Alfredo Castillo and Maria Zambrano Viggiano campaign in the Hollow, challenging José R. Casco.
Bridgeport voters are preparing to head to their polling stations on Tuesday, Sept. 12, for the Democratic Party primaries.
The Democratic Town Committee earlier this summer nominated candidates for all 20 council seats, two per each of the ten districts that make up Bridgeport.
In nine of the 10 City Council districts, challengers have forced incumbents to defend their seats in a primary election. No other political parties are on the ballots until the general election.
To help the public decide, here are two organizations with information.
Bridgeport Generation Now, a new, non-partisan political organizing group trying to get residents more interested in local politics, is co-sponsoring a candidate forum.
It's a free event, although a $10 donation is encouraged, 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Bijou Theatre 275 Fairfield Ave, downtown. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Callie Heilmann of Bridgeport Generation Now told the Connecticut Post that 17 candidates are participating.
Bridgeport's Bijou Theatre stage will be crowded with candidates.
“Each will have one minute to introduce herself or himself, then we’ll move in to two rounds of open-ended questions directed at each candidate,” Heilmman said.
Round one will focus on personal experience and passion, with responses limited to one minute. And round two will be about citywide issues.
Meanwhile, the League of Women Voters’ has launched an online, multi-language guide that Director of Outreach Jean Rabinow said can also be downloaded as a mobile phone app.
“There will be general information about voting, when the polls are open. And then we have asked every candidate who is running for local office in Bridgeport this year to answer a couple of questions,” Rabinow said. “As those come in they will be posted.”
“We do hope this will improve turnout for local elections,” Rabinow said.
