Judge Puts Gomes on Ballot. Excoriates Newton, Ford.

State Senator Ed Gomes (D-Bridgeport) will be on the August primary ballot in a crucial victory for his re-election bid. Judge Barbara Bellis ordered Gomes on the ballot after hearing startling testimony demonstrating that Bridgeport Democrats Ernie Newton and Ralph Ford connived to keep Gomes off the ballot after he fell short of winning a majority of delegates at the May district nominating conventions. Judge Bellis found willful misconduct and a fraud committed on the court in the course of the unsavory acts to deny Gomes his fair shot at re-election.

Gomes was represented by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Mattei and Bill Bloss.