BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Municipal Election Day is coming up Nov. 7. Here's a look at the Bridgeport mayoral race:
Incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim's challenger is Republican David Herz. However, following September's primary election, Gamin's campaign is fighting to defend the results against accusations of fraud.
Ganim's primary opponent, Democrat John Gomes, is challenging the results after absentee ballot votes pushed Ganim to win over Gomes by 251, the same outcome that happened in 2019.
Ganim, who was convicted of corruption during a first stint as mayor but won his old job back in an election after his release from prison, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of wrongdoing related to ballots and has raised concerns about other videos which he says show Gomes' campaign workers dropping in multiple pieces of paper resembling ballots.
Wanda Geter-Patacky was one among nine people who were seen on video making 24 drops into absentee ballot boxes across the city, according to evidence presented at a hearing in mid-October.
Many of the new video clips depicted Geter-Patacky appearing to supervise and escort other people making deposits. One clip even shows her with a bag high-fiving someone after they make a drop. Some deposits were made in broad daylight, others in darkness.
In a court hearing Oct. 17, Ganim tried to distance himself from Geter-Pataky. Ganim also said he did not talk to Geter-Pataky about handling absentee ballots differently after state elections officials, who were investigating allegations of absentee ballot fraud in Ganim's 2019 primary, referred her and two others with ties to his campaign to state prosecutors.
Ganim said in court that he was “shocked by what appeared in the videos" released by Gomes' campaign. However, he said he does not know if Geter-Patakay actually mishandled ballots. The State Elections Enforcement Commission is investigating this latest primary after receiving multiple complaints.
A state judge ruled Wednesday, Nov. 1, that a new primary will be held after the general election. A new primary date has not been set yet.
Click here for more information on what you need to know before heading to the polls.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
