.
“We had a huge turnout with seniors. Many of them did and do mail in. I’ve always had not only a warm place in my heart for not only our seniors but our youth but they’ve been a strong base of support,” said Ganim.
Park City Properties also denied Gomes’ claims and said that it allows all campaigns to canvas for votes in their communities.
In 2019, then-candidate for mayor, Marilyn Moore, claimed Ganim used a similar strategy against her.
“If you are the mayor of the city. The chief executive officer and its public housing. You can go in and block anyone else from going in there. The other part that I’ve heard directly from some seniors is tying it to the renters rebate to make people feel that one has to do with the other,” explained Moore.
The 2019 SEEC investigation was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and is still pending. It was referred in June to the Chief State's Attorney’s Office for possible criminal charges.
In addition to these investigations, SEEC voted unanimously Wednesday to subpoena all absentee ballots, ballot applications, distribution lists, prospective distribution lists and both inner and outer ballot envelopes.
Meanwhile, Ganim took to the radio Tuesday morning and threw a smoke screen on the authenticity of the surveillance video itself.
“It’s still under investigation by the police department, how they stole the video if that’s what happened. Or whether it’s a doctored video or a combination of both,” said Ganim on "Chaz & AJ in the Morning ", WPLR, 99.1.
He also said: “There’s no question about the results."
Except — there is.
For the second primary in a row, Ganim lost the in-person tally by nearly 500 votes until the late-night addition of absentee ballots put him in the lead by 251.
“The commission is in receipt of several complaints regarding these events and today we have determined that they fall within our jurisdiction. They have been docketed. They will be thoroughly investigated. We will work and have been working with other law enforcement agencies to determine what the facts are and when we learn them those facts will be brought to light,” Penny said.
The facts will need to be brought to light quickly, with the general election still set for Nov. 7.
Gomes said he will be on the ballot as an Independent. The Gomes campaign also filed a lawsuit asking a judge to overturn the results of the primary and hold a new vote.
Separately, the Bridgeport Police are investigating. FOX61 also reached out to the FBI, who are aware of the situation in Bridgeport but could not confirm or deny an investigation.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include a response from Park City Properties.
Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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