Senator/Mayor Finch

After Senator Bill Finch was elected to be the Mayor of Bridgeport, most observers anticipated that Mr. Finch would resign his 22nd District seat - made up of a portion of Bridgeport, Trumbull, and Monroe - in the Connecticut State Senate. But much to their surprise, the Senator/Mayor let it be known that he was considering keeping both offices. This revelation is meeting with decidely less-than-remarkable enthusiasm in the "scorned towns" of Monroe and Trumbull.

The good people of Monroe are rightly protesting the Senator/Mayor's action:

"The resolution is being considered with full respect for Finch and the fine job he has done as senator, said Councilman Patrick O'Hara, a Republican who introduced the proposal . . .

"I don't think he can serve the needs of the largest city in Connecticut and serve the needs of the senatorial district as well," O'Hara said Friday."

Senator/Mayor Finch's actions have also had the additional effect of placing his constituents in an untenable position of opposing his actions at their own peril:

"But at least one council member thinks the resolution may be a bad idea because it has the potential to alienate Finch, a Democrat.

"I don't want to see him in two jobs," said council Chairwoman Enid Lipeles, another Republican.

"I don't think he has the right to be in two jobs, but I know this will alienate him when he finds out about it. It's a brand-new government and I don't want to alienate him. I know we're waiting for the courts to have an opinion.""

Any time a public servant's actions force his constituents to choose between opposing his actions at the risk of offending him and standing for their principles, that public servant should resign his office. Mr. Finch - pick one.