Ernie Newton Blasts Senate Democratic Leadership Over Bridgeport Redistricting

Former state Senator Ernie Newton is blasting fellow state senators for this year’s redistricting that sliced off a key section of Bridgeport that has strongly supported Democrats in elections through the years.

Newton said it was a mistake by the top Senate Democratic leadership to allow the removal of the northern portion of the 23rd Senatorial district held by incumbent Sen. Ed Gomes and give it to Democrat Anthony Musto, an attorney who lives in the adjacent suburb of Trumbull. Those Democratic votes are now expected to go to Musto, thus strengthening his seat. He specifically complained about Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams and Majority Leader Marty Looney, who were heavily involved in the redistricting.

“Ed is always saying how much respect and stuff he got in Hartford,’’ Newton said in an interview. “They cut his whole district out. They tore up the 23rd  and allowed the heart of the black community and Hispanic community to be torn out to save a person from Trumbull that voted against the minimum wage. Now, you explain that one to me. If that’s the kind of respect that Ed got with Don and Marty, I don’t want it. If that’s his friends who would do that to him, I don’t want it. I want you to definitely quote that. He would never have did that to Alvin Penn, Margaret Morton or me.’’

Newton was referring to two former senators, Penn and Morton, who swept to numerous victories in Bridgeport through the years.

Newton added, “They want to represent a district that just disenfranchised 6,000 Afro-Americans. Explain that to me. When I was there, we added seats. We increased Afro-American and Latino districts under my watch. OK? Since they have been there, we lost Marie Kirkley-Bey [through redistricting in the House]. We lost Kenny Green. And they cut Ed Gomes out of his own district. Explain that to me. This is why I’m running. We need a voice. We can’t be disenfranchising people to save a Democrat who votes against the minimum wage.’’

But Williams rejected Newton’s comments, saying that Newton had lied to his fellow Democrats in the Senate.

“I think Ernie Newton is trying to change the subject,” Williams told Capitol Watch on Friday. “He disenfranchised his entire district when he lied to his colleagues in the state Senate and lied to the people of Bridgeport. That’s something that we all remember in the state Senate.’’

Even as the investigation was being detailed in the newspapers, Newton told his colleagues that he had done nothing wrong.

“We believe you’re innocent until proven guilty,” Williams said. “The leadership of the state Senate met numerous times with Ernie and he assured us. It turned out that he was not telling us the truth.’’

Williams added, ”This is classic Ernie Newton, denying the fact that he did not tell the truth – that he lied to the people of Bridgeport and his colleagues in the state Senate. We gave Ernie the benefit of the doubt, based on what he told us. We stood by our colleague.’’

“Bridgeport would be making a tragic mistake if they did not send Ed Gomes, who is a man of his word, back to the Senate.’’

Looney agreed that the Senate Democrats are backing Gomes, saying Newton is wrong about redistricting.

“I think he’s trying to manufacture an issue where none really exists,” Looney said of Newton. “The changes to the 23rd district were relatively minor. That remains overwhelmingly an African American and Latino district. That was true before and after the redistricting. … The 23rd was not substantially changed.’’ 

Looney added, “Ed Gomes has been an honorable, hard-working colleague. His word has always been good. He’s an advocate for the cities. He’s an advocate for labor. He’s been an honorable colleague in every way and deserves to continue.’’

Gomes’ campaign manager, Marty Dunleavy, said that Newton is wrong, adding that the redistricting amounted to “a couple of precincts’ sway’’ that still favors Democrats.

“Ed lost one of his districts that he always racked up a big vote,’’ Dunleavy said. “The racial make-up is virtually the same. It’s not an issue. For all of Ernie’s huffing and puffing, it’s just not true. It will have a negligible effect on this election.’’

Dunleavy also rejected the notion that the Senate leadership is against Gomes, saying that Gomes has been endorsed by Williams, Looney, and judiciary committee co-chairman Eric Coleman.

“I was recruited by Senate leadership for this race,’’ said Dunleavy, a longtime political operative.

Newton, though, rejected Dunleavy’s views across the board.

“Don Williams might love Ed Gomes, but he can’t come down here and cast no vote for him,’’ Newton said.

Newton also charged that many voters in the north end of Bridgeport do not realize that they were switched to the Trumbull district, adding that they would learn Tuesday if they try to show up at the polls.

“When they go to vote, they can’t vote for a minority candidate,’’ Newton said. “There ain’t going to be nobody there. That’s under his watch, not my watch.’’