Ganim was Bridgeport's mayor from 1991 to 2003. He was later convicted of 16 corruption charges.
Joe Ganim is to be sworn in as mayor of Bridgeport this week. On the eve of the transition, the outgoing mayor made a re-appointment that drew a strong reaction from the Ganim camp.
Last Friday, with just a few days left in office, outgoing Mayor Bill Finch re-appointed the police chief to another five-year term.
In a statement, Finch said:
Police Chief Gaudett has proven himself to be a trustworthy leader as Bridgeport’s top law enforcement official. He’s made tough decisions that have resulted in a stronger department. He’s earned the trust of our community by serving as a strong voice for fair and honest law enforcement practices. He’s led-the-charge in cracking down on crime in the state’s largest city, which has resulted in some of the lowest crime rates the city has experienced in nearly a half-century. And, through his work with Project Longevity, he’s successfully brought officers, community partners, and the state to the table in order to ensure that those re-entering our community after serving time are set up for future success.
With the five-year reappointment, Gaudett is contracted to serve as Bridgeport’s top law enforcement official until December 2020.
Finch renews police chief’s contract https://t.co/r0VQotM5eo via ConnPost He will help keep BPT safe and honest. That is what we need.
— Bill Finch (@Billfinchbpt) November 28, 2015
The city's police union had endorsed Ganim, and the union president publicly called for the hiring of a new police chief.
Ganim's campaign legal counsel issued a quick rebuke, calling the appointment petty and calling on Gaudett to turn down the post. The online news site Only In Bridgeport reportedthat authority is granted to the mayor to reappoint the police chief by the Bridgeport City Charter.
Ganim was mayor from 1991 to 2003, when he was convicted of 16 corruption charges. He spent seven years in federal prison. His inauguration takes place Tuesday evening at Klein Memorial Auditorium.
