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By ROB SULLIVAN Bridgeport Democrats convened on Monday night at Testos Restaurant in the North End of the Park City and chose their slate of candidates for what is gearing up to be a contentious race for the citys Board of Education. Bridgeport Dems traditionally hold their conventions at Testos, which is owned by Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa. Tom Mulligan, Letitia Colon and Bobby Simmons, the trio of Democrats who would have been up for re-election opting not to run, the party endorsed three new candidates. Brandon Clark, who works at Achievement First Bridgeport Academy, a city charter school, Rev. Simon Castillo, the pastor of the Good Shepherd Christian Church and Katie Bukovny who works in education marketing. www.ctpost.com/local/article/City-Democrats-stick-with-incumbents-4680496.php Each of the three are making their first run for office in Bridgeport, although Bukovny hails from a political family. She is the sister of long time Black Rock Democratic District Leader Danny Roach and has a child who attends Black Rock School in the neighborhood of the same name. The three newcomers will most likely have a primary challenge from current East End City Councilman Andre Baker. Baker will more than likely be joined in his primary challenge by Howard Gardner, a local businessman and former mayoral candidate and former City Councilman Dave Hennessy. onlyinbridgeport.com/wordpress/dems-endorse-three-new-school-board-candidates-primary-possible/#more-48585 In fact, Bakers name was placed in nomination at Testos but with an overwhelming of Bridgeport Democratic regulars on hand, that attempt went nowhere. But Baker will have some strong support behind him. He is already backed by three veteran Bridgeport politicians: former City Council President Lisa Parziale, former State Senator Ed Gomes and former State Senator Ernie Newton. Veteran political maverick and former mayoral candidate Charlie Coviello is also getting into the act. Coviello is organizing the signature drive for the three experienced challengers, and he has enlisted the aid of the Bridgeport Education Association the petition drive. Well be out there in force every day. Bet on it, Coviello said. The balance of power on the school board is at stake in this election. The Democrats currently hold a 5-4 edge for every critical vote taken and the Dems generally support Mayor Bill Finch and School Superintendent Paul Vallas. They are opposed by a voting bloc of Simmons and the three members of the Working Families Party, former NSA star John Bagley, Sauda Baraka and Maria Pereira. Baraka and Pereira are also up for re-election. To retain power, the Democrats need the three nominated candidates to be victorious as Baker, Gardner and Hennessy will be members of the anti-Finch coalition. Castillo, Bukovny and Clark have already announced their support of Finch and Vallas. If the party nominees sweep, they would enjoy a 6-3 advantage in voting as the Working Families group will no longer have Simmons vote.
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