Ex-Convict Former Bridgeport Mayor Considers Another Run

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Joseph Ganim, the former Bridgeport mayor who served seven years in prison for bribery, is weighing another run for the top office in Connecticut's largest city.

The Democrat announced Thursday on Twitter that he's setting up an exploratory committee for a comeback bid.

Ganim, 55, was convicted of steering city contracts in exchange for wine, clothes, cash and home improvements. He served seven years in prison before his release in 2010.

Ganim has said he would make a better chief executive because of his past and has asked the Democratic Town Committee for support at the party's nominating convention this summer.

In an interview Thursday on the "Chaz & AJ in the Morning" radio show on WPLR-FM, Ganim apologized to the people of Bridgeport.

"I made some serious errors in judgment at that time," he said. "I did break the law and breach the trust and stopped the progress. ... For that, and for all that we've lost collectively, I'm truly sorry."

Democratic Mayor Bill Finch, who is seeking a third term, has urged Ganim to reconsider, saying talk of a comeback bid is scaring away potential investors.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.