Mary Chapar Moran[1] (born August 1, 1933) is an American politician who served as mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut from 1989 to 1991. She is the first and only woman to be mayor of Bridgeport. A member of the Republican Party, Moran ran in 1989 and defeated incumbent mayor Thomas W. Bucci flipping Bridgeport's leadership from Democrat to Republican. Her victory was considered an upset as Bridgeport was heavily Democratic.[2] She served for one term, before being defeated by Joe Ganim thus returning Bridgeport back to Democratic leadership. Her tenure was extremely unpopular exclusively due to her decision to file for municipal bankruptcy for the City Of Bridgeport,[3] which the U.S. bankruptcy court ultimately rejected.[4]
In 1977, Moran unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for city clerk.[2][5]
In 1989, Moran–then "a self-described housewife and real-estate broker" without experience in public office[2]—won the Republican nomination for mayor in an upset, narrowly defeating the party-endorsed candidate, former mayor Leonard S. Paoletta, with 2,004 votes (50.4%) to Paoletta's 1,972 votes (49.6%).[5] Moran proceeded to defeat two-term incumbent mayor Thomas W. Bucci. She received support mainly from white voters,[6] and argued that under Bucci crime went up as and financial issues became worse.[2] Moran was a Republican nominee in a heavily Democratic city, yet won the election by 11 percentage points.[2] Moran was sworn in at the Klein Memorial Auditorium on November 13, 1989.[2] Her victory was considered an upset by observers and was understood to be a rejection towards Bucci rather than an acceptance of her policies who called for "cutting city services, except for police and fire" and not increasing taxes except during a potential municipal bankruptcy.
Mayor of Bridgeportedit
In 1988, the year prior to her election, the State of Connecticut had imposed a financial review board for the city.[7]
In 1991, Moran became famous for filing a municipal bankruptcy petition for the city in U.S. bankruptcy court in an effort to avoid an 18 percent tax that the financial review board had proposed.[8][9] The petition was unsuccessful; the bankruptcy court determined that Bridgeport was not insolvent.[10][11][4]
Moran's move was deeply unpopular, even vilified.[3][12] The filing "made Connecticut's largest city a symbol of the nation's urban struggles."[13] In a 2012 op-ed, Moran defended the decision as the only way to address Bridgeport's steep structural budget deficits.[12]
Moran lost the 1991 election to Joseph P. Ganim. Ganim received 15,768 votes (54%) compared to 10,951 for Moran and 2,258 for other candidates.[14]
Referencesedit
^Steve Halvonik, Groups Credit Smith With Assist, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (February 9, 1990).
^ abcdefNick Ravo, A Novice Reigns as Bridgeport Mayor, New York Times (November 15, 1989).
^ abGeorge Judson, U.S. Judge Blocks Bridgeport From Bankruptcy Court, New York Times (August 2, 1991).
^ abFor First Time, Democrats Choose A Black for Mayor in New Haven, Associated Press (September 14, 1989).
^The 1989 Elections: Connecticut: New Haven Picks First Black Mayor, New York Times (November 8, 1989).
^Gerald Benjamin & Richard P. Nathan, Regionalism and Realism: A Study of Governments in the New York Metropolitan Area (Bookings Institution Press: 2001), p. 13.
^Rob Sullivan, Political Corruption in Bridgeport: Scandal in the Park City (The History Press, 2014), p. 93.
^David Berman, Local Government and the States: Autonomy, Politics and Policy: Autonomy, Politics and Policy (Routledge, 2015).
^Jeff Holtz, Bridgeport Mayor's Office, and Race for It, Drawing Spotlight as Usual, New York Times (June 10, 2007).
^ abMary C. Moran, In 1991, bankruptcy was best for Bridgeport, Connecticut Post (September 14, 2012).
^Kirk Johnson, Bridgeport Mayor Falls, but No Wide Anti-Incumbent Trend Is Seen, New York Times (November 6, 1991).
^Kirk Johnson, New Mayor in Bridgeport Faces the Same Old Problems, New York Times (November 7, 1991).
