Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jul 2006
Source: Bridgeport News (CT)
Copyright: 2006 Hometown Publications
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1343
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3363
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/John+Fabrizi (John M. Fabrizi)

A QUESTION OF CREDIBILITY

Can Fabrizi still lead after cocaine admission?

Bridgeport's political, business and religious leaders are meeting 
with Mayor John M. Fabrizi to discuss his status after his admission 
that he has used cocaine and abused alcohol while serving as mayor.

The leaders said Fabrizi must show how he plans to rebuild his 
credibility after he publicly admitted his substance abuse problems June 20.

Last week, Fabrizi met with Democratic City Council members and 
Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) members to explain his 
past drug and alcohol use and current treatment.

A similar meeting with the Greater Bridgeport Council of Churches, a 
religious umbrella group, has been scheduled for the near future.

"I'm telling them my story and explaining my situation," said 
Fabrizi, whose admission came after his name surfaced in an ongoing 
federal drug investigation. A representative from the U.S. Attorney's 
Office has said Fabrizi is not a target in the case.

Two weeks ago, Fabrizi said he hadn't used cocaine in 18 months or 
consumed alcohol in four months. He has been mayor for three years 
and two months, since April 2003.

Paul Timpanelli, BRBC president, described the meeting between 
Fabrizi and business leaders as "difficult but cordial. People were 
frank, and I think the mayor was honest."

Timpanelli said business leaders "are disappointed in [Fabrizi's] 
behavior" but most appear willing to give him a second chance.

To do that, he said, Fabrizi must come up with a specific plan 
similar to a corporate crisis recovery plan.

"It's a relatively small window of opportunity," Timpanelli said. "He 
has to show how he can revitalize his image and the city's image, 
show why he can be trusted, and demonstrate why people should have 
faith he can still do the job."

The Council of Churches, in a recent letter to Fabrizi, told the 
mayor his drug use violated the public trust. "Leaders set the 
thermostat of the entities they lead," stated the letter.

In the letter, religious leaders asked how people, including 
children, could be advised to avoid illegal drug use when the mayor 
has not done so.

"Your behavior mocks the National Day of Prayer event annually 
organized by your office," they wrote.

They requested a meeting with Fabrizi so he could offer "a clear plan 
to regain the public trust...with decisive short- and long-term steps 
for the well-being of the city of Bridgeport." Fabrizi has agreed to 
meet with the organization.

Council ponders options

Fabrizi's meeting with the Democratic City Council members took place 
June 28 behind closed doors in the City Hall Annex. Fifteen of 19 
Democrats attended.

Fabrizi, who also is a Democrat, spoke to the council members for 
about 30 minutes, and then the meeting continued without him.

Associate City Attorney John H. Barton had ruled the Democrats could 
meet in a caucus - not open to the public or press - as long as only 
Democratic members attended and no city business was conducted.

In an interview, Barton said Fabrizi is "an ex-officio" caucus 
member. Fabrizi chairs City Council meetings but can vote only to break ties.

Democratic council member Robert P. Curwen Sr., a Fabrizi supporter, 
said one focus of the meeting was expanding the extent of personnel 
covered by the city's ethics rules and drug and alcohol use policy. 
Fabrizi seems to have violated the rules and policy based on his admission.

Curwen said the city charter might have to be revised so there is no 
question that the rules and policy apply to the mayor and his 
top-tier appointees, not just unionized municipal workers.

"We want people to know that city business is still moving forward 
and we won't just let this situation [with Fabrizi] go away," Curwen 
said. "He'll be under scrutiny."

A Bridgeport mayor cannot be impeached or recalled from office.

Democratic council member Robert S. Walsh, who often has clashed with 
Fabrizi, said he purposely didn't attend the caucus until after 
Fabrizi had finished his presentation. He said he already is familiar 
with the mayor's version of events.

"I think I'll only get madder if I hear him explain it anymore," Walsh said.

He said council members are divided over to do about the mayor's 
behavior, "but there was a clear consensus that the citizens of 
Bridgeport once again had their confidence in government hurt."

He said the council might establish a special committee to look into 
how certain municipal rules and policies could be changed, including 
those on ethics and employee drug use.

Drug tests, public reaction

Walsh also said the possibility of asking the mayor to undergo 
regular drug testing is on the table. "It's something that will 
probably be looked into more," he said.

Walsh believes most Bridgeport residents want Fabrizi to resign. 
However, he said he hasn't called for the mayor's resignation because 
he doesn't think his opinion would influence Fabrizi.

"The reaction I'm hearing is worse than with Ganim," said Walsh, 
referring to Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, who was convicted of 16 federal 
corruption charges in April 2003 and now is serving a nine-year sentence.

Fabrizi has said he will not resign and has continued to attend many 
public events, where the reaction to him appears to be mostly positive.

Walsh said having many council members and state legislators call for 
the mayor's resignation at once could have an impact on what Fabrizi does.

Curwen said council members are taking "a wait-and-see approach" 
toward Fabrizi.

He said the mayor misled council members in the past when he denied 
rumors he had used cocaine. "He lied to a lot of us on this issue, so 
there's a lot of skepticism," said Curwen, adding that people usually 
try to cover up their addictions.

Curwen doesn't think Fabrizi should resign as of now, since he hasn't 
been charged or convicted of any crime. He also thinks Fabrizi has 
done a good job as mayor.

"If he's making an effort and is in treatment, as he has told us, I 
think it warrants a second chance," Curwen said. "But he also needs 
to lead by example."

Fabrizi said he wants council members to keep in mind how committed 
he is to moving Bridgeport forward.

"All City Council members, even my detractors, know how hard I work," 
he said. "While they may not agree with everything I do and all I 
want to accomplish, they can't take away my work ethic or drive."

Fabrizi said he has spoken to almost all council members privately 
about his addiction in recent days. "It's in the past," stressed 
Fabrizi, insisting his cocaine and alcohol use never affected his job 
performance.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman