Mario Testa

Chairman of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee
Mario Testa
Born Italy
Nationality Italian
Occupation Owner of Testo's Restaurant
Organization Democratic Party of Connecticut
Predecessor John F. Stafstrom Jr.[1]
Political party Democratic Party

Mario Testa is the Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee in Bridgeport, Connecticut.[2] He is also the cousin of Thomas Bucci, a former Bridgeport politician.[3] Testa is also the owner of Testo's, a restaurant in Bridgeport, CT which serves as his business, office, and political headquarters.[4]

Early life and family

Mario Testa emigrated to the United States from an area 40-miles above Naples, Italy as a teenager. He was the seventh child born to a family of eight.

Political career

Chairman of Democratic Town Committee

In the 1990s, Testa maintained control of the Democratic party for over a decade.[5] Testa resigned from his position in 2003, but did not disclose the details of his resignation.[6] In 2008, he regained his position from a divided party that voted 5 times. Testa has served as the Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee for 15 of the last 20 years.[4]

Delegate to Democratic Convention

The 2012 Democratic National Committee Secretary named Mario Testa as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention along with Ms. Loretta Williams, Ms. Kerry Wood, Mayor Bill Finch, Hon. Thomas C McCarthy, and Ms. Dorothy Guman.[7]

Endorsements

Mario Testa was the Chairman of John C. Mandanici's Special Committee between 1981 and 1982.[8]

Testa is a long-time supporter of former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim. Upon Ganim's release from prison, Testa said, "I'm glad he's back home."[9] As the chairman, Mario Testa submitted a formal complaint on behalf of Mayor Bill Finch regarding a billboard.[10]

Controversies

Absentee ballots

On several occasions, Mario Testa was accused of playing a role in attempting to rig elections by use of absentee ballots.[11]

Tax evasion

In 1994, Mario Testa was questioned about the property taxes he paid on 3 vehicles. The vehicles were registered to him, but Testa used the address of his summer home in Monroe, CT. As a result, his property taxes were reduced by over two thirds. The vehicles were an '89 BMW, '85 Cadillac, and an '84 GMC Station Wagon. Testa replied, "the vehicles are classics and must be stored."[12]

FBI wiretap

In an interview, Mario Testa claimed that he had knowledge that he was wiretapped by the FBI in 2001. In response, Michael Sklaire, the former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the Bridgeport corruption case said, "He was very close to some very corrupt people for a very long time" was the reason no charges were ever filed.[13]

Casino

In 2010, Mario Testa prevented Dan Malloy from speaking to the Democratic Town Committee. Malloy believed that it was retribution for refusing to support a casino in Bridgeport in 1995.[14]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Stafstrom-makes-festival-P-T-Barnum-worthy-4629903.php
  2. ↑ "Local Committees | Democratic Party of Connecticut". Ctdems.org. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  3. ↑ "The Hour - Google News Archive". News.google.com. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  4. 1 2 "Mariocracy: a force to be reckoned with in Bridgeport politics - Connecticut Post". Ctpost.com. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  5. ↑ "Testa chosen to lead Bridgeport Dems". Nl.newsbank.com. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  6. ↑ "Testa quits as Bridgeport Dems' chief". Nl.newsbank.com. 2003-10-21. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  7. ↑ http://www.democrats.org/2012-convention-delegate-list
  8. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gDJJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sgYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1174,1489665&dq=testa+mandanici&hl=en
  9. ↑ Dusett, Jason (2010-01-22). "Fmr. Bridgeport Mayor Ganim Released from Prison". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  10. ↑ Lennie Grimaldi (2011-07-15). "Mario Testa's Beef With P.T. Barnum - Only in Bridgeport - Connecticut News". Blog.ctnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  11. ↑ "Absentee ballot fraud has long history in Bridgeport - Connecticut Post". Ctpost.com. 2011-10-22. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  12. ↑ "Proquest - Courant.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1994-08-05. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  13. ↑ "Mariocracy: a force to be reckoned with in Bridgeport politics - Connecticut Post". Ctpost.com. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  14. ↑ "Malloy: Casino issue cost him Bridgeport endorsement - Connecticut Post". Ctpost.com. 2010-07-24. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
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