In his most recent mayoral re-election campaign, Joe Ganim’s filings raise significant questions about the money it took in and who handled it.

Anthony Paoletto re-emerges, and he’s made a friend
In Ganim’s paperwork, some of the forms were apparently completed by Anthony Paoletto, longtime money man for the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee (DTC). Paoletto most recently surfaced in the news as part of inappropriate Ganim family and DTC access to luxury suites in the Bridgeport Amphitheater. He is held in poor regard by CT authorities, from when he was Treasurer for Joe Ganim’s 2018 ill-fated campaign for governor. In an audit of that race, investigators were astonished that Paoletto could not produce any financial records or professional documentation, despite taking in over $840,000 in contributions. Inexplicably, the case remained open for five years, including when Ganim filed to run for mayor in 2022. It was settled in January 2023, with fines of only $2000 for Ganim and $1250 for Paoletto. The code states that they can receive up to a year in prison, which is still a misdemeanor and not a felony, but it is unclear why Paoletto and Ganim received only token monetary fines and not jail time. 

Perhaps the most-lasting impact of Ganim’s ill-fated 2018 gubernatorial campaign is the first appearance of Coleen le Pere. le Pere, who has a track record of disreputable activity, appears later as a paid consultant in Bridgeport- and New Haven-centric political races. In an article about Republicans running for governor, she here makes a non sequitur endorsement for Ganim. Probably, Paoletto supplied her to a reporter looking for a quote. What she said is irrelevant; it shows le Pere’s relationship with the DTC as far back as five years ago.

Ganim for mayor: le Pere is the Treasurer, until she’s not

As noted, Ganim’s financial misconduct case with the SEEC was still open in 2022 when he filed to enter the mayoral race. Paoletto is listed as the Deputy Treasurer, with le Pere as Treasurer. The address she provided is a PO Box in Woobridge [sic], which she has given to the courts in the past instead of a physical address. 

Paoletto then filed an amended, handwritten form six months later that removed le Pere and elevated him to Treasurer. What was the point of straw dog le Pere? 

le Pere’s past reveals highly questionable behavior. In one instance, she met online and befriended a female 59-year old single insurance analyst living in NYC. Within months, they had married. As le Pere’s only income were unemployment and child support checks, she convinced her bride to draw against her retirement savings and purchase a weekend home in CT that le Pere and her daughter would live in full time, plus pay for their health insurance. Almost instantly, le Pere’s erratic and violent behavior caused the relationship to sour. In divorce court, le Pere’s claims for compensation were refused by the judge, who said she was “astonished†by le Pere’s actions. 

As mentioned, she has appeared on other campaign payrolls, too. In 2022, Paoletto was Treasurer for Herron Gaston for State Senate in Bridgeport, a race that Gaston eventually won. le Pere (spelled lePere) was the only non-Bridgeport consultant who received compensation. Her two checks for $900 also made her the best-paid staffer on the team. In New Haven, in former Democrat-turned-Republican Tom Goldenberg’s 2023 unsuccessful run for mayor, she received $2100 in one quarter alone. These are just some of the records found online; there may be more. It appears that Paoletto may have channeled compensation to her by having candidates running for office to put her on the payroll.