January 01, 1970
mary, moran, mary, chapar, moran, born, august, 1933, american, politician, served, mayor, bridgeport, connecticut, from, 1989, 1991, first, only, woman, mayor, bridgeport, member, republican, party, moran, 1989, defeated, incumbent, mayor, thomas, bucci, flip. Mary Chapar Moran 1 born August 1 1933 is an American politician who served as mayor of Bridgeport Connecticut from 1989 to 1991 She is the first and only woman to be mayor of Bridgeport A member of the Republican Party Moran ran in 1989 and defeated incumbent mayor Thomas W Bucci flipping Bridgeport s leadership from Democrat to Republican Her victory was considered an upset as Bridgeport was heavily Democratic 2 She served for one term before being defeated by Joe Ganim thus returning Bridgeport back to Democratic leadership Her tenure was extremely unpopular exclusively due to her decision to file for municipal bankruptcy for the City Of Bridgeport 3 which the U S bankruptcy court ultimately rejected 4 Mary Moran50th Mayor of Bridgeport ConnecticutIn office November 13 1989 November 11 1991Preceded byThomas W BucciSucceeded byJoseph GanimPersonal detailsBorn 1933 08 01 August 1 1933 age 90 Bridgeport ConnecticutPolitical partyRepublicanElectoral history editIn 1977 Moran unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for city clerk 2 5 In 1989 Moran then a self described housewife and real estate broker without experience in public office 2 won the Republican nomination for mayor in an upset narrowly defeating the party endorsed candidate former mayor Leonard S Paoletta with 2 004 votes 50 4 to Paoletta s 1 972 votes 49 6 5 Moran proceeded to defeat two term incumbent mayor Thomas W Bucci She received support mainly from white voters 6 and argued that under Bucci crime went up as and financial issues became worse 2 Moran was a Republican nominee in a heavily Democratic city yet won the election by 11 percentage points 2 Moran was sworn in at the Klein Memorial Auditorium on November 13 1989 2 Her victory was considered an upset by observers and was understood to be a rejection towards Bucci rather than an acceptance of her policies who called for cutting city services except for police and fire and not increasing taxes except during a potential municipal bankruptcy Mayor of Bridgeport editIn 1988 the year prior to her election the State of Connecticut had imposed a financial review board for the city 7 In 1991 Moran became famous for filing a municipal bankruptcy petition for the city in U S bankruptcy court in an effort to avoid an 18 percent tax that the financial review board had proposed 8 9 The petition was unsuccessful the bankruptcy court determined that Bridgeport was not insolvent 10 11 4 Moran s move was deeply unpopular even vilified 3 12 The filing made Connecticut s largest city a symbol of the nation s urban struggles 13 In a 2012 op ed Moran defended the decision as the only way to address Bridgeport s steep structural budget deficits 12 Moran lost the 1991 election to Joseph P Ganim Ganim received 15 768 votes 54 compared to 10 951 for Moran and 2 258 for other candidates 14 References edit Steve Halvonik Groups Credit Smith With Assist Pittsburgh Post Gazette February 9 1990 a b c d e f Nick Ravo A Novice Reigns as Bridgeport Mayor New York Times November 15 1989 a b Sullivan p 93 a b George Judson U S Judge Blocks Bridgeport From Bankruptcy Court New York Times August 2 1991 a b For First Time Democrats Choose A Black for Mayor in New Haven Associated Press September 14 1989 The 1989 Elections Connecticut New Haven Picks First Black Mayor New York Times November 8 1989 Gerald Benjamin amp Richard P Nathan Regionalism and Realism A Study of Governments in the New York Metropolitan Area Bookings Institution Press 2001 p 13 Rob Sullivan Political Corruption in Bridgeport Scandal in the Park City The History Press 2014 p 93 David Berman Local Government and the States Autonomy Politics and Policy Autonomy Politics and Policy Routledge 2015 Jeff Holtz Bridgeport Mayor s Office and Race for It Drawing Spotlight as Usual New York Times June 10 2007 Benjamin amp Nathan p 13 a b Mary C Moran In 1991 bankruptcy was best for Bridgeport Connecticut Post September 14 2012 Kirk Johnson Bridgeport Mayor Falls but No Wide Anti Incumbent Trend Is Seen New York Times November 6 1991 Kirk Johnson New Mayor in Bridgeport Faces the Same Old Problems New York Times November 7 1991 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary C Moran amp oldid 1196232463, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
