Lee and Toms teaming up to change the status quo in the 130th district

Fed up could be the campaign slogan for Tyisha Toms and John Marshall Lee who are running for City Council in the 10th district. It could be, but it isn’t.

Instead the duo’s slogan is O.A.T.H., an acronym for Open, Accountable, Transparent, Honest. In other words all that they think is lacking in Bridgeport’s city government. The two are running on the line of former mayor Joseph gamin in the upcoming Democratic primary on September 16th. Ganim is trying to unseat two-term incumbent Bill Finch.

“Two key issues are money and process,” explained Lee. “The city is not making money or generating revenue. What they are doing in actuality is wasting money. As far as I can see there is very little grass roots economic development. As for process what we want is for the municipal government to be open to the people. Right now that isn’t the case.”

Toms said, “I think the city government needs to reflect the diversity of its residents. The diversity is fantastic in our district.”

The 130th district encompasses all of Black Rock and parts of the West End and South End. Lee and Toms are taking on the Democratic party endorsed candidates, Kate Bukovsky and Scott Burns. Voters in the district cast their ballots and Black Rock School and the Aquaculture School.

In addressing why the two are running for the City Council Lee quipped, “We’re not doing this for our health.”

Toms pointed out, “I wanted to work with John because I know he has been the conscience of Bridgeport when it comes to overseeing the budget. The city’s budget is rife with errors. There are 20 people on the City Council and most of them do not see these errors. That is the type of oversight needed to protect Bridgeport taxpayers.”

Lee said, “The city charter is written so that there is a system of checks and balances. That system ultimately rests with the City Council. It hasn’t worked in Bridgeport for years. For the most part, the council simply carries out the mayor’s directives.”

Lee has gained a reputation over the past decade as a watchdog over the city’s finances. He attends nearly every City Council meeting and usually can be heard during the public speaking sessions hammering away at some financial indiscrepency. However, he has been dismissed out of hand by the administration of Mayor Bill Finch.

Toms is a Bridgeport real estate attorney, and has been especially exasperated with what she sees as a stagnant form of municipal government.

“The cast of lawyers we have working for the city of Bridgeport is preposterous,” she said. “It is more money we are throwing out of the window here.”

Both candidates are striving to tell voters that the 130th district is not solely Black Rock and that they are reaching out to the entire district.

“We want to let all residents of the district know that we are going to represent everybody who lives here,” said toms, in a reference to the fact that the two seats in the 130th are often accused of solely addressing the needs of the Black Rock neighborhood.

To that end, the candidates have been hosting a series of listening sessions, the most recent being held at Harborview Market last Saturday night. Lee and Toms vowed to continue the listening sessions if elected to office.

Lee and Toms have also been able to garner many endorsements from the district, including former City Councilman Donna Curran, Taco Loco owner Miguel Tomasio and Fairfield University professor Don Greenberg.

“We just think it shows that people want a change from the status quo,” said Lee.