Marilyn Moore Running for State Senate in 22nd District

Media contact: Gabrielle Parisi (203) 360-6128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Senate Candidate Moore Pledges Support of Government Reform

Musto Votes to Ban Chocolate Milk From Schools, But Won’t Ban Financial Conflicts

June 17, 2014 – Bridgeport resident, community leader, and candidate for Senate in Connecticut’s 22nd State Senate District, Marilyn Moore, released the following statement declaring that taxpayer money must always transcend politicians’ financial interests. Democratic State Senate candidate Marilyn Moore announced today that one of her first actions in the Connecticut General Assembly will be supporting a version of the government reform bill to guarantee the separation of powers between the Mayor’s office and Common Council delineated in the Bridgeport City Charter, which prohibits city employees from serving on the City Council.

 “This is an important issue to protect taxpayers in Bridgeport, Trumbull and Monroe. Time and again Anthony Musto has served political interests over the interests of the people. He’s allowed the Bridgeport political machine to dictate public policy in the district,” said Moore, founder and CEO of The Witness Project of Connecticut, which serves to reduce death rates of breast cancer among low income and African American women.

The Bridgeport City Charter approved by city voters prohibits city employees from serving on the City Council. State law precludes municipal employees from sitting on boards of finance to eliminate conflicts of interests such as voting on their own wages and benefits and to provide guarantee accountability between legislative and executive branches.  Bridgeport’s legislative body, however, functions as a board of finance. Musto has opposed a reform bill in the state legislature that would extend the existing provision prohibiting municipal employees from serving on a board of finance to all municipal bodies that have budget authority.

 “Instead of the City’s legislative branch serving as a check on the executive branch, some City Councilors’ are paid by the Mayor’s office says Moore. “A likewise scenario is illegal on both the state and federal level, but in Bridgeport we have a situation where politicians play by a separate set of rules to serve political self interest.”

 "We need more reform-minded watchdogs and fewer lapdogs in the state legislature," says State Rep. Jack Hennessy, who co-authored the government reform bill with State Rep. Auden Grogins to enforce the Bridgeport City Charter. "I'm supporting Marilyn Moore because I will have a partner in protecting taxpayer money from the conflicts of interests protecting political sacred cows. The state of Connecticut will only benefit from having municipalities that have sound governance policies in place. And that includes supporting municipal home rule approved by voters.”

The bill has received widespread support in the State House, but Musto has blocked the bill’s passage in the State Senate siding with his political supporter special interests.

Connecticut’s 22nd State Senate District encompasses Trumbull and portions of Bridgeport and Monroe. Moore is challenging Musto in an Aug. 12 Democratic primary.

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Paid for by Marilyn Moore for State Senate, 2014, Robert Walsh, Treasurer. Approved by Marilyn Moore.