Rodgerson Drops Candidacy

Well, kind of...we figured the headline might get the writers at the Connecticut Post to actually open the email at least:

Mayoral Candidate Councilman Keith Rodgerson today renounced his dual candidacy for Mayor and the Board of Education, deciding to withdraw his name from the Bridgeport First Board of Education slot and remain solely as a mayoral candidate. Stated Rodgerson "There is a very heated contest for the one guaranteed minority seat on the Board of Education." Citing pressure from the town committee of his newly formed political party Bridgeport First, Rodgerson stated that "one of the key goals of the party this year was to put a parent on the Board of Education. The party believes that my candidacy may hinder the viability of Sarah Comboni--a parent who is my running mate on the ticket."

The minority slot on the Board of Education is guaranteed to either a Bridgeport First or Republican candidate this year. Republican candidates Laurayne Farrar James-a former Democratic councilwoman and Incumbent Thomas Cunningham are running separate competitive campaigns to try and secure the slot. Stated Rodgerson "I firmly believe that Democrats and Independents this November will choose the Bridgeport First candidate over the Republican candidates. If my withdrawal helps to get a parent on the Board of Education...then this sacrifice is well worth it." Rodgerson cites the models of New Haven and Hartford as the impetus behind his initial dual candidacy. "The mayors of Hartford and New Haven sit on their Board of Education as of charter right. I was asking the people to consent to helping me reform the entire municipal budget...not just the city half."