John M. Fabrizi
Encyclopedia
John Michael Fabrizi is a former mayor
of Bridgeport, Connecticut
, succeeded by Bill Finch
. He is also a member of the U.S. Democratic Party
.
Fabrizi holds degrees from Southern Connecticut State University
as well as the University of Bridgeport
and has served in numerous public service
capacities. He was assistant director of Bridgeport's adult education
program, and was also a teacher
of fifth
and sixth grade
rs. He was first elected to public office, the Bridgeport Civil Service Administration, in 1983.
In 1992, Fabrizi was elected to the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee and in 1996, he was elected to the Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut
. In 1997, he was elected to the Bridgeport City Council. He became the mayor of Bridgeport in 2003, after the previous mayor, Joseph P. Ganim
, was sentenced to nine years in a federal prison for corruption charges
. As mayor, Fabrizi was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City
mayor Michael Bloomberg
and Boston
mayor Thomas Menino
.
In June 2006, a Federal Bureau of Investigation
report surfaced in which an alleged drug dealer
claimed an associate had a videotape
of the mayor using cocaine
. The rumor that there was a videotape turned out to be false. At first, Fabrizi acknowledged that he had made "poor choices in the past", but declined to be more specific. Eventually, in a prepared speech he gave, he declared openly that over the course of a number of years he abused
alcohol
and used cocaine occasionally. U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor
has said Fabrizi was not a target of the drug investigation
, and he apologized to the mayor after the report was released.
On May 9, 2007, Fabrizi announced he would not seek re-election. The full text of his speech is here: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_5846959
Fabrizi is currently serving on the Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut
for the 2008-2010 term.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, succeeded by Bill Finch
Bill Finch (politician)
Bill Finch is the mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut and former majority whip in the Connecticut Senate.-Education:Finch graduated from the University of Connecticut.He has four sons: Peter, Christopher, Atticus, and Aiden.-References:...
. He is also a member of the U.S. Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Fabrizi holds degrees from Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
as well as the University of Bridgeport
University of Bridgeport
The University of Bridgeport is a private, independent, non-sectarian, coeducational university located on the Long Island Sound in the South End neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The University is fully Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges...
and has served in numerous public service
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
capacities. He was assistant director of Bridgeport's adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
program, and was also a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
of fifth
Fifth grade
Fifth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fifth grade is the fifth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 10 – 11 years old, and are preteens...
and sixth grade
Sixth grade
Sixth grade is a year of education in the United States and some other nations. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 11 – 12 years old...
rs. He was first elected to public office, the Bridgeport Civil Service Administration, in 1983.
In 1992, Fabrizi was elected to the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee and in 1996, he was elected to the Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut
Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut
The Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Connecticut. The state chair of the party is Nancy DiNardo, and the Vice Chair is State Representative Steve Fontana...
. In 1997, he was elected to the Bridgeport City Council. He became the mayor of Bridgeport in 2003, after the previous mayor, Joseph P. Ganim
Joseph P. Ganim
Joseph P. Ganim is a former mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, succeeded by John M. Fabrizi. He is also a member of the U.S. Democratic Party. He was also a Presidential Elector for Connecticut in 1992 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Connecticut in 1996.-Mayor of...
, was sentenced to nine years in a federal prison for corruption charges
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. As mayor, Fabrizi was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
.
In June 2006, a Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
report surfaced in which an alleged drug dealer
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
claimed an associate had a videotape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
of the mayor using cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. The rumor that there was a videotape turned out to be false. At first, Fabrizi acknowledged that he had made "poor choices in the past", but declined to be more specific. Eventually, in a prepared speech he gave, he declared openly that over the course of a number of years he abused
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
alcohol
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and used cocaine occasionally. U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor
Kevin J. O'Connor (attorney)
Kevin J. O'Connor is an attorney appointed by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as Connecticut’s 48th United States Attorney in 2002. From January to April 2006, O'Connor served as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States. In 2007, O'Connor...
has said Fabrizi was not a target of the drug investigation
War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
, and he apologized to the mayor after the report was released.
On May 9, 2007, Fabrizi announced he would not seek re-election. The full text of his speech is here: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_5846959
Fabrizi is currently serving on the Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut
Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut
The Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Connecticut. The state chair of the party is Nancy DiNardo, and the Vice Chair is State Representative Steve Fontana...
for the 2008-2010 term.