In his “victory” speech, Mayor Ganim told us “Bridgeport has Spoken,” that he “declare[s] victory for the City of Bridgeport.”

“The People of Bridgeport…” nine percent of Bridgeport's voters has actually spoken somewhat in Mr. Ganim's favor; I expect even some of these held their noses and voted for Mr. Ganim because they didn't have confidence in the alternative proposed.

What speaks even louder than the pomposity of the mayor is the voice of the 85 percent who stayed away altogether: none of us captured their imagination with a sufficiently compelling vision of the future to draw them out to vote in less than embarrassing numbers. Mostly what these 85% told us is that in their eyes, it just doesn't matter because nothing is going to change anyway.

This last election is certainly not an endorsement of Mayor Ganim's vision of progress. It is not even a vote of confidence.

A good case could be made that Mr. Gomes would be mayor right now but for the election interference of certain Ganim lackeys, the punishment of one being that she is now excused from work and still collecting the same salary. I hear she has a new car too.

If Mr. Ganim really has any confidence in the greatness of his vision, if he wishes to “respect the voice of the voters of Bridgeport,” he should now be cleaning house. He should show us that when the elections roll around again, he will be overwhelmingly chosen in a clean fight.

The people who endorsed him should do the same. All allegations of fraudulent activities around the ballot box should be aggressively investigated and charges brought as appropriate. Even better, if they are substantiated, the perpetrators should be caused to reimburse the city the cost of the extra two elections.

Of course our elected politicians won't pursue this course: they benefit just as Mayor Ganim did.

Then Mayor Ganim should go and talk to the other 85 percent and figure out what would actually improve their lives, and work to build that.

Good jobs might help, safe streets, decent education. If there were business here, the city might actually support a hotel. Thriving businesses also support an art scene, and youth programs, and internships and training. Painting another mural on another abandoned property won't exactly have this effect.

Going hat in hand to the state to build another sports venue won't do it either. On game days we'll have some minimum wage jobs checking tickets and pouring drinks, but that is no basis for an economy.

I know the Economic Development Officer of Trumbull on a first name basis. She comes to every Chamber of Commerce meeting.

I have been to just as many Bridgeport Chamber meetings. I just went to the city's website to see if we even have an Economic Development Officer. Apparently we do.

This may be the biggest city in Connecticut, but it's not that big. It's certainly not so big that the best we can expect as the “voice of the people” is the nine percent of the voting population who showed a preference for the status quo over “Row C for Change,” or my own “Row B for a Better Bridgeport.”

I wish Mr. Ganim luck. I pray for the people of this city.