In a statement just released from the Gomes Campaign:
“After a year on the campaign trail, visiting hundreds of businesses, knocking on thousands of doors and collecting the necessary number of signatures to qualify for the ballot – I will no longer be a candidate for Mayor but am partnering with Mary Jane and asking my supporters to join me to help us create a new partnership for a new Bridgeport.”
“The political machine that props up Bill Finch is hurting our people and blocking progress. We are never going to fix our schools, rebuild the economy, lower taxes, or change the culture at city hall as long as Bill Finch and his machine are in control.
My campaign has been about bringing real reform and transparency to city government and breaking the machine. Those are the issues that matter most.
“Without defeating Bill Finch, this will never happen. In this race, we have two reform candidates and Finch. In order to avoid a split of the reform votes, which could inadvertently re-elect Finch, I have decided to end my campaign and to partner with Mary Jane Foster to ensure a reform victory in the primary. As committed as I am and as hard as I’ve worked, I cannot let the status quo remain in charge.
Mary Jane and I come from different backgrounds, but we share the same deep passion for this community and its people. It is imperative that one of us be elected.”