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Maria Pereira
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Maria Pereira is a Democratic at-large representative on the Bridgeport Board of Education in Connecticut. After failing to receive her party's nomination at convention, Pereira gathered sufficient signatures to force a primary election, which was held September 16, 2015. She advanced from the primary and was the third-highest vote recipient in the general election on November 3, 2015, securing her seat on the board.
Pereira was a 2016 Democratic candidate for District 126 of the Connecticut House of Representatives. She was defeated in the Democratic primary.
Pereira previously served on the board as a member of the Working Families Party. She was elected in 2009, but her four-year term was interrupted when the school board was taken over by the state in 2011. On February 28, 2012, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled the state takeover of the board was illegal and reinstated board members whose terms had not yet expired, including Pereira. She then served until the scheduled end of her term in 2013 and did not seek re-election to the board at that time.[1]
Biography
Split with WFP
On March 31, 2014, Pereira resigned from her seat on the Working Families Party state committee and as the chair of the party's Bridgeport committee. She stated in her resignation letter the then-likely party endorsement of Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) was the reason she would not remain with the party.[2] The party had not officially endorsed Malloy at that time, but it did go on to do so in July 2014.[3]
In particular, Pereira took issue with the governor's role in the 2011 dissolution of the Bridgeport Board of Education, saying:
| “ | One of Governor Malloy’s first efforts was to disenfranchise the voters of Bridgeport by installing a corporate Board of Education. By trampling upon the democratic process, Governor Malloy exhibited his disdain and contempt for the people of the City of Bridgeport and proved that he is a willing accomplice of the corporate educational establishment.[4] | ” |
| —Maria Pereira, (March 31, 2014)[2] | ||
| Click [show] on the right to read Pereira's full resignation letter addressed to the co-chairs of the Connecticut Working Families Party. | ||||||
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Elections
2016
Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.
Incumbent Charlie Stallworth defeated Anthony Pizighelli in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 126 general election.[5]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 126 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Charlie Stallworth Incumbent |
83.34% | 6,335 | |
| Republican | Anthony Pizighelli | 16.66% | 1,266 | |
| Total Votes | 7,601 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Incumbent Charlie Stallworth defeated Maria Pereira in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 126 Democratic primary.[6][7]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 126 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Charlie Stallworth Incumbent |
52.37% | 929 | |
| Democratic | Maria Pereira | 47.63% | 845 | |
| Total Votes | 1,774 | |||
Anthony Pizighelli ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 126 Republican primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 126 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Anthony Pizighelli (unopposed) | |
2015
Opposition
Four seats on the Bridgeport Public Schools Board of Education were up for general election on November 3, 2015. A Democratic primary election was held September 16, 2015. Four at-large incumbents' seats were up for election in 2015: Jacquelline Kelleher (D), Hernan Illingworth (D), Kadisha Coates (WFP) and Kenneth Moales Jr. (D). Kelleher, however, resigned from the board on July 31, 2015, to move to New Hampshire.[8] Mary "Kate" Rivera was appointed to fill the vacancy on August 24, 2015. Rivera made it clear at the time that she had no intention to run for a full term in the election.[9] Ultimately, none of the incumbents retained their seats.
Incumbents Illingworth and Coates received the Democratic nominations along with candidate Faith Harrison-Villegas. Their nominations, however, were challenged by primary petitioners Dennis Bradley, Ben Walker and Maria Pereira. The Republican Party nominated John Weldon and Kevin McSpirit. The Connecticut Working Families Party nominated Karen Jackson, as well as Democratic candidate Bradley.
Cross-nominated candidate Bradley, fellow Democratic petitioning challenger Walker and former board member Pereira advanced to the general election.[10][11] The three primary winners also took the top three spots in the general election. McSpirit placed fourth, securing one seat for the Republicans.[12]
Results
General
| ELECTORAL FUSION: Bridgeport Public Schools, At-Large, General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic/WFP | Dennis Bradley |
27.3% | 11,961 | |
| Democratic | Ben Walker |
25.8% | 11,320 | |
| Democratic | Maria Pereira |
24.6% | 10,792 | |
| Republican | Kevin McSpirit |
8.1% | 3,536 | |
| Republican | John Weldon | 7.6% | 3,349 | |
| Working Families Party | Karen Jackson | 6.6% | 2,890 | |
| Total Votes (100% of precincts reporting) | 43,848 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of State, "Prescribed Form for Return of Votes Cast at a Municipal Election: Bridgeport," Novemeber 3, 2015 | ||||
| FULL BY-PARTY RESULTS: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Ben Walker | 25.8% | 11,320 | |
| Democratic | Maria Pereira | 24.6% | 10,792 | |
| Democratic | Dennis Bradley | 24.3% | 10,641 | |
| Republican | Kevin McSpirit | 8.1% | 3,536 | |
| Republican | John Weldon | 7.6% | 3,349 | |
| Working Families Party | Karen Jackson | 6.6% | 2,890 | |
| Working Families Party | Dennis Bradley | 3% | 1,320 | |
Democratic primary
| Bridgeport Public Schools, At-Large, Democratic Primary, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Dennis Bradley |
17.5% | 5,811 |
| Ben Walker |
17.0% | 5,648 |
| Maria Pereira |
16.9% | 5,625 |
| Faith Harrison-Villegas | 16.8% | 5,597 |
| Kadisha Coates Incumbent | 16.3% | 5,425 |
| Hernan Illingworth Incumbent | 15.6% | 5,188 |
| Total Votes | 33,294 | |
| Source: CT Post, "Bridgeport primary election returns," September 16, 2015 and CT Post, "Recounts settle some, not all races," September 24, 2015 These election results are not official and will be updated when certified results are available. You can submit certified results by contacting us. |
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Funding
The Bridgeport Town Clerk's office does not publish and freely disclose school board candidate campaign finance reports. If you have any information regarding the campaign finance disclosures in this race, please contact the school board elections team at editor@ballotpedia.org.
