New Haven’s Rev. Boise Kimber is standing behind Joe Ganim — again.
Kimber, a politically active minister in local and state elections for decades, announced Tuesday he is endorsing Ganim’s quest for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Ganim faces party-endorsed candidate Ned Lamont in an Aug. 14 primary.
Kimber also was an early and visible supporter of Ganim’s successful 2015 “second-chance” campaign to return to the Bridgeport mayor’s office after serving seven years in federal prison for pocketing a half-million dollars worth of kickbacks from city contractors in the form of cash, meals, clothes, wine, and home repairs in a previous stint in City Hall.
Before Tuesday, Kimber had been committed to a different Democratic candidate, Guy Smith. Smith paid Kimber’s consulting company $48,400 between January and March to help him get into black churches, among other work. Smith dropped out of the race last month after failing to collect enough signatures to qualify for the primary ballot.
A release issued Tuesday quoted Kimber on his reasons for backing Ganim: ““Here in Connecticut we need to put our best team forward – candidates who have shown an affinity for the working-class men and women of Connecticut cities, leaders who represent the best interests of our urban committees. We need a diverse team of progressives who will not be afraid to fight for our urban communities. Therefore, I am supporting the following candidates in the Democratic primary.
“This is a time for Democrats to come together to fight to keep Connecticut blue and ensure that we elect a Democratic governor come this November. The Trump wave is threatening to wash away all of the gains made by Black and Brown communities over the last 155 years, since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.”
Kimber also endorsed lieutenant governor candid Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman, state treasurer candidate Shawn Wooden, and attorney general candidate William Tong for the Democratic primary.