McElroy Again Asks Blount to Resign; Claims to Have Nearly 1/3 of Signatures Needed to Start Recall Election Process
By Jeff Toquinto on July 14, 2014
For the third straight Bridgeport City Council meeting, resident Steve McElroy approached the podium to address the City’s governing 
body. And for the third straight meeting, McElroy asked Bridgeport Mayor Mario Blount to step down.
body. And for the third straight meeting, McElroy asked Bridgeport Mayor Mario Blount to step down.
McElroy has calmly asked Blount to remove himself voluntarily from the office he was elected to and has done so at all three meetings since Blount, a pharmacist, was indicted by a federal grand jury and then arrested and charged June 3 with three felony counts relating to the improper distribution of prescription painkillers. McElroy has said that he will continue to seek enough signatures to force a recall election of Blount’s position.
City Clerk Andrea Kerr said that in order to do the recall election, McElroy would have to get 10 percent of the city’s registered voters (617 is the number) and then file the fee to do the recall election. She said although not certain, the cost would likely be between $6,000 and $7,000. An exact total, she said, would be calculated if it gets to that point. According to McElroy, he’s getting close to that point with what he claims are more than three dozen individuals seeking signatures for the petition with the needed signatures.
“Only eight of the 40 people gathering signatures have returning petitions to me,” said McElroy. “I now have 192 signatures obtained with very little effort.”
No one disputed those numbers during the presentation. McElroy also did not present them at this time.
Whether the reported numbers means a recall election is forthcoming is unknown. What is known is that Blount said after the meeting that he is not stepping down from his position. Whether Blount can stay in his position legally – without the recall election – will be determined starting Dec. 1. That date was announced today as the trial date for Blount. Click HERE to read that story.
McElroy, however, wants Blount to step down immediately. He said Blount being on the city’s governing body is divisive.
“Our community is being divided and Bridgeport’s reputation is being harmed,” said McElroy. “We are becoming the butt of jokes linking us to the Clarksburg City Council and the mayor of Toronto. There is no doubt that families and businesses looking to locate in Bridgeport must contend with a mayor that has been arrested on drug charges.”
Several other items were discussed at this evening’s meeting. A follow-up report on other items addressed by Council will be posted tomorrow on Connect-Bridgeport.com.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Steve McElroy asking Mayor Mario Blount to once again step down. Bottom photo shows Blount as he presents a proclamation to the Bridgeport High School state championship baseball team.
Anyone wishing to sign a petition or help to gather signatures may do so by emailing to UniteHere@outlook.com
I do not expect Mario to follow in Zeke Lopez's foot steps causing maximum damage both emotionally and financially now going on 2 years. Surely he will respond to the desires of the community and he sees the damages being caused by his refusal to step down. I have seen friends and family members divided and angry over his continued presence. He can stop this from festering by resigning and allowing the community to leave it behind, to heal and move forward in a positive direction. In the unlikely event he does not, we must be prepared for the worst and prepare to do what needs done for the good of all in the community.
Posted by Stephen McElroy
Jul. 15, 2014 at 11:05 AM EST
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