2013
Pereira did not seek re-election to the Bridgeport Board of Education in 2013.
2012: Reinstatement
On February 28, 2012, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled the state takeover of the Bridgeport Board of Education illegal and reinstated board members whose terms had not expired, including Pereira. A special election was held in 2012 to fill the seats where terms had expired.[1]
2011: Board removed
On July 5, 2011, the Bridgeport Board of Education voted 6-3 on a resolution which stated the board could not function and asked the State Board of Education to remove the sitting board and replace it. The state board agreed to do so on July 6, 2011. After the sitting Bridgeport board was removed, new members were appointed by Connecticut Commissioner of Education George Coleman.[1]
2009
Pereira was elected to the Bridgeport Board of Education as a member of the Working Families Party in 2009.
Campaign themes
2015
Pereira was interviewed by Linda Conner Lambeck of the Connecticut News Blogs. Below are the questions and her responses.
| “ | 1) Tell me a little bit about yourself and why you would make a good school board member:
I was born and raised in Bridgeport and I am the only candidate that received my entire K-12 education from the Bridgeport Public Schools. I am a proud Warren Harding High School graduate. I believe I would be a great school board member because I have an extensive level of knowledge regarding national, state, and local education policies; which is critical in making well-informed decisions regarding our students, parents, and thousands of dedicated teachers and support staff. 2) What would you seek to change in the next year in the Bridgeport Public School system? What is your first priority? My first priority would be to establish a Superintendent Search Committee so that we can begin the critical and comprehensive process of finding a permanent superintendent with a history of success in urban school districts. The process must include students, parents, principals, teachers, support staff, community and business leaders, which has not occurred in the selection of the last two interim-superintendents. As the highest paid employee of the City of Bridgeport, I would like to ensure our next superintendent is required to be a resident of Bridgeport. I would like to implement a pilot program of staggered start times in one of our most challenged high schools. Several reputable studies have shown that later high school start times result in lower drop-out rates, decreased absences, tardiness, disciplinary infractions, and increased academic performance. With current drop-out rates hovering at 48 percent; the time for meaningful change is now. 3) Name something you think the school system is doing right. What is positive that should be built on? I really appreciate the efforts being made to recognize the positive achievements of our students, parents, and staff. Unfortunately the focus on the Bridgeport Public Schools is often what is negative not positive. I would like to encourage events that bring students, parents, and staff together in an uplifting and positive way which unites the school community. Father and daughter dances, parents versus staff athletic events, staff, parent and student talent shows, etc. 4) Anything else you want the public to know about you In 2009, my then 7th grade daughter had nine math teachers while attending Caesar Batalla School. This served as the catalyast for my becoming truly involved in the state of public education in the city I love. I attended my first Board of Education meeting in March 2009 and have never looked back. I am incredibly passionate about improving our true public schools for our incredibly worthy children, their families, and the Bridgeport community. I truly believe you cannot move Bridgeport forward until we significantly improve the Bridgeport Public Schools.[4] |
” |
| —Maria Pereira, (September 2015)[13] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Maria Pereira' 'Bridgeport Public Schools'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Bridgeport Public Schools, Connecticut
- Bridgeport Public Schools elections (2015)
- Connecticut House of Representatives
- Connecticut House of Representatives District 126
- Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2016
- Connecticut General Assembly
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Connecticut General Assembly, "Timeline Of Bridgeport Board of Education Takeover," March 19, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Connecticut News Blogs, "Maria Pereira and Working Family Party break up over Malloy," March 31, 2014
- ↑ New Haven Register, "Gov. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Wyman gain nod of Working Families Party," July 29, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Election Night Reporting, 2016 General Election," accessed December 14, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Primary election candidate list," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ ctpost.com, "Bridgeport BOE loses a member," August 3, 2015
- ↑ Education Bridgeport!, "BOE Appoints Bridgeport Parent Kate Rivera As Newest Member," August 25, 2015
- ↑ CT Post, "Bridgeport primary election returns," September 16, 2015
- ↑ CT Post, "Recounts settle some, not all races," September 24, 2015
- ↑ CT Post, "Bridgeport primary election returns," September 16, 2015
- ↑ Connecticut News Blogs, "So you want to be a Bridgeport school board member?" September 15, 2015
| 2015 Bridgeport Public Schools Elections | |
| Fairfield County, Connecticut | |
| Election date: | Primary election - September 16, 2015 General election - November 3, 2015 |
| Candidates: | Candidates: • Incumbent, Hernan Illingworth (D) • Dennis Bradley (WFP) • Incumbent, Kadisha Coates (D) • Faith Harrison-Villegas (D) • Karen Jackson (WFP) • Kevin McSpirit (R) • Maria Pereira (D) • Ben Walker (D) • John Weldon (R) |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
